Just came across this clip of Bowie being interviewed by Paxton. His prediction of the impact the internet will have in todays society..... Web 2.0, makes you think? Maybe we were better off?


Such and intelligent and clued up man...

BAPP Arts 2016-17 Module 1 task 3d - Critical questions and Issues that emerge

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate? Limited? Focused? Planned? Unplanned?


My network is small at the moment, I know that to benefit my learning's and develop my career I need to explore and expand my network and join more communities of learning with in my profession. I am more planned and thought out than I used to be in terms of looking for answers and sourcing material.

Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?


In my job my ideas and concerns are shared with other colleagues. We support each other in our work based community and are able to normally work through and problem solve any issues. Some point I have raised in my mini inquiry and section 2 are certainly shared by others in the realm of the big wide world. I think no matter what your ideas and concerns are most human beings can relate to and connect to a point of view of others. Many people share my ideas, just as I share theirs.



Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking/ planning or practice?

Would sharing you ideas and communicating with others not automatically shift your thinking? The only reason you would share/speak to someone regarding anything would be to get their opinion of the matter and because you do not know what they will say you automatically begin to predict. Through speaking to the head of my department and music teachers in my office I have talked a lot about the BAPP course especially during section 2 module 1 (reflective practitioner). They shared with my lots of different strategies they use and ways they reflect on their practice. This definitely changed they way I work.

Does critical reflection help you to decide what really matters and actions to take?

Once I started using my own little Gibb's cycle, I realised how valuable 'Critical reflection' really is. How can you grow and a person and practitioner if you cannot reflect, critique and improve you practice? It would be like a magician only learning one card trick, or and actor never watching his performance in a film, or a dancer rehearsing in a room with no mirrors. Pointless. Using the Gibbs cycle helps me identify what really matters during my reflection time and plan for the next hurdle.

To what extent do concepts and theories assist you in thinking about your professional networking in different ways? And do these different ways of thinking have some purpose for you?

As an obsessive connectivist (click, click, click), I have really enjoyed researching into theorists. It has enabled me to think outside of the box at times, and encouraged me to ask questions within my network. Developing my communication and reflection skills. From this research I have found out new facts and discovered inspiring individuals I did not know existed.

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? And if so, why?


I am not sure if I am left thinking differently however, I have gained some more evidence to support my prior knowledge of facts. My thinking's have been strengthened by my findings and in turn that has encouraged me to explore more into writings, articles and blogs.


Below are some comments I have left on peoples blogs:


"I agree with what you say about Outlook being useful for communicating within you networks but I don't think it is a 'network' itself it is a tool or communication. I also use outlook in my school through London Grid for learning. The software itself is not the network however, its the people you communicate with that are the network. Outlook is gateway, just the same as a text message of phone call. would you agree?"


"You should look on Facebook and teaching forums to expand your network via web 2.0. I use the internet more that I do face to face mainly because of the hours I teach and lack of free time. If you set some strong connections now, once you qualify, looking for jobs and vacancies will be much easier.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/299126263546170/

https://www.facebook.com/londondanceteachers/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1109976919034029/

these pages were like gold for me starting out as a teacher. do you think they will help?"


"One source of information you could consider (if you think it is a source?) is a "live aspect" for example theatre, lectures, any performance. I took so much information when I was at college from going and seeing plays and shows I would have to write about. Also currently in my profession I got to seminars and trainings where I always learn new things. Possibly a 5th option for you?"


"I do exactly the same process when I am stuck on a task or am finding it difficult. Do you ever worry though that reading another blog will lead you a certain way in thought before attempting the task first yourself?"

BAPP Arts 2016-17 Module 1 Task 3c - Sources of information

My chain sequence of sourcing information:

Above is the order I would say I currently source information either in my work or on the BAPP arts course. Currently I would say I work around the red and yellow sections as these are the sorts of readings I really enjoy and find interesting, but I know not always the most reliable/concrete. I would move onto the grey area if there is something new I need to look up or if I am starting a topic I with my students that I need to research more. The green section is the one I would have avoided in the past, one because can be full of so much information that it overwhelms me and two because the other three methods before are more convenient (which is not the best excuse). I am fortunate, through the course I am on, that I have to read books from our reading list and I also have been ordering and reading my own findings. This is building my confidence and slowly but surely changing my sourcing pattern.


I would like develop my sourcing strategies and build upon my network. I would like to add a 'live' aspect to my chain. Through attending more seminars, trainings and short courses I can gather information and meet people who have had first hand experience, this would also develop my people-network. YouTube is the temporary replacement at this time (watching recorded trainings and seminars), but really that comes under blogs and websites. It would be interesting to know if people have similar or different sequence of sourcing as me. Comment below what your order is...

BAPP Arts 2016-17 Module 1 Task 3b - Theories relating to networking

I found this topic rather a lot to take in in a short space of time. Did my usual research on the old YouTube and found some great tutorials on the theories mentioned in the reader 3. These are Social constructionism - Connectivism - Communities of Practice.

Social Constructionism - Video by Sydney Brown



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVCkJ7jLnz0&t=4s


What makes something real?? An interesting theory that look at everything we experience as a construct. Things that only exist because we give them because we give the reality through social agreement. Things such as money or books would not exist in the absence of human society. Its a bit of a mind boggler, for those with a vivid imagination your mind can wonder with this one. Its seems so logical to me, but that exactly it. I have a vivid imagination and that is what this theory is based upon, the mind acknowledging facts so they can exist. But what about natural phenomena? These actions cannot be explained and do not rely on the recognition of the human mind to exist.


