Thursday, 9 March 2017
Stumbling with confidence...
I was reading this piece from Paul Kleiman on my train journey this morning (on my way to assess some student work actually)...I thought it might resonate with you too ...
https://stumblingwithconfidence.wordpress.com
Let me know what you think!
Helen
Sunday, 5 March 2017
Roots and Parties...
The second Skype discussion today took on lots of visual imagery as we talked around communication, subjectivity, structure, literature, language and choices...through images of trees, roots, ballerinas en pointe and party guest lists!
For me, there was much about the process of the discussion today which resonated with the process of research; a common ground that Sam and Alice mentioned in relation to their literature searching.
Everyone offered starting points, seeds, possible roots to grow from. As the discussions unfolded we moved with ease, not in a clear, linear manner from one beginning to one end, but around multiple beginnings, multiple roots from the many seeds that had fallen at the outset. Something of a rhizome emerged (roots with multiple shoots - philosophically, research that allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation) as a structure supporting our discussion allowing for multiple possible interpretations and many trajectories.
This mirrors the research process. As I said as we started the conversation, the aim of it is not to pose a question, seeking an answer to that question, but to offer a seed for discussion, seeing, in relationship with others where that might go.
Your research is the same; your interest, ideas, passions, questions are your seeds.
Alone they will not flourish.
Through exposure to other elements; each other, the voice of the literature, the environment of your practice... they can be nourished and thrive.
It was a great active discussion during this session;
Davis is going to share further his thoughts around the ideas of clarity and interpretation
https://kensdancer.blogspot.co.uk
Alice was interested in talking more about relevance and meaning in beginning to streamline her research, looking at drawing up the guest list for a party.
http://elysiandance.blogspot.co.uk
Sam wanted to follow-up on the notion of us making choices in our research and beginning to look at the ethical implications around these choices.
https://dixieogivar.blogspot.co.uk
Parimala will share thoughts around our personal, social, cultural roots.
https://parimalamapp.blogspot.co.uk
Raymond is talking about looking at and situating yourself, your practice within a bigger picture and offered an interesting story in the conversation around the language we use to communicate, when talking about a friend experiencing Romeo and Juliet through classical ballet.
http://raymond-chai.blogspot.co.uk
Laura will carry on the discussion around subjectivity in dance and our interpretations and intentions.
http://caterpillarlaura.blogspot.co.uk
There was some nice sharing of resources also, don't forget to share these through your blogs and discuss with each other what you're reading...
For me, there was much about the process of the discussion today which resonated with the process of research; a common ground that Sam and Alice mentioned in relation to their literature searching.
Everyone offered starting points, seeds, possible roots to grow from. As the discussions unfolded we moved with ease, not in a clear, linear manner from one beginning to one end, but around multiple beginnings, multiple roots from the many seeds that had fallen at the outset. Something of a rhizome emerged (roots with multiple shoots - philosophically, research that allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation) as a structure supporting our discussion allowing for multiple possible interpretations and many trajectories.
This mirrors the research process. As I said as we started the conversation, the aim of it is not to pose a question, seeking an answer to that question, but to offer a seed for discussion, seeing, in relationship with others where that might go.
Your research is the same; your interest, ideas, passions, questions are your seeds.
Alone they will not flourish.
Through exposure to other elements; each other, the voice of the literature, the environment of your practice... they can be nourished and thrive.
It was a great active discussion during this session;
Davis is going to share further his thoughts around the ideas of clarity and interpretation
https://kensdancer.blogspot.co.uk
Alice was interested in talking more about relevance and meaning in beginning to streamline her research, looking at drawing up the guest list for a party.
http://elysiandance.blogspot.co.uk
Sam wanted to follow-up on the notion of us making choices in our research and beginning to look at the ethical implications around these choices.
https://dixieogivar.blogspot.co.uk
Parimala will share thoughts around our personal, social, cultural roots.
https://parimalamapp.blogspot.co.uk
Raymond is talking about looking at and situating yourself, your practice within a bigger picture and offered an interesting story in the conversation around the language we use to communicate, when talking about a friend experiencing Romeo and Juliet through classical ballet.
http://raymond-chai.blogspot.co.uk
Laura will carry on the discussion around subjectivity in dance and our interpretations and intentions.
http://caterpillarlaura.blogspot.co.uk
There was some nice sharing of resources also, don't forget to share these through your blogs and discuss with each other what you're reading...
