Thinking about ethics - something I wrote for the BAPPs and a great video.

Ethics as we have discussed it - in terms of how you might be experienced by those around you, how your inquiry might be experienced by those around you. It seems ironic to say it’s not just a tick-box activity when the form is actually a tick-box form!!!! but …You need to make sure the form clearly explains what you will be doing and why it is necessary to involve the people you want to involve. As well as how your inquiry might impact on them and their identity and relationship with you. - (Think about: it if you have a teacher/student relationship their identity is ‘student’ that is how they see themselves when with you so however much you feel the inquiry is different from your usual relationship they are 'student' with you and asking someone not to see themselves in that way is asking them to make the effort of changing their identity just so you can do your inquiry).

Here is a link to a great Ted video to get you thinking also - as Dave Isay suggests when we are doing what we are doing we may also be impacting on others in an important way that is much bigger than we could have dreamt of 

Below the video should be embedded but here is the address if it doesn’t work below!!

http://www.ted.com/talks/dave_isay_everyone_around_you_has_a_story_the_world_needs_to_hear

Late night rant about ownership …

Hey, here's a pet beef I have posted about again and again especially with the BAs.
When you send a file to someone else do not name it for yourself. Name it for them.
On my computer, writing 'Project Paper' as the name of a file makes sense because I have all my other things there that are all mine!  but if I am sending the file to someone else they might be getting 8 or 9 people 'Project papers' to look at. So I name the file for them 'Akinleye - first draft Project Paper'. that way they know what it is from their perspective.
I do not get irate about this because I want all the files in my computer to be neatly named. I get up-set because I feel this is a symptom of sending work for the other person to sort out for you. It goes along with
'Its still quite long can you let me know which parts I should cut?' - i.e. can you edit if for me.
'Its my first draft I know I have somethings to work on?' - i.e. so I'll let you point out the big ones for me because I am just a bit overwhelmed by the whole thought of messing with it again
'Can you just tell me if this is right?' i.e. I have given up ownership of my work and I am handing the creative process and point I am trying to make over to you.

When I get an email with work on it I like to put it in a folder called 'to mark' if I put two papers called 'Project paper' in the folder my computer will think they are the same thing and replace one with the other. Do you want that to happen!!!! So when people send me files called the generic name that works for their computer but not thinking about the person receiving the document, I have to open it and re-name just to save it. I have to check whose it is - fingers crossed it has a name in the main text and paper numbers too!!!

Watch as you come to the end of your module….

One story = ethical issues
The danger of telling one story…
As you write the story of your learning and experiences in Module One…
As you plan to gather stories and information from others in Module Two…
As you write the story of your inquiry in Module Three…
…Tell the multilayered, embodied, transactional, three dimensional stories of your own and others lived experiences!

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en

Sunday Skype Chat

Our Group  Skype Chat went well this Sunday. We had Module Two-ers, Three-ers and were lucky to also have an alumni (Mary).

We talked about a number of points but as we talked we kept coming back to the importance of synthesis cross the course, across ideas, across actions.

We saw how important it is to move away from compartmentalizing. Instead seeing whole experiences that inform our learning and development and feed our reflective process. So for instance:

A pilot interview could inform you about how your theoretical framework (non- positivist approach) is forming.

Creating a consent form could make you think about how you will carry out interviews.

I feel that pilots, ethics, tool for data collection, and stance (positivist or non) are all interconnected. (Of course I do I come from a non-positivist  perspective!!).

We talked about not worrying over the minutia. This is also about seeing the big picture, and understanding that within it there will be times you feel lost.

We talked about field data tools like interviews. And seeing these as something you respond to as part of the analysis of the inquiry, rather than interviews or other tool as methods to get people to tells you the 'answer'  to your inquiry.

Lastly we talked about ethics. I always feel very strongly about the point that ethics is not about not hurting people. (The road to hell is paved with good intensions). How can you know you won't or aren't hurting someone? I feel ethics is about constant reflection on you actions: considering before you take action. That is why we call these ethical considerations. It's the consideration that is the important part.

Helen is going to post about tips for Turnitin - posting work for hand-in.

