PM chat...

PM chat

We talked a lot about Literature as a concept:

Where do you find it?

What is its role?

Where do you put it when you write about your research?

What does it do and where does it go were keen topics.

For ‘what does it do?’ we talked about the idea that ‘the Literature’ is helping build the puzzle/ overview/picture you are exploring or building. It is not something that provides an answer to a question or where you find other people doing exactly what you are doing. It can be a way to help you re-think or broaden your own ideas.

Helen talked about the puzzle: not looking for the center piece but allowing the literature to take you to places on the edge of the picture. Tamzin http://tamzinhoward.blogspot.com  is going to post further on this.

In terms of ‘where does it go?’ we talked about the Literature Review and where else we talk about the literature. We noted that having a Literature Review is particular style of writing (quite traditional) for instance in some narrative Inquiry approaches you would not use a Literature Review the literature would emerge across the whole document. However, we ask you for this more traditional style of Literature Review in order to help organise your thinking. The Literature Review introduces the ideas and theorist you will later refer to as talk about your  analysis. This is so it is not a surprise when you refer to someone later in the text. The Literature review also gives context to the people and theory you refer to and also to where your own thoughts stand in the field.

So after the Literature Review, the literature reappears across the text as you build the picture of the research. Louise http://louisedubai.blogspot.com is going to post further on this.

We talked about a more open approach, particularly in Module Two when you are planning the project. You do not have to pin-things down we are working within the notion of movement – things flow, emerge, and respond. Tara http://dancetara.blogspot.com is going to post further on this.

We talked about how you can not put everything you did, or learn or that changed for you into the work you hand-in. You need to share part of it the core or it. Helen http://www.helenkindred.blogspot.com  is going to post further on this in terms of noticing the value and relevance in what you are writing about. The writing part is not a ‘dumping’ of all that happened. It is a coherent narrative, sharing the shift you saw in your own Professional Practice (and thinking…).

We are noticing that skype is looking for up-dates and that this can cut you off the call unexpectedly. L. We will try to find out more about why this happens but it might also be go to take your computer in for a check-up once this Module is over. Its good to get them, up-dated, defrag (!!! )sort of get their oil changed every now and then as they labour away with you. The summer might be a good time to do this.

We also talked about the Summer Intensive which we really encourage you to attend, new and returning Intensive people. Today AM and PM conversations where so apart of what we will be looking at and covering. It is part of our on going building of the dance scholarship of Professional Practice. Last year was our first year and a wonderful week for everyone. Please also spread the word to people thinking about diving into HE again and those on the other side graduated and wanting to carry on their thinking and doing. We know you have a lot on but places are limited so if you are thinking about it please action sooner rather than later.

Here is a link:

http://www.onlinestore.mdx.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=5&catid=118&prodid=623

 Looking forward to seeing and hearing people on May 12^th and 13^th at the presentation.

Adesola

AM chat...

AM Skype chat

We talked about the reflective essays and about research topics. It emerged that it is really useful to just explain what you are doing to other people. We took the challenge of not first contextualising our own research project/ideas in what someone else has said but jumping in at the deep-end and explaining them from scratch.

We explained our ideas, either the idea of the research inquiry you are proposing in Module Two or the Research process and knowing in Module Three, (we did not have any Module Ones in the conversation). Then we took in turns to feedback what we had heard the person saying and what we wondered. I think just talking to people about what you are doing is really useful. While explaining it to people informally you hear yourself saying things that you maybe had not realised you thought. Or things you don’t agree with and had not realised you did not yet know how to articulate so they slipped back into language that you don’t really agree with.

Alanna  http://sustainablerisktaking.blogspot.com  also suggested as you blog about ideas this too is a way to look at what you are thinking. She suggested blogging at this point in the term to look at your own positioning. As you have been working across the Module your positioning may well have shifted and you may not have articulated the change. Your blog and your preparation for your reflective essay might be places where you can visit this.

