I am pleased to have been introduced to this social bookmarking site through the BAPP course, although my use of it during the module has not been extensive.
Delicious provides a useful way to recommend resources found on the internet to other users. It is a progression from the way in which we save online resources to our computer’s ‘Favourites bar’, as it allows anyone with a Delicious account to view your bookmarked items.
There are two key benefits to this feature. The first is that we can instantly find our saved items through any computer with internet access, as opposed to the traditional method of using just one computer to access our saved links. The second benefit is the ability to share resources with an online community, which is of particular benefit to a group such as those on the BAPP course. The ability to tag resources with keywords is a useful device when searching for links that those inside your Delicious network have added. I have also found it beneficial to see resources that other Delicious users (outside of my network) have contributed to the online library.
Sharing resources amongst an online community is a technique that could be used for a variety of purposes. Students; work colleagues; friends; family, or members of an organisation or club are all examples of groups that could potentially find Delicious of benefit. Social bookmarking is a new concept for me, but one that I shall certainly bear in mind for the future.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
8th September
Well then, it's time for me to switch off my overheated laptop! I feel as though I've fulfilled my POA for today, having:
- familiarised myself with Google Docs
- set up my Delicious account -I'm simply under 'laurabentley' should you want to add me
- enrolled for this semester
- visited various course related websites (there's a lot of information out there!)
- completed an application form for the university's Web Helpdesk (visit http://webhelpdesk.mdx.ac.uk )
- organised my laptop (favourites bar/documents folder) to make way for plenty of new work!
Small steps I know, but they've certainly helped me get the study bug back!
- familiarised myself with Google Docs
- set up my Delicious account -I'm simply under 'laurabentley' should you want to add me
- enrolled for this semester
- visited various course related websites (there's a lot of information out there!)
- completed an application form for the university's Web Helpdesk (visit http://webhelpdesk.mdx.ac.uk )
- organised my laptop (favourites bar/documents folder) to make way for plenty of new work!
Small steps I know, but they've certainly helped me get the study bug back!
Here starts my blogging of the third and final module...
With a day off from work, and an aborted journey from Southampton to today's meeting with Peter, I have finally sat down to kick start this module into action.
Today's POA is to familiarise myself with all of the 'tools' stated in our handbook.. to get myself set up and ready to work.
I will have a busy work schedule throughout this entire module, so will need a lot of motivation to keep on top of both my job and academic studies. The plan is to broadcast my POA every time I sit down to study, hopefully ensuring that I complete a substantial amount of work to report back on. (Although I won't be offended if you want to scroll past my posts on Google Reader.. I don't want to bore you all with my lesson plans!)
Here goes...
Today's POA is to familiarise myself with all of the 'tools' stated in our handbook.. to get myself set up and ready to work.
I will have a busy work schedule throughout this entire module, so will need a lot of motivation to keep on top of both my job and academic studies. The plan is to broadcast my POA every time I sit down to study, hopefully ensuring that I complete a substantial amount of work to report back on. (Although I won't be offended if you want to scroll past my posts on Google Reader.. I don't want to bore you all with my lesson plans!)
Here goes...
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Award Title Rationale
My proposed award title is:
BA(Hons) Professional Practice (Work Ethos)
Rationale:
“Work Ethos” is drawn directly from the title of my proposed project: The Impact of Unemployment on the Work Ethos of Professional Classical and Contemporary Dancers. It is a theme on which I will focus directly; investigating work ethos within the context of professional dancers whilst holding an acute awareness of its relevance to all members of society.
In selecting a full award title I considered both the focus of my proposed project and the credentials that permitted my inclusion on the degree course. My project is based on three elements, as depicted in its title: “unemployment”, “work ethos” and “dancers”. My diploma, and therefore training, is also focused on the latter of the three, being a National Diploma in Professional Dance. Three options are thus provided for my award title, although a degree concerned with unemployment may not be viewed favourably by potential employers. ‘Work Ethos’ and ‘Dance’ therefore stand as the two rational contenders for my award title.
The BAPP course is designed to “achieve the development objectives of organisations and individuals” (Middlesex University). This notion of personal development was my primary reason for taking the course, and one that I would like my degree to reflect.
