Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources?
I think that networking can be beneficial to everyone in all professions. I have found that my network is currently quite small and I am finding new ways to get to know people and find more information about the industry. I have recently joined Linkedin as I have heard that it is useful in getting work. At the moment I am still not used to it and haven't got many "friends" on there but I hope to be on there more often and hopefully find it useful. I am also starting to get used to google plus. I have had it a while after a friend asked me join but I have hardly used it. It is a great way to keep in contact with people and I have noticed that some people have friends who I know. This comes to the point where some of my networks overlap where people are friends with people who aren't in the industry. I find this interesting as it gives me a wider scope of different people and sources which makes information easier to find.
Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?
I have realised that although I know a few people, the people who I am closest to are not in the industry. I prefer to keep my personal and professional life separate. I am also quite a private personal so I don't normally switch between the two. For example I have a real name and a professional name, although people may think this can get quite confusing for me I have never had a problem. This is because when I'm working I introduce myself as my professional name and when I am at home it is my real name.
Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking, planning or practice?
I do think that sharing ideas and interacting with others changes your thinking as every individual has different views. I believe that it can change your view as you hear the other part of the story. I do think that I learn from everyone I meet as everyone has a different background and past which makes us all unique. From a professional view communication can help others with songs or auditions but I have noticed that some people aren't as willing to pass on information as others.
Does critical reflection help you decide what really matters and the actions to take?
From producing a journal I have noticed what is useful and beneficial to me and what isn't. I always thought that I am organised and a good time keeper but from doing this course, I may not be as good as I thought I was. I didn't take into consideration changes of circumstance for example getting a job over the christmas period. I had planned what I needed to do and because I have got offered a job I had to juggle my commitments around and found that I had less time than I thought to complete my first module.
To what extent do concepts and theories assist you in thinking about your professional networking in different ways? And do these different ways of thinking have some purpose for you?
I have found that the more information you know and can find out the more beneficial it will be for the individual. You can never know too much so learning and reading about as many concepts and theories have to be a good sign. From reading about theories you can then find out more ways to interact with people and therefore find out more information. I knew from the beginning that my professional network is quite small therefore I have had to read theories to get them larger.
Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? and if so how?
I do believe that I have been thinking differently as I have never really thought about reflection and networking until now. I didn't realise how useful it can be and how essential it is in the industry. From learning about concepts and theories I do think that there is more information out there and I now feel proactive to find out more.
Saturday 6 December 2014
Thursday 4 December 2014
Task 3c: Sources of Information
There are so many ways to find out information nowadays. Theres the traditional way of meeting with people and talking face to face and a more obvious choice of searching on the internet.
As the internet is becoming more accessible to everyone is has become the easiest way to find out information however I do not trust its reliability. For auditions I use "the stage" a online site that gives listings of mainly open auditions and information about them. I do think this is a trusted site as I know many performers use it and it has never let me down. For researching I have used wikipedia, as it is normally the first link that comes out on google but is it reliable? I do believe that some of the information is truth but I also look elsewhere just to check. I think the reason for this is that members of the public can update the website which makes it unreliable.
Google is a search engine that I use regularly and is a good way to view different links on the same page. It is also very quick and lists the sites in most popular at the top which is very useful. I do think that I take google for granted as it is so fast at retrieving information.
I do think that newspapers are the best way of finding information on world topics but although it is not much, you do need to pay which makes people use the internet more. Using the internet is also more convenient as people don't even have to leave their house to get information.
The layout on the internet is so important to me as it makes it easier to read and understand information. If the site I am viewing is just a block of writing I will normally close the page and use another as it looks too long and boring to read. I have tried my best to make my blogs as reader as possible so that I can look back on my work and be able to understand relate to it quickly. I have therefore put different size fonts and used bold and italic in places so that I know where the key information is.
I do rely on the internet far too much and I am now looking into other sources such as books and newspapers. I did buy a newspaper recently and I found that the information is similar to the internet but written in a different way. It also has a lot of relevant content which I found interesting as it all related. In the future I will look into reading more books and journals as it may give different information that I may find useful.