Monday, 13 February 2017
A little bit of breath...
There were some interesting areas raise in both the Skype discussion groups on Sunday.
Ones that resonated with me were those pointing to the following;
Academia...versus...Us
Truth
Validity
Being 'in limbo'
Willingness to accept change
Transactions
Each notion here needs some unpacking, some unraveling, needs to enter into a process of interpretation, evaluation (upon reflection of that interpretation) in order for any of the notions to carry meaning for any of us. The meaning we attribute is to do with the choices we make, affected by the context we're in, our values, what we know as 'known' and what we do not yet know...and this will be different for each of us.
There is no universal meaning.
But there is space to breathe.
There is a little bit of breath for all of us here.
Brandon offered the phrase, that I've adopted here 'a little bit of breath' as a feeling for him in response to the discussion he was a part of yesterday. That this programme is not telling you what to do and how to do it. That there aren't right or wrong answers (actually that we're not posing questions seeking answers at all). There is room for individuality and that is valued. There is a valuing of your experiences and those experiences being meaningful through a process of reflection. There is choice... and there is always the spaces between.
The space between is where we breathe.
Take in what's around us...let things affect us...consider how we experience them... and choose how we may respond.
In this MA try not to position yourself in opposition to things ...Academia...versus...Us
Try to question what you believe to be Truths.
Look for Validity of you, of your experiecnes from within them, not external to.
Accept the in-betweens, moment of being 'in limbo' and recognise the space they offer to breathe.
Harness a willingness to accept change as inevitable, fundamental, rather than resist it by sticking to patterns you hold habitually perhaps.
Try to see teaching and learning as Transactions, more than an offering and receiving of knowledge.
Enjoy the spaces you find this week...talk about them through your blogs...
I look forward to sharing them.
Ones that resonated with me were those pointing to the following;
Academia...versus...Us
Truth
Validity
Being 'in limbo'
Willingness to accept change
Transactions
Each notion here needs some unpacking, some unraveling, needs to enter into a process of interpretation, evaluation (upon reflection of that interpretation) in order for any of the notions to carry meaning for any of us. The meaning we attribute is to do with the choices we make, affected by the context we're in, our values, what we know as 'known' and what we do not yet know...and this will be different for each of us.
There is no universal meaning.
But there is space to breathe.
There is a little bit of breath for all of us here.
Brandon offered the phrase, that I've adopted here 'a little bit of breath' as a feeling for him in response to the discussion he was a part of yesterday. That this programme is not telling you what to do and how to do it. That there aren't right or wrong answers (actually that we're not posing questions seeking answers at all). There is room for individuality and that is valued. There is a valuing of your experiences and those experiences being meaningful through a process of reflection. There is choice... and there is always the spaces between.
The space between is where we breathe.
Take in what's around us...let things affect us...consider how we experience them... and choose how we may respond.
In this MA try not to position yourself in opposition to things ...Academia...versus...Us
Try to question what you believe to be Truths.
Look for Validity of you, of your experiecnes from within them, not external to.
Accept the in-betweens, moment of being 'in limbo' and recognise the space they offer to breathe.
Harness a willingness to accept change as inevitable, fundamental, rather than resist it by sticking to patterns you hold habitually perhaps.
Try to see teaching and learning as Transactions, more than an offering and receiving of knowledge.
Enjoy the spaces you find this week...talk about them through your blogs...
I look forward to sharing them.
Monday, 6 February 2017
Feedback...
Those of you who have just completed Module One or Two (submitting work in Jan for this) you will receive your feedback via email this week. This is in order to offer you some feedback and give you some time this week to reflect on your work as you begin to galvanise your study-mode again to move into the next module when term officially starts back next week Monday Feb 13th. You will not receive confirmation of approval for your claim for accreditation or your grade for the ROL essay until later in the month (via UniHub).