For this reason I have not proposed ‘Dance’ as my award title. My training, diploma and work experience all clearly demonstrate my extensive involvement in dance. If the focus of my degree was to be stated as ‘Dance’, a continuation of learning in a specialised area would indeed be expressed, but no other merits gained throughout the course, or my vocation, would be represented. For a degree course designed to stimulate and accredit development in an individual’s professional practice, I believe an award title reflecting the key driving force of professional practice would be of greater relevance, and certainly more noteworthy.
As stated above, ‘Work Ethos' is the central focus of my proposed project. Moreover, my training and work have enabled me to understand the components of a good work ethos, as well as those of a poor one. Observing my own work ethic and those of my colleagues has taught me a great deal about its key role in the career of a professional. I consider my project to be the missing piece of the jigsaw in learning about and achieving a good work ethos. A professional’s work ethic must be maintained, and ideally improved, throughout the three common components of a career: training, work and unemployment. In studying the matter amongst unemployed dancers, I will be completing my understanding of the trilogy of circumstances to which work ethos is so relevant. Hart considers acquiring an overall “understanding of your topic” to be “part of your academic development – of becoming an expert in the field” (Hart 1998: 1). I believe my endeavour to achieve an inclusive understanding of work ethos promises sufficient personal development to warrant its place in my award title.
When applying for this course I expressed in my personal statement that I was keen to “continue fostering my academic ability” due to my concern that a career in dance is not representative of my “academic potential” (Bentley 2009: 1). I have thus chosen an award title which demonstrates a facet to my character besides that of my ability to dance. Furthermore, this facet has been crucial to my progress as a dancer, as well as to any other venture undertaken. Work Ethos is a phrase that incorporates my eight years of professional training and the development of my work ethic during subsequent jobs. It also recognises the studies undertaken through this degree course, especially with regard to the core focus of studying and improving professional practice.
For the reasons stated above I consider my chosen award title to be an accurate reflection of the project I am undertaking; representative of the objectives of the degree course, and an embodiment of a major aspect of my vocation. When placed together with my diploma, training and work experience, it observes capabilities and interests besides that of dance, whilst still acknowledging my background due to its auxiliary role in my vocation. I also believe the title to be a sensible choice with regard to approaching potential employers. It recognises a vital component of my professional practice, but in a way that is accessible to a wider field of work.
Sources:
Bentley, L, 2009, Personal Statement [essay]. Submitted to Middlesex University: June 2009
Hart, C, 1998, Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. London: Sage in association with The Open University
Middlesex University, 200? probable decade, Excelling at University Level-Learning in the Workplace [online]. London: Middlesex University. Available from:. [Accessed 22 April 2010].
BA(Hons) Professional Practice (Work Ethos)
Rationale:
“Work Ethos” is drawn directly from the title of my proposed project: The Impact of Unemployment on the Work Ethos of Professional Classical and Contemporary Dancers. It is a theme on which I will focus directly; investigating work ethos within the context of professional dancers whilst holding an acute awareness of its relevance to all members of society.
In selecting a full award title I considered both the focus of my proposed project and the credentials that permitted my inclusion on the degree course. My project is based on three elements, as depicted in its title: “unemployment”, “work ethos” and “dancers”. My diploma, and therefore training, is also focused on the latter of the three, being a National Diploma in Professional Dance. Three options are thus provided for my award title, although a degree concerned with unemployment may not be viewed favourably by potential employers. ‘Work Ethos’ and ‘Dance’ therefore stand as the two rational contenders for my award title.
The BAPP course is designed to “achieve the development objectives of organisations and individuals” (Middlesex University). This notion of personal development was my primary reason for taking the course, and one that I would like my degree to reflect.
For this reason I have not proposed ‘Dance’ as my award title. My training, diploma and work experience all clearly demonstrate my extensive involvement in dance. If the focus of my degree was to be stated as ‘Dance’, a continuation of learning in a specialised area would indeed be expressed, but no other merits gained throughout the course, or my vocation, would be represented. For a degree course designed to stimulate and accredit development in an individual’s professional practice, I believe an award title reflecting the key driving force of professional practice would be of greater relevance, and certainly more noteworthy.