April (April please write you Blog address in comments below)  talked about the Module Three inquiry and in talking we discussed letting go of binaries / polar structures. Even though the theory you encounter might be clear and resonate, that does not mean you have to adopt the articulation of that theory as the only way to engage with the ideas within it. Of course the articulation of the theory is the idea since communication of thought is held prisoner in the language used to express it. (At times you would loose the ‘meaningful’ or sound as if you were cherry-picking with the idea if you loose the structures and articulation of the theory from the theorised who introduced it to you). But it is important as you work with a theory that you notice how it is positioned and how that communication might be imposing a shift on your articulation of the idea. April is posting about remembering transformation can be an alternative articulate for many ideas that when presented imply binaries.

(Note: that witnessing of moving away from your own Professional articulation/structure for communication is what the artefact is addressing.)

Helen  http://www.helenkindred.blogspot.com/2016/05/plurality-of-meaning.html  is posting on remembering pluralities of meaning. This is so important in our work as dance scholars because we are forging the ideas and language of the somatic and have check we do not loose ourselves in the pinning down, measuring, hunt for one certainty that is so counter to fluidity of movement.

Group SKYPE chat

Our first Sunday of the month chat is coming up: this Sunday May 1st !!!!
11am (in London)
or
5pm (in London)

Comment below to let us know which one you will join.

Adesola

Summer Intensive - Fun in the sun of London!

We started running the Summer Intensive last year. We felt it was a useful support to MAPP students in terms of raising their game on academic writing. But found that many different people were interested in developing how they write about their dance practice - doing movement to writing movement. Last year's Intensive was really great and MAPP students who attended found it really useful in the following modules they took.

As MAPP students we encourage early enrollment. We have not sent out post card info. etc... in general yet so now is a good time to confirm your place. (There is University accommodation available also if needed at any point.)

Here is a link

http://www.onlinestore.mdx.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=5&catid=118&prodid=623

Feel free to contact Helen or me if you have any questions.

Adesola

Linked-in infomation

Linked-in group info.
Pour Linked-in Group is called

MAPP (Dance pedagogy) discussion Group
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4276460

Send request to join the group. If you do not hear back send me (Adesola) an email saying the request is pending.

Let me know in comments below if you have any other questions or tips for using this group.

Adesola

Sunday - Talking

Sundays Skype chat was great. We talked about the importance of talking to people about your ideas. How when you chat to people about what you are thinking about you are forced to start to articulate some of your thoughts. Thoughts are changed by language so as you speak you are having to pin down the thoughts in the narrow framework of the language you are using (Dewey). This gives the idea a sharpness or clarity that allows you to almost step back and look at what you are saying. Tara is going to write more on this. “talking to people not just being stuck in a book!!” http://dancetara.blogspot.com/2016/04/module-cross-over.html

We talked about not needing to have all the answers – the difference in approach people noticed in themselves between writing their reflective essay in Module One and writing it in Module Three. This difference tends not to be a move toward more answers but a move toward an embracing of more questions!!! Julie is going to post on this – also thinking about intuitive learning = no ‘right’ answer. https://plus.google.com/112028470007844481818/posts

Her thoughts might be in the comments below so have a look there too.

We talked about how the Professional artefact is also about talking to people. It is about making something to explain your whole inquiry process in the language of your profession. (Most people do not speak academic-ese, so we need to explain in a different format). Tammy is thinking about this Please post a link to your post in the comments below Tammy.

We talked about assumptions which are so integral to shared language. Questioning assumptions brings new meaning. Sam will write more about this

http://samanthakettle.blogspot.com

So we talked about each others ideas and shared what we had been doing. Sam talked about her inquiry topic of the relationship between music and dance . As we talked about this new avenues emerged for her. Joy is going to write a little more about the relationship between music and dance. Please post a link to your post in the comments below Joy.

Lastly – NOW is the time to get on with it (whatever it is you are handing in). trust it will be ok and just get a draft under way!!! I always feel while something is in my head it still has the potential to be brilliant, exactly what I imagine it to be. When I start to actually make it, in the bare light of out-side of my thoughts I see all its failings. I don’t want to start writing because while its inside me it is still great. But if I don’t start writing it will never be ‘anything’: it may not be a brilliant essay but it will not be a bad one either it just won’t be. Better to be brave and attempt something than have nothing at all.  

Kickstarter!!