As the internet is becoming more accessible to everyone is has become the easiest way to find out information however I do not trust its reliability. For auditions I use "the stage" a online site that gives listings of mainly open auditions and information about them. I do think this is a trusted site as I know many performers use it and it has never let me down. For researching I have used wikipedia, as it is normally the first link that comes out on google but is it reliable? I do believe that some of the information is truth but I also look elsewhere just to check. I think the reason for this is that members of the public can update the website which makes it unreliable.
Google is a search engine that I use regularly and is a good way to view different links on the same page. It is also very quick and lists the sites in most popular at the top which is very useful. I do think that I take google for granted as it is so fast at retrieving information.
I do think that newspapers are the best way of finding information on world topics but although it is not much, you do need to pay which makes people use the internet more. Using the internet is also more convenient as people don't even have to leave their house to get information.
The layout on the internet is so important to me as it makes it easier to read and understand information. If the site I am viewing is just a block of writing I will normally close the page and use another as it looks too long and boring to read. I have tried my best to make my blogs as reader as possible so that I can look back on my work and be able to understand relate to it quickly. I have therefore put different size fonts and used bold and italic in places so that I know where the key information is.
I do rely on the internet far too much and I am now looking into other sources such as books and newspapers. I did buy a newspaper recently and I found that the information is similar to the internet but written in a different way. It also has a lot of relevant content which I found interesting as it all related. In the future I will look into reading more books and journals as it may give different information that I may find useful.
Wednesday 3 December 2014
Task 3b: Theories Relating to Networking
What is a professional network?
-a work related community held together by either close working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs.
Cooperation
Cooperation is closely linked with Game theory where one player succeeds with the help of another. Robert Axelrod is a researcher and found the benefits of cooperating fully with others until you reach a point of maximum benefit and then to 'defect.'
Prisoner's Dilemma (picture below) is a game developed by Axelrod to discover patterns of behaviour. Axelrod described this method as"cooperate until maximum benefit produced then deflect"
 |
| Prisoner's Dilemma |
- Be nice - cooperate, never be the first to defect
- Be provocable - returen defection fro defection, cooperation for cooperation
- Don't be envious - be fair with your partner
- Don't be too clever - or, don't be to tricky.
I do think this is important as both parties need to be mutuel in order for cooperation to be beneficial.
Affiliation
Affiliation is a social process that provides us with a network of support that will help us when we are in need. (Crisp & Turner, 2007)
'adolescents spent about
75 per cent of their waking time with other people' (Larson, Csikszentmihalyi and Graef -1982)
I believe this was true with me as I was growing up. I belonged to a lot clubs outside of school and I also went to school half an hour away from where I live so I knew a lot of people. This meant that I was always talking and spending a lot of time with people my own age. I do think it was beneficial to spend time with different people as I gained experience by learning about other people..
Socially is essential in networking. Growing up I seem to have lost connect with people and my network has got smaller but I feel that the friends I am close to will always support me and help me whenever I need it. I do need to improve my professional network as I am not close with many friends in the industry. I am a bit unsure how to do this as I hardly go to auditions anymore (due to financial needs) and even if I did go to an audition, if you don't know anyone I've found that you don't talk to anyone or to talk to someone and they clearly don't want to talk to you.
Social Constructionism
Through social interaction people can gain experiences and find meanings of the world. By finding these meanings we can find our preferred ways of engaging networks.
As a fairly recent graduate, social networking is essential to finding out about auditions and jobs. I hope that in the future, the more work I get the more people I get to know that I get a wider network of people.
From working at a school I have got to know people who are in the field that I may see myself doing in the future. From talking to various teachers and teaching assistant I have learnt a lot about how much time and effort the school has to put in, in order for it to run smoothly. I am still uncertain if this is what I want to spend my life doing as I love the theatre far too much to give it up.