As stated above, ‘Work Ethos' is the central focus of my proposed project. Moreover, my training and work have enabled me to understand the components of a good work ethos, as well as those of a poor one. Observing my own work ethic and those of my colleagues has taught me a great deal about its key role in the career of a professional. I consider my project to be the missing piece of the jigsaw in learning about and achieving a good work ethos. A professional’s work ethic must be maintained, and ideally improved, throughout the three common components of a career: training, work and unemployment. In studying the matter amongst unemployed dancers, I will be completing my understanding of the trilogy of circumstances to which work ethos is so relevant. Hart considers acquiring an overall “understanding of your topic” to be “part of your academic development – of becoming an expert in the field” (Hart 1998: 1). I believe my endeavour to achieve an inclusive understanding of work ethos promises sufficient personal development to warrant its place in my award title.
When applying for this course I expressed in my personal statement that I was keen to “continue fostering my academic ability” due to my concern that a career in dance is not representative of my “academic potential” (Bentley 2009: 1). I have thus chosen an award title which demonstrates a facet to my character besides that of my ability to dance. Furthermore, this facet has been crucial to my progress as a dancer, as well as to any other venture undertaken. Work Ethos is a phrase that incorporates my eight years of professional training and the development of my work ethic during subsequent jobs. It also recognises the studies undertaken through this degree course, especially with regard to the core focus of studying and improving professional practice.
For the reasons stated above I consider my chosen award title to be an accurate reflection of the project I am undertaking; representative of the objectives of the degree course, and an embodiment of a major aspect of my vocation. When placed together with my diploma, training and work experience, it observes capabilities and interests besides that of dance, whilst still acknowledging my background due to its auxiliary role in my vocation. I also believe the title to be a sensible choice with regard to approaching potential employers. It recognises a vital component of my professional practice, but in a way that is accessible to a wider field of work.
Sources:
Bentley, L, 2009, Personal Statement [essay]. Submitted to Middlesex University: June 2009
Hart, C, 1998, Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. London: Sage in association with The Open University
Middlesex University, 200? probable decade, Excelling at University Level-Learning in the Workplace [online]. London: Middlesex University. Available from:
A note for Laura-Beth:
Hi Laura-Beth,
Just to let you know that your Module Receipt form was accidentally posted to me! I'll post it back to Middlesex tomorrow so they can send it on to you... but I thought I'd try & let you know in case you were wondering where it had got to!? :)
Congrats to everyone for reaching the end of the module!!! :D
Just to let you know that your Module Receipt form was accidentally posted to me! I'll post it back to Middlesex tomorrow so they can send it on to you... but I thought I'd try & let you know in case you were wondering where it had got to!? :)
Congrats to everyone for reaching the end of the module!!! :D
Monday, 29 March 2010
Where's that bullet now?...
Well, after having bitten the bullet I've certainly got my teeth stuck into it! This topic is one that is reallly gripping me... What better way to combat the woes of unemployment than to engross oneself in a project? And to base it on the very subject of unemployed dancers makes me feel as though I am tackling the problem head on and defeating not the issue itself, but its negative symptoms at least.
A section of the video entitled "Designing a research question" posted on Peter's blog hit the nail on the head in summarising how I feel about my topic choice. Around 2 minutes 45 seconds in, the speaker advises:
"Choose something that nags away at you; choose something that sort of creates an itch in your thinking, as it were; that you really really want to get to grips with, you want to solve or find out more about."
The more I put into the task at hand, the more I feel I am getting to grips with the issue of unemployment. What better motivation to drive my project forwards...
Designing a research project, 2008 [Videoclip], YouTube: strideproject.
Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEuzeL061wM [Accessed 29 March 2010].
A section of the video entitled "Designing a research question" posted on Peter's blog hit the nail on the head in summarising how I feel about my topic choice. Around 2 minutes 45 seconds in, the speaker advises:
"Choose something that nags away at you; choose something that sort of creates an itch in your thinking, as it were; that you really really want to get to grips with, you want to solve or find out more about."
The more I put into the task at hand, the more I feel I am getting to grips with the issue of unemployment. What better motivation to drive my project forwards...
Designing a research project, 2008 [Videoclip], YouTube: strideproject.
Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEuzeL061wM
Sunday, 28 March 2010
And My Project Is...
The Effects of Unemployment on Dancers.
