Noticing to Wondering : passive to proactive

Today in the morning MAPP DTP discussion group we got to talk about different experiences teaching particularly the relevance of teacher training when teaching dance. We were talking about how dance teaching is respected/considered/valued and were able to draw on the groups experiences of teaching across five different countries (UK, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland and Greece).

After considering issues within this topic Helen and I encouraged everyone to take the next step in the discussion which is to start to theorize about the topic. To move from just noticing to wondering.

Wonder how this fits with existing literature and discourse on dance pedagogy. Wonder how it can relate to what you are doing NOW in the course. Wonder about the deeper implications behind each other’s comments. Wonder what your own assumptions are. This is moving from face value to the layers MA level work expects you to engage in.

Those in the discussion will be posting their thoughts on their blogs have a look at where the conversation took them.

We also talked about analysis – Barbara said about her interviews ‘I got different answers than I expected’. This is the heart of starting the analysis in Module Three. But across all the modules, focus on where things are unexpected and make you think differently.  In Barbara’s case analysis is about why what she had expected to hear was not what she heard in the interviews? What assumptions does she now notice she went into the inquiry with? Why were the answers different? What does the literature say on the topics that differed….?

Barbara is going to post further on how asking yourself questions or being asked questions by peers helps you clarify your thinking. https://barbarabesque.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle is going to post on how she had not thought about Barbara’s practice in terms of the types of movement techniques there are being taught in the UK. So, hearing Barbra’s work helped her to think differently about her own. http://chelleymapp.blogspot.co.uk

Sam is going to post reflections on her own practice in terms of approaches to teaching different movement styles. https://dixieogivar.blogspot.co.uk

Agata is going to post on the thinking about the connection between how difficult many professionals within dance find talking and wondering if this adds to the low status of dance as a field of study in many people’s eyes. Agata can you post your blog address in the comment below.

Maria has posted about learning and how as discussed above we almost have to witness ourselves in process to theorize and analyse and contextualise our learning at MA level. http://marianikoldance.blogspot.co.uk

What do you feel?

Adesola