Posted by Sydney Brown
https://www.youtube.com/user/seb02009






Connectivism - Video by Erin Jonesrebandt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFCYjm6nf40

Apart from the helpful little tutorial I found, I also did some online research. I am a real advocate of Connectivism, as I do what is described quite often. The BAPP Arts course I would say encourages Connectivesm. When researching Downs and Siemens theory I came across web designer Charlie R. Caldwell's blog. I found his blog when I wanted to know what the term 'nodes' meant. He talks about social network theory and gives a description of 'Nodes' as actors within a network.


Caldwell's Blog - http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/What_is_Social_Network_Theory

"Social Network Theory is the study of how people, organisations or groups interact with others inside their network. Understanding the theory is easier when you examine the individual pieces starting with the largest element, which is networks, and working down to the smallest element, which is the actors." 

"Nodes can most easily be defined as the individual players -- or actors -- inside the network."

Caldwell goes on to describe three types of social networks that social scientist explore:

Ego-centric networks are connected with a single node or individual. For example, you, the node, connected to all your close friends. 

Socio-centric networks are closed networks by default. Two commonly-used examples of this type of network are children in a classroom or workers inside an organisation. 

In open-system networks, the boundary lines are not clearly defined. A few examples in this type of network are America's elite class, connections between corporations, or the chain of influencers of a particular decision. Due to the lack of clearly-defined boundaries, this type of network is considered the most difficult to study

Which one best describes your network? I would say that I have quite an ego-central network both socially and professionally. This is something I am hoping to develop during my time on the BAPP arts course. Through Caldwell's blog I discovered a concept I like from the social network theory, 'Six degrees of separation'. Mary Beth Adomaitis talk about it on her blog from the same website. The idea behind the six degrees of separation is simple: If a person is one step or relationship away from each individual he or she knows and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the individuals he or she knows, then everyone on Earth is six relationships or less away from each other. The background behind the six degrees of separation is broad, depending on which part of the theory you are studying.


Mary Beth Adomaitis's Blog - http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Theory_of_Six_Degrees_of_Separation

Six Degrees on Facebook - While conducting research for his novel, The Watcher, thriller writer Steve Jackson turned toward the Internet. He wanted to see how connections are made between individuals online (in this case through Facebook). In November 2007, he created a group on Facebook called Six Degrees and invited all of his friends to join. His initial results weren't promising as only 20 friends joined his group. However, within days, that quickly changed. As those friends invited their friends, who in turn invited their friends, Jackson's list grew. Within one week, his initial 20 friends turned into 30,000, and within three weeks, he had more than 2 million friends. By January 2008, he had more than 4 million friends. Below is the link to the report written on Jackson's research.


link:
http://www.steve-jackson.net/six_degrees/




Communities of Practice - video by Eva Cianciara Banka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfxpmfucmac&t=42s


How many different communities of practice do you think you are or have been apart of? I had a real think about his and there have been so many throughout my life and career so far. As a dancer I was part of a Kinsi Dance company for a year. We would rehearse once a week and learn from each other, share ideas and create beautiful routines. As in individual I am a member of British Military Fitness, something I wanted to do for years and now am part of a lovely community of friends all with the same goals and passion to keep fit. As a teacher I am part of a strategies for learning team, currently observing and learning from more experienced teachers, with the hope soon to bring my experiences to the table and share some ideas. Communities of practice I think are vital for any practitioner who wants to develop improve and share their experiences. As the saying goes, two heads are always better then one.

BAPP Arts 2016-17 Module 1 Task 3a - Current Networks

 

I am currently using only two "tools" for networking, one being this Blog and the other Facebook. A lot of my colleagues say they read a lot of blogs and read many different articles online. When I was a professional dance my Facebook page was used predominantly for networking. All of my current headshots and dance photos were posted, I would have regular posts on my page during lots of different jobs I did, some funny and some serious and I would always friend request any dancer/choreographer I ever worked with. I was incredibly committed to following the right people online who could benefit my career and make sure they knew what I was currently doing work wise.

There were loads of dancers pages where people would post jobs and teaching jobs, you could send private messages in reply to the add or use the contact information. I advertised a few times on the teaching sites for my Saturday school to employ part time ITSD qualified teachers. Most of the replies were very professional and I was always successful in finding good experienced teachers. My approach to Facebook now is very different. I use it purely to connect with old friends a family. there are 2 groups I follow for my teaching. 'Teachers of AQA Dance GCSE' and Teachers of AQA Dance A Level'. These groups are great for sharing resources and reading up about up and coming training sessions. People post their opinions and ideas just like blog and people can comment on them and share also. Every dance teacher I know is part of the group and some top examiners are also on it. I like it because it is a forum where people can communicate without seeing each others personal profiles. Its is screened regularly and run very professionally. Below is a screen shot of the group one member has just posted the information to a online Google drive of resources for the new dance specifications to help new teachers.

It is a brilliant networking channel.


I am friend with a few colleagues on Facebook but only ones who are friends outside of work. I know I am not using this blog to its full capacity. If I were to comment more on other blogs from the course I'm sure it would open up and good channel of communication do further develop some ideas and thoughts. I have never really considered an Ideal Network. If I'm honest it would involve and computer of the internet. It would be in a meeting room being chaired by someone and verbally interacting with people face to face. the time when I am most comfortable is when I am in a training session or faculty meeting and people are able to share their ideas and experiences and you get to meet people from all different schools that run in different ways. You can exchange contact information and share ideas and thoughts via email, so it is direct. Hopefully reader 3 will give me a better understanding of online networking.