Connectivism
Communities of Practice
This is based on shared opinions and focuses more on interaction. It is a social practice and is normally connected with specific social groups i.e. people with similar interests.
References:
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age - 2004-12-12
Preface -
I believe this was true with me as I was growing up. I belonged to a lot clubs outside of school and I also went to school half an hour away from where I live so I knew a lot of people. This meant that I was always talking and spending a lot of time with people my own age. I do think it was beneficial to spend time with different people as I gained experience by learning about other people..
Socially is essential in networking. Growing up I seem to have lost connect with people and my network has got smaller but I feel that the friends I am close to will always support me and help me whenever I need it. I do need to improve my professional network as I am not close with many friends in the industry. I am a bit unsure how to do this as I hardly go to auditions anymore (due to financial needs) and even if I did go to an audition, if you don't know anyone I've found that you don't talk to anyone or to talk to someone and they clearly don't want to talk to you.
Theory of Connectivity
Social Constructionism
Through social interaction people can gain experiences and find meanings of the world. By finding these meanings we can find our preferred ways of engaging networks.
As a fairly recent graduate, social networking is essential to finding out about auditions and jobs. I hope that in the future, the more work I get the more people I get to know that I get a wider network of people.
From working at a school I have got to know people who are in the field that I may see myself doing in the future. From talking to various teachers and teaching assistant I have learnt a lot about how much time and effort the school has to put in, in order for it to run smoothly. I am still uncertain if this is what I want to spend my life doing as I love the theatre far too much to give it up.
Connectivism
Connectivism is a theory about learning influenced by ideas about the organisation
of learning and information with special reference to the spread of the internet. (Reader 3)
Connectivisim shows how we learn from other networks and also suggests the original way of learning (by passing on information to each other) It can be used as a professional network where individuals interact and learn.
Blogging is a great way to stay connected especially on this BAPP course as it allows people to stay in contact and give each others opinions. The learning process starts as an individual and then grows from meeting people in different places.
Connectivisim shows how we learn from other networks and also suggests the original way of learning (by passing on information to each other) It can be used as a professional network where individuals interact and learn.
Blogging is a great way to stay connected especially on this BAPP course as it allows people to stay in contact and give each others opinions. The learning process starts as an individual and then grows from meeting people in different places.
Here are some significant trends in learning:
- Many learners will move into a variety of different, possibly unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime.
- Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks.
- Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations, they are the same.
- Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking.
- The organization and the individual are both learning organisms. Increased attention to knowledge management highlights the need for a theory that attempts to explain the link between individual and organizational learning.
- Many of the processes previously handled by learning theories (especially in cognitive information processing) can now be off-loaded to, or supported by, technology.
- Know-how and know-what is being supplemented with know-where (the understanding of where to find knowledge needed).
Principles of connectivism:
- Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions.
- Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.
- Learning may reside in non-human appliances.
- Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known
- Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.
- Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.
- Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities.
- Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.
"A community of practice is a set of relations among persons, activity, and world, over time and in relation with other tangential and overlapping communities of practice. A community of practice is an intrinsic condition for the existence of knowledge, not least because it provides the interpretive support necessary for making sense of its heritage". (Lave, J and Wegner, E. 1991).
Wenger identified a community of practice as existing on three dimensions:
Wenger identified a community of practice as existing on three dimensions:
-
What it is about – its joint enterprise as understood and continually
renegotiated by its members;
-
How it functions - mutual engagement that bind members together into a
social entity;
-
What capability it has produced – the shared repertoire of communal
resources.
References:
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age - 2004-12-12
Preface -
Saturday 29 November 2014
Task 3a: Current Networks
What is Networking?
- connect as or operate with a network.
-interact with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
Nowadays there are loads of social media sites that people use for networking. It is expanding more and more each year as technology becomes more advance. I think it is a great way to keep in contact with people and are great for discussions.
