Supervisions

 A note on Supervisions 

Availability is updated on doodlepoll every two weeks. Please do go to the TUTORIALS folder on your unihub programme page to book a time that is showing as available - this saves several emails back and forth arranging times.

Please do note that Supervisions are to discuss your work - I have had some great conversations with people this week for example talking around possible Area of Learning titles in relationship with theories of reflection that have been engaged with through the reading list materials(module One), and thoughts around possible areas of potential inquiry with discussions of the literature engaged with so far and preliminary research into methodologies and methods (module two). 

Please try to think of and therefore use supervision time for this kind of discussion. Please do think about the time allocated for supervisions (noted in your module handbooks) and how best you would like to use this through the term - save good time for thorough discussions around drafts of work for example.  If you have a quick question, of course simply drop an email.

 

With this in mind, while Adesola is on sick leave - please do not disturb her with emails or try and book anything on doodlepoll instead please send your email/supervision request to discuss work to Angela Woodhouse <a.woodhouse@mdx.ac.uk> who is with us also on the programmes team for MAPP.

Have good weekends...

Module Three Focus

 This week we had a discussion group with a Module Three focus where people in this module shared what they are doing in research terms and talked a little about how the process is going. 

We talked about interviews, interviewing as a method, responsibility of the researcher in this process and the privilege of holding space for others to share their experiences with you, rather than seeing this research method as a place for others to 'answer your questions'. 

I was reminded of this TEDtalk from Dave Isay, so sharing for those who haven't seen it.

 

The hour went quickly for our discussion...Do share your thoughts from this discussion in your own blogs and comment here with the links...

Relationships between Academic Writing and Artistic Practice

 Today we were joined by Peter Thomas from the university's Learning Enhancement Team. 

We undertook exercises in Free Writing and unpacked areas around the writing process. 

Some interesting references were made including Peter Elbow, Stephen King, Franz Kafka as ways of opening different perspectives on writing. 

 

I wonder what your thoughts are following these sessions? Please share and as we spoke about think of your blogs as practice in writing, a process to engage with, communicating, sharing.

 

"turn off the editor"

"construct your own toolbox...develop the muscles to carry it, instead of getting discourage seize the tools you need and get to work..."

 

 

 

We will upload the recordings from the sessions with Peter onto your unihub pages in the next couple of days along with the slides from his session for reference. 

Sunday DIscussion Group

Our first Sunday open discussion group of the term today was around the notions of KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION and LEARNING.

Thank you to all who contributed. We heard lots of reflections, questions and sharing of experiences as those in the group communicated their interpretations of these words in relation to their practice. 

A word map that emerged for me through this discussion:

 

 

 

 I would add for further considerations the words - PROCESS and RELATIONSHIP

What are your thoughts and further reflections? 

How might you expand this discussion for yourself looking further at the relationships with key theories in your module and your observations of your own practice?

Do comment here with the link to your own blog - what was significant in your learning from this discussion?

Module One focus discussion

This afternoon we had a discussion group with a Module One focus of 'Seeing your Practice, Seeing your Self'. It was great to hear the many articulations of 'practice', distinctions or the relationships between Practice and Discipline, notions of change, responsiveness, balance all being raised. 

We spoke about practice being fluid rather than a fixed definition, and how this feels particularly relevant now. Reflecting on past learning experiences in order to begin to situate your practice today is important in this module. As we talked it was clear to hear some Areas of Learning emerging for different people. Try to think critically of your past experiences in the ways that learning has been present across different contexts rather than defined by a particular job role or 'named' experience as you begin to formulate your AOL titles now. 

Please do comment below with your blog post continuing these discussions so that we can all follow and contribute further - the hour went very quickly!

A thought that I was reminded of from philosopher Alan Watts

“Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”

― Alan Watts 

 

 

 

Accept the process, be in it, not trying to separate yourself from it, and enjoy the multiplicity perhaps?

IMPORTANT INFO >>> ZOOM this week

 

 An update: 

Our Sunday Open Discussion Group (first one this term is 8pm on Feb 21st)  and Module focus groups (Module One - Wednesday 17th, 4pm) will take place on ZOOM this week. 

Please note times are given in London time.

Please go to your MAPP programme page and you will find a folder titled ZOOM LINKS at the top containing links to the sessions.

Look forward to more conversations on there with you all this week!

Being-in-process

 

The Power of Vulnerability - 

Brené Brown

Sharing this TEDtalk as it reflects on some key moments you may be experiencing through your journeys on MAPP - perception, story-telling, research and places being vulnerable in the process as part of the process of not knowing, the process of learning. Brown also acknowledges the committment to her research (10 years) and the ebbs and flows of this - as you begin to identify areas of inquiry (module two) or set out on undertaking your research (module three), as reminder that you are not setting out to answer questions, or solve the World's problems in a 12 week inquiry project - you ARE setting out to explore an area of your practice more deeply in order to perhaps know it differently. 

 

What are you thoughts?

 

week one...getting started and SVL

Lovely to see so many of your at our Welcome sessions over the weekend. 

This week our Student Voice Leaders (SVLs) Susan Presti and Jacob Hughes are holding a meeting on Thursday Feb 11th, 3pm (UK time) on zoom as a chance for you all to connect and get to know each other a little less formally. Please go to your Programme Page on MyUnihub for the zoom link if you would like to join this meeting.  

Over this week we will be adding and updating blog addresses to the programme pages on unihub, do send your blog address and write your first blog of the term if you haven't already. 

Our group sessions via skype begin the week of Feb 15th  - 

 

this week ...

Module Handbooks, Reading Lists and blogs are a great place to start as you begin to settle into finding the rhythm of your study with your practice.

New term

Great to be welcoming new starters to the MAPP community this week as well as welcoming back returning students as you move into your next modules of the programmes. 

A reminder that we have our Welcome/Welcome back sessions on Zoom this week 

Friday 5th at 5pm (UK) 

OR

Saturday 6th at 2pm (UK)

choose which day/time works best for you and come to that one, no need to attend both!

We are welcoming also an extended Programme Team this term with Angela Woodhouse and Sam Murray joining Adesola and I. Angela and Sam come with a wealth of professional practice in the arts industry and will introduce themselves during the Welcome sessions and be sharing their practice with you through talks/lectures this term. 

 

You should all have access to your schedule of activities this term (on Unihub in the Academic Calendar folder) and in your Programme Handbooks. Returning students please note Handbooks are updated for Jan 2021, please use these ones for accuracy not anything you may have downloaded last term. 

Please continue to check Adesola's blog and my blog regularly (at least weekly) and we will continue to use Adesola's blog for signing up for skype sessions as listed in the schedule. If you want to be a part of that discussion group you must comment on the blog to say so!

Adesola and I are inviting you to sign up for yout first 1-2-1 supervision of the term. Please do so if you haven't (via Doodlepoll) to discuss the term ahead and feedback from your last module for returners.

Please note that grades for work submitted last term are published on MyUniHub after Feb 15th.

We look forward to a great term ahead with everyone!!

Helen