As Abbi quite rightly stated, it is a title that has been staring me in the face since the collapse of the company that I worked for; but after careful consideration and some extensive mind mapping, I really do feel that this topic has gripped me.
My Title:
I have not yet constructed my title, but I do know that it will be along the lines of ‘An Exploration of the Effects of Unemployment on Dancers’, with perhaps the addition of ‘...and Methods of Managing Them’.
Areas of Investigation:
I have concluded that the effects of unemployment fall into four key areas, all of which I plan to explore. These are the physical, psychological, financial and vocational effects of being out of work. This is a conclusion that I have come to based on my own knowledge of the topic, but some exploratory research may suggest otherwise.
Who to conduct my study on?
Due to the nature of our industry, most dancers will have experienced unemployment. I am looking at the personal effects that a dancer experiences under these circumstances, so any dancer’s opinion –whether currently or previously out of work- will be valid.
The term ‘dancers’ is a broad one, incorporating any form of dance, an assortment of ages, and varying levels of professional experience. I imagine this will cause a bit of a headache when it comes to composing a cross-section of dancers to research!
In terms of locating dancers, I have –throughout my training and work- developed a large network of contacts. Evidently I cannot only use personal contacts, as they will mainly be linked to the genres of dance in which I have worked, and therefore not representative of the industry as a whole. A fantastic pool of dancers will be readily available to me in London, namely at DanceWorks and Pineapple Studios, where classes and auditions in various genres occur on a daily basis. These organisations are popular amongst dancers who are seeking work or keeping fit in between jobs, making them ideal venues for me to locate people to research. I must, however, also make an effort to study dancers living outside of London. I know from personal experience that an unemployed dancer in London lives under very different circumstances to one living elsewhere in the country. Without easy access to dance classes and auditions, the effects of unemployment can feel harder to manage.
Peter’s blog has been invaluable in helping me to further develop thoughts and considerations about my topic choice. Below are some of the important questions raised in his blog entries “Setting your topic” and “Evaluating you topic” and my responses to them...
What do I know about the topic? What don’t I know?
I know that unemployment is a significant part of most dancer’s careers. (I recently heard a statistic that 85% of people in the performance industry are out of work at any given time! Of course I shall need to verify this, but it's a pretty clear indication of the nature of the profession.)
I know that unemployment personally affects me, and that I can find the situation difficult to manage.
I don’t know if the way in which it affects me is representative of other dancers - if my personal ‘symptoms’ of being out of work are common?
I don’t know the methods that other dancers use to manage the situation.
...So, I want to find out how unemployment affects other dancers.
-What are the common/main effects of unemployment?
-What methods can be adopted to manage the situation?
Is the research feasible?
Resources: My resources will be dancers, of which there are certainly plenty in London as previously mentioned. It will be feasible to incorporate my research into the trips I often take to London, and also to use the network of dancers I know based in other locations.
Skills: I have a personal understanding of the topic as a starting point.
Time: Provided I don’t make my topic too broad, time should not be a problem. There are always dancers out of work, so I am not limited to carrying out my research during a specific window of time.
Is the topic interesting?
It is certainly a relevant topic for anyone associated with the performance industry. I hope that my findings will be insightful, and that they will help people to learn more about the effects and management of unemployment past simply their own experiences. By learning how others deal with the situation, individuals have the opportunity to improve their own personal practice if necessary.
Is the topic novel?
I think so, but I need to check to see... I’ll let you know!!
Is the research ethical?
I don’t envisage my research running into too many ethical issues, but I must be careful when exploring the financial effects of being out of work. Finance is a personal and sometimes sensitive area, so I must seek advice on how far I am allowed to take questions of a financial nature. I must also carefully consider my exploration of the psychological effects on dancers. To gain a true insight I will require a great deal of openness from those I am researching, which often requires a good trust-relationship to be built up. Where possible, the promise of confidentiality and anonymity may be of benefit to these areas of my research.
Is the research relevant?
Most certainly!
i) Can it improve practice?
Not the principle issue of unemployment itself, but the practice of managing its effects
ii) Can other people use it to investigate further?
On an individual basis, I hope my project can facilitate the improvement of personal management of unemployment.