I personally use Facebook and Twitter but I use them for different reasons. Facebook I use for my fairly close friends who I don't talk to very often but still keep in contact with. I also joined a group called "the hustle." This group is a great example of professional networking. People in the industry would post information daily containing news of auditions, recommended photographers and even housing possibilities. This group has been very useful to me as I have found auditions that I probably wouldn't have found anywhere else. I use Facebook to post personal statues and photos which I know are only viewable to my friends. I like the group option that Facebook has as it connects people and allows them to discuss relevant topics which no one else can view.I use Twitter as a promotion tool. I have a soundcloud channel where I record myself singing and I post it on twitter so friends and members of the public can listen, like and comment on my channel. I use twitter instead of Facebook as I feel it is more accessible and I can add hashtags and tagging so more people can search me. However I do not put anything personal on twitter as I am aware that everyone can view it. I also use twitter to follow casting directors and choreographers so that I am up to date on their latest shows.
The great things about these sites is that not only can we use them on our computer but also on our smart phones. As the speed of technology is growing rapidly, the internet is getting more accessible which allows more people to get connected.
There are so many ways to get connected with people. Face to face, email, phone/text, email, social media sites. For me social media sites are so quick and easy to use but I wouldn't say its most effective and you never know when the person on the other end is going to reply. I try and get to know as many people as I can as I believe this is the best way of finding out information.
I feel that there should be a website used for people in the performing arts industry. This site can be used for discussions with people wanted to know more information about a job or information about auditions. I feel that this would also help with networking as more people with the same interests would talk and help each other. There needs to be sub categories of different topics so that members can click on the topic and hopeful find or ask for information about it.
Friday 28 November 2014
Task 2d: Inquiry
At the moment I am working part time at my local primary school as I am thinking of being a primary school teacher. What excites me about this job is seeing children learn and progress over time, to me this is really rewarding. The teacher who I normally work is only recently qualified but has worked as a teaching assistant for seventeen years. I really admire her as the way that she teaches is really inspiring. She is really enthusiastic and deals with situations really well. I would like to work with more teachers in the future so that I can learn from another teaching style and gain more experience.
What made me sad at college is that not the hard working consistent student will get the job. I very rarely had the day off and I was always on time for classes but that never really got me anyway. There were a few people who, without a doubt are very talented people but they would never turn up or were late for class and still managed to get a principal role in the college shows. After a while I did feel like giving up as I would work so hard to practice my songs and dances to know that I would never get chosen, so I thought what was the point. I did feel like this for my whole time at college and it made me lose my self confidence. It wasn't until I got my first job at Disneyland that I felt good enough to do what I love.
I love musical theatre in every shape and form. I see shows far too regularly and listen to musicals every day. The reason I would love to be in musical theatre is that I enjoy becoming another character as well as having to sing, dance and act. My idol is Lea Solonga, the original Kim in Miss Saigon and the voice of Mulan and Jasmine in Aladdin. The reason I admire her so much is that she is very modest and in her own cabaret nights, she invites a guest to sing with her. I would love to be as successful as her in the future.
I got told from a teacher at college that 'if you can do something else then do that' I know that this is a hard industry and you have to truly love it and be determined to do well. It can also get very hard at times as you get rejected more times than you are successful. My aim is to remain positive and motivated as I may get lucky some day.
I feel that I don't know the industry as well as should. I know a lot about musical theatre, composers, songs etc but I don't know much about agents and how casting works. I am currently looking for a new agent having lots of problems with my last one. I am finding it quite hard as I am currently not performing in a show to invite an agent to watch. I started by getting "contacts" a book which has lots of agents, photographers etc. It was a recommendation and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone in the industry as there is a lot of useful information in it. It has taken me a long time to read and research each agent to see what kind of people are in their books but I am still a bit clueless of how to approach them. I unfortunately do not have enough content to make a showreel and as I am currently not performing this is impossible to do. I think this would be beneficial to do in the future and hopefully will be an obstacle I will overcome.
I do reflect more on myself nowadays as there thought had never really occurred to me until now. I do think it is a useful force and I am now using it to grow as a performer. I am learning to reflect in many different ways such as photography and sketching. I do write in my journal everyday but I feel that the more resources I use the more useful it will become. I have used the idea of multiple resources to find different ways of reflecting. I know that I am more musical and bodily-kinaesthetic but I also enjoy taking photos and drawing.
