Monday, 26 September 2016

Starting...

So today is the start of the new term on the MAPP programme!!

Welcome back to all returning students and welcome to all new practitioners to the MA community...


Whilst today's date marks the 'term start date' on our calendars it is important to recognise that starting something isn't usually as quick as a calendar date suggests.  

Starting out for the first time, or starting back to re-join something after a break can mean a re-balance of patterns, schedules, spaces and places...finding how study is integrated / (re) integrated into your work/life patterns.  We think it is important that you begin to find some kind of 'home' for your study, this might be clearing a physical space in your house to work in, finding a cafĂ© that has a good vibe to you to be able to work there, checking out libraries or other spaces that may feel good to you.  Looking at your schedules...it may be that you are able to block out one day per week that you ring as your 'MA day', it may not...You may prefer to set aside an hour each morning / an hour each evening and decide that you;ll dedicate that to your studies.  You may see already that you have a particularly busy period next month and so no you will not be able to dedicate time to your studies then, but can free-up some time either side of that period.  Whatever the pattern, whatever works is individual to you, and important for you to recognise and commit to.  Adesola and I are pretty flexible with our work/life patterns too and so we can work with you in terms of appointments for one-to-one Skype calls, responding to emails etc, and this is where the blogs are a great way of communicating...you can blog whenever you feel like it...2am, 6am... and others will engage with this when they feel like it, quite possibly in a different time-zone altogether!

So take this week to observe your patterns, re-jig a little space where needed, feel comfortable in your study environment, locate yourself within the university systems (UniHub / My learning / handbooks) and be sure to comment on Adesola's blog to indicate which Skype conversation you would like to participate in this coming Sunday Oct 2.

http://adesolamapp.blogspot.co.uk



I'd like to leave you 'starting' with a note on beginning from Musician/philosopher Gary Peters;

'The beginning is not the start of the work but the choice of a way into that which has certainly already started'.




Look forward to connecting on Sunday...






Thursday, 15 September 2016

New beginnings...


WELCOME to all those joining us in the MAPP community this term...looking forward to meeting you all online on FRIDAY SEPT 16TH, 1200 (UK TIME).

and WELCOME BACK to all current students re-engaging with your MAPP journey this term.

Term formally starts on Sept 26th, and we'll have our first monthly GROUP SKYPE MEETING of the term on SUNDAY OCT 2ND with the option for you to join either the 1100 or 1700 (UK time) Skype calls - remember to let Adesola know which one you'll join so that she can add you to the call!

http://adesolamapp.blogspot.co.uk - comment here with either '1100' or '1700'

Programme and Module Handbooks are online for you now - don't get overwhelmed by them!! But worth taking a look at the module handbook for the module you're enrolling on this term and to have the Programme Handbook to hand to general study / university protocol reference.



To find the handbooks and other MAPP resources;

Go to: Unihub - http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk

My Learning (tab)

MA Professional Practice Dance Technique Pedagogy (tab in the drop down list)
Here you will find resources, guides, handbooks, assessment submission drop boxes and more...