Finalists who completed the programme in Jan, as your feedback does not feed-directly into a next module for the MAPP, this is withheld until your grades are published later this month (around the 18th). Please do take our very best wishes and congratulations on all your hard work for now, and we look forward you sharing where your research has taken you next at our Alumni Sharing on May 20th (more details to follow but save the date for now!)
First monthly discussion group via Skype is this Sunday Feb 12th, at the usual offers of 1100 and 1700 (UK time).
Look forward to talking then and welcoming new starters on their MAPP journey with us too!
MAPP (soon to be) Graduates - do remember you are still a valued part of our community, feel free to join us on Skype discussions, blogs and keep us in the loop of your work!
All best wishes
Helen
Finalists who completed the programme in Jan, as your feedback does not feed-directly into a next module for the MAPP, this is withheld until your grades are published later this month (around the 18th). Please do take our very best wishes and congratulations on all your hard work for now, and we look forward you sharing where your research has taken you next at our Alumni Sharing on May 20th (more details to follow but save the date for now!)
First monthly discussion group via Skype is this Sunday Feb 12th, at the usual offers of 1100 and 1700 (UK time).
Look forward to talking then and welcoming new starters on their MAPP journey with us too!
MAPP (soon to be) Graduates - do remember you are still a valued part of our community, feel free to join us on Skype discussions, blogs and keep us in the loop of your work!
All best wishes
Helen
Friday, 3 February 2017
New things...new term...
Great to meet our new starters during your induction today...looking forward to having your voices and experiences join our MAPP community this term!
Don't forget to drop us an email with your blog address once you have one set up, take a look around at ours in the meantime to get a sense of each others (you'll find links to other MAPPers on our blogs in previous posts), and maybe use this as your starting point for what to write in your first blog...'how did it feel to start a blog? How did you approach it? ...
Remember you don't have to have the answers, but you're offering something for others to comment on and share their experiences with you too.
Take this next week until term officially starts on Feb 13th to read through handbooks (I'll be emailing these over the weekend to those not yet on UniHub as discussed), make a note of key dates, think about how and where you might study in and around your work and life, let employers (if relevant) know you're undertaking the MA so that they can support you, be aware of your research/work relationship to come, make a first meeting date with your advisor (this will be emailed over the weekend also) to chat and discuss best modes of contact for you, clear a desk space, buy a new notebook or open a new MAPP folder on your desktop and begin embracing the student-you!
You'll have a chance to meet others on the MA at our first monthly discussion group via Skype on SUNDAY FEB 12TH at either 1100 or 1700 (UK time).
Any questions in the meantime, feel free to drop us an email, or a Skype message anytime!
Emails: Helen <h.kindred@mdx.ac.uk> Adesola <a.akinleye@mdx.ac.uk>
Skypes: Helen <helen.kindred2> Adesola <aonthephone>
Some useful links for now...
http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk
https://www.nus.org.uk/extra
http://www.bl.uk
Helen
Don't forget to drop us an email with your blog address once you have one set up, take a look around at ours in the meantime to get a sense of each others (you'll find links to other MAPPers on our blogs in previous posts), and maybe use this as your starting point for what to write in your first blog...'how did it feel to start a blog? How did you approach it? ...
Remember you don't have to have the answers, but you're offering something for others to comment on and share their experiences with you too.
Take this next week until term officially starts on Feb 13th to read through handbooks (I'll be emailing these over the weekend to those not yet on UniHub as discussed), make a note of key dates, think about how and where you might study in and around your work and life, let employers (if relevant) know you're undertaking the MA so that they can support you, be aware of your research/work relationship to come, make a first meeting date with your advisor (this will be emailed over the weekend also) to chat and discuss best modes of contact for you, clear a desk space, buy a new notebook or open a new MAPP folder on your desktop and begin embracing the student-you!
You'll have a chance to meet others on the MA at our first monthly discussion group via Skype on SUNDAY FEB 12TH at either 1100 or 1700 (UK time).
Any questions in the meantime, feel free to drop us an email, or a Skype message anytime!
Emails: Helen <h.kindred@mdx.ac.uk> Adesola <a.akinleye@mdx.ac.uk>
Skypes: Helen <helen.kindred2> Adesola <aonthephone>
Some useful links for now...
http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk
https://www.nus.org.uk/extra
http://www.bl.uk
Helen
Sunday, 8 January 2017
In-between time...
