A clearer idea

Having participated in a Skype conversation, I am a lot clearer on what I need to do to progress through this initial module. I have started by annotating my CV where I am surprised with the amount of my teaching practice that interlinks. I am continuously assessing my learners and am always giving feedback. In my position as a lecturer, we are always working towards a summative assessment, but the journey to get there is compiled of feedback verbal and written, reflection and implementing the feedback given. I have noticed that even teaching part time in a dance school, my focus is to always ensure that my learners make progress in each and every lesson. Some respond well to verbal feedback, whilst others require the practice of physically feeling the change in their movements or seeing it for themselves with use of the mirror before they are able to adapt to that change. the different types of feedback between my learners intrigues me to know they use their individual feedback in order to progress and develop. They take note, they take these notes on board but they are not always implemented into their technique and performance. I am curious to know what happens with this feedback outside of my class, how does my feedback impact on their learning once they have left the room?

So looking into my areas of learning (AOL), I would like to look further in to motivation between my different types of learners. I am currently teaching beginners right through to advanced standard. I am  aware that my more advanced dancers are motivated by the profession and the industry. They are hungry for work as professional dancers and thrive on feedback to help them to develop. As a teacher, this is encouraging and inspires me to deliver and work hard to enable them to be challenged and continue progressing. My other group of learners have barely danced a step in their lives and therefore there is a different level of motivation. As they are studying performing arts, their interests lie amongst the arts as singers and actors also. They give all they can in my class but do very little outside of class to continue their development. They receive regular feedback and are committed to doing better for assessments and performances, however, do very little outside of my lessons to challenge themselves further. Their motivation is different and perhaps more short term than my advanced dancers who are actively auditioning for professional opportunities. I am intrigued to know more about what motivates learners that are of varying standards and what inspires them to be a better dancer and performer. I will continue observing my learners and challenging them accordingly to know how they adapt to changes, developments and once again I will always continue to push for progress constantly throughout my lessons.

Kolb's model of reflection helps me to assess where in the cycle of reflection I am and I enjoy tuning in to my experiences, sometimes mentally reliving my experiences to understand what I could have done to improve that class. What overall would have developed the progress rates in that class? I will continue to use this model of reflection and my concrete experience to help my classes progress and to continue to assess what could have been done differently, perhaps more productively to enhance learner development and understanding.

Here we go...

So I decided I needed a new challenge, something that makes me think, work hard and achieve. I have known for a while I am the type of person who enjoys being challenged and likes to be challenged academically as well as physical. As a dancer and now more so a dance teacher, I have been challenged physically for the majority of my life! Can I manage this turn? this rapid direction change? this sustained balance? and I have had to work hard to achieve and to work in the professional industry. I am fortunate to do what I have done but I have known I have always wanted to teach. I want to teach the 'next generation', the budding performing arts artists of tomorrow's future. Even though, I endured and successfully achieve my PGCE in Post Compulsory Education, I still feel unfulfilled. So I have asked myself, what is my next challenge? A Masters Degree it is! I am currently employed in an FE environment but only until April as I cover maternity leave. I love my job! I am fortunate to be in a job I love, and no I don't want to leave! However, you sign up for a contract and my whole career has been built on short term contracts that I sign up for and have to move on to the next thing (sometimes the end of a contract has been rather welcoming, others not so!)

I begin my MA in Professional Practice Dance Pedagogy. Apart from an unfortunate start with admin, systems not being updated and a huge lack of contact and communication, I am FINALLY enrolled! Ready to go, materials at the ready! Oh dear, what am I doing? This is going to be insanely challenging, but still I am more than positive and confident in knowing I CAN do this!

I have hit the ground running looking at Kolb's experiential learning model and my CV of which I am trying so hard to break down and annotate. When I look back at my teaching experience, I realise the amount of similar kind of teaching I do. For example, I am continuously assessing my learners formatively and I am constantly giving feedback to help them to develop and improve. I guess this is where my passion lies, I so want them to do better, I want them to improve and I guess this is why I am in the industry that I am! I also realise the broad range of learners I have taught in terms of age and experience! It's huge! But at the same time it's amazing and I love being challenged with different and new learners.

So this is just a short welcome really, 'hey there and welcome to my blog' I have a Skype call to look forward to shortly in order to check in with my lecturers and fingers crossed the work I have done so far is valid! Eek!!!! MA course, here I come!