Frameworks and Space...

As we all get settled into the first week of term; finding your space for study, reading through module handbooks, beginning to dig into something from the reading list and becoming more conscious perhaps of your own practice as a 'thing', it is important to remind yourself to take the time to listen to your own rhythms, observe your own patterns and be aware of your own learning processes. 

The MA programme is centred around you and your professional practice and aims through guiding and deepening your reflective practice to develop you as practitioners in your fields and within the field of dance pedagogy. 

Module Ones, the next 12 weeks of this module term are all about reflecting on your learning through practice to date. So, locating yourself where you are today through mapping a landscape of your past learning experiences. You will articulate these through the written essays, called Areas of Learning, but you need to give the time initially to identify them...whilst at this point you've got the yeast, flour, milk, salt, you can't bake the bread until you've needed the dough and allowed it time and space to rise. We recognise that you come to the programme with vast and varied bodies of experience and we are coming from the position of experience = knowledge, but there needs to be a process in the space between (reflection) which makes meaningful the learning from experience. The module handbook gives you dates and deadlines, what needs to be submitted and when, and talks you through observing and engaging in reflection on your practice in order that you will be in a place to first identify and then to articulate in writing what you consider to be your Areas of Learning. The handbook offers you the skeleton of the module, your engagement with the learning community, literature, your openness to engage in the process of learning through reflection offers you the flesh you'll need to complete the module. 

Module Twos and Three's, different journeys for you but still needing space to breath in order to move. Module Two - a lot to cover, try to look at all the elements starting by referring back to the AOLs you submitted for the previous module as a reminder of key areas of your practice, identify the area of your research rather than search for the 'perfect question' at this stage. Reading around your area of interest and being within your practice with those thoughts will help your questioning develop.

Module Three's start also by reading back over your research proposals. You're now setting off on doing what you planned in the last module! You've created your map, it may / should shift and take alternative routes as you progress along it, learning from doing, being open to change and being responsive to it along the way.

So, take some time in these early weeks to listen, observe, think while you do...

We come together for your first monthly Skype Group discussion this Sunday - 11am or 5pm (London time) do let us know by commenting on Adesola's blog which discussion you'd like to be a part of and what you'd like to bring to the discussion.

http://adesolamapp.blogspot.co.uk

Look forward to talking as a group then!

Helen