To further my project, other people could certainly look to investigate how organisations –such as dance studios, agencies and audition websites- help dancers who are out of work, and what improvements could be made to them.
And to one of my favourite questions of Peter’s: ‘So What?’
In terms of the industry: Unemployment is a relevant issue that virtually every dancer will experience. Admittedly, my project will not tackle the issue of unemployment itself. It is an inevitable feature of the industry, and pretty much an unwritten agreement between a dancer and their profession. BUT, despite its inevitability, it is a major downside to the job, and one that I want to research how to manage.
=Research that will apply more to the individual dancer than to the industry in general (which is too big a monster to tame!!)
In terms of practice: My research could be furthered to improve practice in existing –or perhaps new- organisations that are used by unemployed dancers, but I envisage focusing primarily on improving individual practice through my project.
[Especially as I am an individual within the industry at the time of selecting my topic –ie, not currently part of a company/organisation. Therefore my individual practice is the only one readily available to me! Interestingly, the largest group within my industry at any given time is those who are out of work. They are all individuals, with only their circumstances causing them to be a part of this ‘group’ (rather than their geographic location, or company name badge, so to speak). So, to investigate and improve the practice of the ‘group’ I must focus on and deliver suggestions about individual practice. In conclusion, I hope that my project will benefit the largest sector of my industry. This sector is not an official organisation, merely a statistic, so it therefore receives little help and attention.]
Does anyone else care about what I find out?
My topic will be relevant to plenty of others, but whether they will be as thirsty for advice as I am is yet to see! I may find that unemployment is far less of an issue for everybody else than it is for me. Perhaps no one else is particularly bothered?!
And finally: Do I want to share these burning questions of mine with the world?!
I do believe unemployment to be a sensitive issue, for me anyway. I would rather brush over my current circumstances and pick a study area that doesn’t highlight my employment status to other people in such a glaringly obvious manner! However, learning to deal with periods of unemployment is vital for most dancers, and something you certainly don’t learn how to deal with when you are spending six days a week in the studio training for the profession. I hope that by addressing the issue head on I can help myself and others to eliminate any shame in the situation (should this be applicable), and to discover the best possible methods of managing it.
As Abbi quite rightly stated, it is a title that has been staring me in the face since the collapse of the company that I worked for; but after careful consideration and some extensive mind mapping, I really do feel that this topic has gripped me.
My Title:
I have not yet constructed my title, but I do know that it will be along the lines of ‘An Exploration of the Effects of Unemployment on Dancers’, with perhaps the addition of ‘...and Methods of Managing Them’.
Areas of Investigation:
I have concluded that the effects of unemployment fall into four key areas, all of which I plan to explore. These are the physical, psychological, financial and vocational effects of being out of work. This is a conclusion that I have come to based on my own knowledge of the topic, but some exploratory research may suggest otherwise.
Who to conduct my study on?
Due to the nature of our industry, most dancers will have experienced unemployment. I am looking at the personal effects that a dancer experiences under these circumstances, so any dancer’s opinion –whether currently or previously out of work- will be valid.
The term ‘dancers’ is a broad one, incorporating any form of dance, an assortment of ages, and varying levels of professional experience. I imagine this will cause a bit of a headache when it comes to composing a cross-section of dancers to research!
In terms of locating dancers, I have –throughout my training and work- developed a large network of contacts. Evidently I cannot only use personal contacts, as they will mainly be linked to the genres of dance in which I have worked, and therefore not representative of the industry as a whole. A fantastic pool of dancers will be readily available to me in London, namely at DanceWorks and Pineapple Studios, where classes and auditions in various genres occur on a daily basis. These organisations are popular amongst dancers who are seeking work or keeping fit in between jobs, making them ideal venues for me to locate people to research. I must, however, also make an effort to study dancers living outside of London. I know from personal experience that an unemployed dancer in London lives under very different circumstances to one living elsewhere in the country. Without easy access to dance classes and auditions, the effects of unemployment can feel harder to manage.
Peter’s blog has been invaluable in helping me to further develop thoughts and considerations about my topic choice. Below are some of the important questions raised in his blog entries “Setting your topic” and “Evaluating you topic” and my responses to them...
What do I know about the topic? What don’t I know?