Thanks for all your submissions of work and well done to all for your hard work last term!!
We're aware that this is now a little of an in-between time for those of you in Modules one and two at least. Aside from the module three presentations on Jan 17th which we hope you can join in person or via Skype, now's time to take a short break, read ahead to the next module's handbook (available on UniHub) before we start the next term on Feb 6th.
With regard to assessment and feedback on work submitted, we aim to get feedback to you at the start of the next term (first week of Feb) and your grades will follow after the University Assessment Boards have taken place, so you should receive these via UniHub by the end of Feb.
Our first monthly group Skype back will be on SUNDAY FEB 12TH, at our usual offer of an AM and PM session - 1100 / 1700 (UK time). Adesola will blog nearer the time asking you to comment with which conversation you would like to be a part of and to think what you might like to bring to the discussion.
Module Threes, remember we are still on emails or Skype call for contact if you have questions in the lead up to your presentations on the 17th.
Until then...all best wishes
Helen
We're aware that this is now a little of an in-between time for those of you in Modules one and two at least. Aside from the module three presentations on Jan 17th which we hope you can join in person or via Skype, now's time to take a short break, read ahead to the next module's handbook (available on UniHub) before we start the next term on Feb 6th.
With regard to assessment and feedback on work submitted, we aim to get feedback to you at the start of the next term (first week of Feb) and your grades will follow after the University Assessment Boards have taken place, so you should receive these via UniHub by the end of Feb.
Our first monthly group Skype back will be on SUNDAY FEB 12TH, at our usual offer of an AM and PM session - 1100 / 1700 (UK time). Adesola will blog nearer the time asking you to comment with which conversation you would like to be a part of and to think what you might like to bring to the discussion.
Module Threes, remember we are still on emails or Skype call for contact if you have questions in the lead up to your presentations on the 17th.
Until then...all best wishes
Helen
Thursday, 5 January 2017
Finalists Presentations... Jan 17th
Happy New Year wishes to you all!
A reminder that all work for this past term is due to be submitted by tomorrow JAN 6th
To be submitted via turnitin (UniHub)
backing up by emailing your work to us also <h.kindred@mdx.ac.uk> and <a.akinleye@mdx.ac.uk>
and by post for Portfolios for Module One.
Then... we look forward to seeing current students and MAPP alumni at our Finalist Presentations on TUESDAY JAN 17.
The presentations will be held in the new Ritterman Dance Studio at our Hendon Campus (NW4 4BT) Schedule as follows:
A reminder that all work for this past term is due to be submitted by tomorrow JAN 6th
To be submitted via turnitin (UniHub)
backing up by emailing your work to us also <h.kindred@mdx.ac.uk> and <a.akinleye@mdx.ac.uk>
and by post for Portfolios for Module One.
Then... we look forward to seeing current students and MAPP alumni at our Finalist Presentations on TUESDAY JAN 17.
The presentations will be held in the new Ritterman Dance Studio at our Hendon Campus (NW4 4BT) Schedule as follows:
0930 Studio open, tea/coffee, technical
support available (skype check)
AM
session
1000-1040 Amanda Lawford (via Skype)
1045-1125
Tara Herbert
1130-1210
Tamzin Howard
----------------
Break –--------------------------------
1240-1300
Viva with Assessors – Tara
1300-1320
Viva with Assessors – Tamzin
PM session
1345-1425
Lisa Norris
1430-1510
Alanna Kraaijeveld (via Skype)
----------------
End of presentations ------------------
1530-1550
Viva with Assessors – Lisa
1600-1620
Viva with Assessors – Alanna (via Skype)
1630-1700
- Viva with Assessors – Amanda (via Skype)
It would be great for as many of you to join us as possible and share in each others research. If you are unable to make it to campus in person but would like to join the presentations via Skype, please let us know so that we can call you at a time that works for you to be a part of all or some of the presentations.
The campus is just a 10min walk from Hendon Central Tube Station on the Northern Line.
Parking on campus is limited, if you're intending to drive in please do let me know and I can request a parking space for you, the sooner I know this the better please!
We look forward to seeing you then!
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