Ainsley  http://ainsleymsudds.blogspot.com

Suzanne  http://zsurcy.blogspot.com

Maria  http://mariaranden.blogspot.com

Sarah http://sarahsulemanji.blogspot.com

Rose  http://rosepaye3012.blogspot.com

Louise http://louisedubai.blogspot.com

What do you think?

Please comment below

Adesola

:)

Fun in the Summer

Just a note / dates for your diary - We're holding our a Summer Intensive this August!  Some info for now, with more to follow;

The Dance and Writing Professional Practice Summer Intensive will take place August 17th-21st 2015 and will be held at Middlesex University's Hendon Campus, London.

The programme has been designed in response to feedback from students on both the MAPP DTP and the BA Professional Practice (arts) programmes concerning the transition from vocational training, performance work, independent practice, studio teaching into studying within a university environment and being able to confidently share rich bodies of experiential knowledge through academic writing.

The programme intends to address these transitions through a mix of studio (practical) dance classes and classroom sessions;  accessing and developing literature reviews, citation methods, academic writing structures and written expression of physical experiences, engaging with social media and web 2.0 online developing confidence in online learning and sharing.

Each day will begin with a movement class followed by sessions looking at text, research skills and writing to help students develop confidence in what they have to offer as academic students and to encourage students to draw on their somatic knowing of movement to inform their ideas and writing.

The Summer Intensive will be open for booking and a full programme available through the MDX online store by the end of the month, we just wanted to flag up the dates to you now appreciating that you're probably in the process of planning your summers!


Provisional Details:
Dates: August 17-21, 2015
Costs: £350 (Full) £250 (concessions/unwaged)
Venue: Middlesex University London NW4 4BT
Facilitators: Adesola Akinleye and Helen Kindred
Bookings and Payment online: www.mdx.ac.uk/onlinestore

The programme is open to all current MAPP DTP students, alumni and enrolling students for the coming academic year, and would be a great opportunity to come together and learn more whatever stage you're at.  We look forward to seeing some of you there!

Group SKYPE Sunday April 12th

Hi
It is our Group Skype on Sunday April 12th - already!!!
11am (in London)
5:30pm (in London)

If you plan to attend please leave a comment below.

Looking forward to hearing how it is all going
Adesola

When you look in the mirror do you see a Student Rep. ?!!

On reflection of the programme growing in numbers considerably over the past couple of years, we are now at a point (size of cohort) where having a student representative for the programme would be really beneficial for us all as a community of learners within the realms of an academic institution.

The role of a student rep in this context is essentially to strengthen communication between you as a cohort of students on this programme of study with the university. To act as a link if you like between you as individual students and the university as a whole, to represent the voice of your community on the MAPP and to be able to speak of your experiences on the programme in a wider context of the university as a whole.

The commitment of taking on this role is fairly minimal (in terms of your time), the rep would be required to report to a university Board of Studies meeting a two points in the year, (usually November and March) collating thoughts, issues, things to raise from your fellow MAPPers beforehand and feeding back thoughts and responses from the Board (made up of Programme Leaders, Work-Based learning faculty, Heads of Dept, representatives from Learning Resources, Ethics committee members and other student reps) afterwards.

The role is really important as we continue to grow as it allows your collective voice to be heard and any issues you feel you have, as professional practitioners, with university systems or procedures to be addressed.  It's always really valuable to have your feedback on how the programme's working for you and this is an opportunity to do that, commenting on what works well for you as well as suggesting any areas for further consideration as we continue to monitor and evaluate the programme moving forwards.

Taking on the role of  a student rep is always a positive responsibility to list on your CV and it does allow you to get more involved within the university structure if you want to.  I think it's always a nice opportunity to connect with and listen to others on different work-based learning programmes within the university too, an opportunity to broaden your networks perhaps and to learn from others from other disciplines.

Any student, currently enrolled on any of the modules of the MAPP DTP can self-elect to be a student rep.  Distance is not an issue, there is opportunity to send your report in ahead of each board meeting electronically and you can be present via Skype for the meetings (time differences allowing).

Have a think anyway, if you think you'd like to take on this role let us know please, this would be for next term now.  If you want to chat more about the role, happy to drop Helen or I an email to arrange a call.

What do you think? Please comment below
Adesola