I know that unemployment is a significant part of most dancer’s careers. (I recently heard a statistic that 85% of people in the performance industry are out of work at any given time! Of course I shall need to verify this, but it's a pretty clear indication of the nature of the profession.)
I know that unemployment personally affects me, and that I can find the situation difficult to manage.
I don’t know if the way in which it affects me is representative of other dancers - if my personal ‘symptoms’ of being out of work are common?
I don’t know the methods that other dancers use to manage the situation.
...So, I want to find out how unemployment affects other dancers.
-What are the common/main effects of unemployment?
-What methods can be adopted to manage the situation?
Is the research feasible?
Resources: My resources will be dancers, of which there are certainly plenty in London as previously mentioned. It will be feasible to incorporate my research into the trips I often take to London, and also to use the network of dancers I know based in other locations.
Skills: I have a personal understanding of the topic as a starting point.
Time: Provided I don’t make my topic too broad, time should not be a problem. There are always dancers out of work, so I am not limited to carrying out my research during a specific window of time.
Is the topic interesting?
It is certainly a relevant topic for anyone associated with the performance industry. I hope that my findings will be insightful, and that they will help people to learn more about the effects and management of unemployment past simply their own experiences. By learning how others deal with the situation, individuals have the opportunity to improve their own personal practice if necessary.
Is the topic novel?
I think so, but I need to check to see... I’ll let you know!!
Is the research ethical?
I don’t envisage my research running into too many ethical issues, but I must be careful when exploring the financial effects of being out of work. Finance is a personal and sometimes sensitive area, so I must seek advice on how far I am allowed to take questions of a financial nature. I must also carefully consider my exploration of the psychological effects on dancers. To gain a true insight I will require a great deal of openness from those I am researching, which often requires a good trust-relationship to be built up. Where possible, the promise of confidentiality and anonymity may be of benefit to these areas of my research.
Is the research relevant?
Most certainly!
i) Can it improve practice?
Not the principle issue of unemployment itself, but the practice of managing its effects
ii) Can other people use it to investigate further?
On an individual basis, I hope my project can facilitate the improvement of personal management of unemployment.
To further my project, other people could certainly look to investigate how organisations –such as dance studios, agencies and audition websites- help dancers who are out of work, and what improvements could be made to them.
And to one of my favourite questions of Peter’s: ‘So What?’
In terms of the industry: Unemployment is a relevant issue that virtually every dancer will experience. Admittedly, my project will not tackle the issue of unemployment itself. It is an inevitable feature of the industry, and pretty much an unwritten agreement between a dancer and their profession. BUT, despite its inevitability, it is a major downside to the job, and one that I want to research how to manage.
=Research that will apply more to the individual dancer than to the industry in general (which is too big a monster to tame!!)
In terms of practice: My research could be furthered to improve practice in existing –or perhaps new- organisations that are used by unemployed dancers, but I envisage focusing primarily on improving individual practice through my project.
[Especially as I am an individual within the industry at the time of selecting my topic –ie, not currently part of a company/organisation. Therefore my individual practice is the only one readily available to me! Interestingly, the largest group within my industry at any given time is those who are out of work. They are all individuals, with only their circumstances causing them to be a part of this ‘group’ (rather than their geographic location, or company name badge, so to speak). So, to investigate and improve the practice of the ‘group’ I must focus on and deliver suggestions about individual practice. In conclusion, I hope that my project will benefit the largest sector of my industry. This sector is not an official organisation, merely a statistic, so it therefore receives little help and attention.]
Does anyone else care about what I find out?
My topic will be relevant to plenty of others, but whether they will be as thirsty for advice as I am is yet to see! I may find that unemployment is far less of an issue for everybody else than it is for me. Perhaps no one else is particularly bothered?!
And finally: Do I want to share these burning questions of mine with the world?!
I do believe unemployment to be a sensitive issue, for me anyway. I would rather brush over my current circumstances and pick a study area that doesn’t highlight my employment status to other people in such a glaringly obvious manner! However, learning to deal with periods of unemployment is vital for most dancers, and something you certainly don’t learn how to deal with when you are spending six days a week in the studio training for the profession. I hope that by addressing the issue head on I can help myself and others to eliminate any shame in the situation (should this be applicable), and to discover the best possible methods of managing it.
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