What made me sad at college is that not the hard working consistent student will get the job. I very rarely had the day off and I was always on time for classes but that never really got me anyway. There were a few people who, without a doubt are very talented people but they would never turn up or were late for class and still managed to get a principal role in the college shows. After a while I did feel like giving up as I would work so hard to practice my songs and dances to know that I would never get chosen, so I thought what was the point. I did feel like this for my whole time at college and it made me lose my self confidence. It wasn't until I got my first job at Disneyland that I felt good enough to do what I love.
I love musical theatre in every shape and form. I see shows far too regularly and listen to musicals every day. The reason I would love to be in musical theatre is that I enjoy becoming another character as well as having to sing, dance and act. My idol is Lea Solonga, the original Kim in Miss Saigon and the voice of Mulan and Jasmine in Aladdin. The reason I admire her so much is that she is very modest and in her own cabaret nights, she invites a guest to sing with her. I would love to be as successful as her in the future.
I got told from a teacher at college that 'if you can do something else then do that' I know that this is a hard industry and you have to truly love it and be determined to do well. It can also get very hard at times as you get rejected more times than you are successful. My aim is to remain positive and motivated as I may get lucky some day.
I feel that I don't know the industry as well as should. I know a lot about musical theatre, composers, songs etc but I don't know much about agents and how casting works. I am currently looking for a new agent having lots of problems with my last one. I am finding it quite hard as I am currently not performing in a show to invite an agent to watch. I started by getting "contacts" a book which has lots of agents, photographers etc. It was a recommendation and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone in the industry as there is a lot of useful information in it. It has taken me a long time to read and research each agent to see what kind of people are in their books but I am still a bit clueless of how to approach them. I unfortunately do not have enough content to make a showreel and as I am currently not performing this is impossible to do. I think this would be beneficial to do in the future and hopefully will be an obstacle I will overcome.
I do reflect more on myself nowadays as there thought had never really occurred to me until now. I do think it is a useful force and I am now using it to grow as a performer. I am learning to reflect in many different ways such as photography and sketching. I do write in my journal everyday but I feel that the more resources I use the more useful it will become. I have used the idea of multiple resources to find different ways of reflecting. I know that I am more musical and bodily-kinaesthetic but I also enjoy taking photos and drawing.
Wednesday 26 November 2014
Task 2c: Reflective Theory
Before starting this module I have kept a diary but haven't really thought about how useful it is until now. Looking back I feel I could have expanded more and added more depth but it was still an interesting read and I learnt a lot. I haven't really been aware of using reflective practices in my profession until now as I have never thought about using it. From learning of different ways of reflection I do believe that it is useful and I will use it in the future.
This module has inspired me to try out new ways of journal writing and how it can be used as a positive tool of reflecting.
People come across new ideas by having an experience and then reflecting on those experiences.
John Dewey 'reflective thought an active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends' (Dewey 1933)
Your entry point in the learning cycle is where you find meaning and start to learn. This cycle is a tool for approaching experience and different ways of learning.
My starting point would be "choose a model or goal" for instance by aim is to become a west end performer. I then compare it to reality, to me it seems unlikely but possible as there are many obstacles on the way. I first would need to audition, pick the right song and make sure I am exactly what the casting directors are looking for. For instance I may not be the right look/height/ability that they are looking for. I have selected the problem of style and appearance. Even though I cannot change my ethnicity/facial features I can maybe change my make up to make it more suitable for the role. I could also change my clothing, maybe be wearing tight fitting/loose clothing or maybe wear brighter colours to make me stand out more. I feel the best way to learn from auditions is to look around at other people. I purposely look at everyone looking at their clothing, ability and looks so that when the casting directors say names of candidates for recalls I can tell what kind of dancers they are looking for. Sometimes this may not be the case as they may want a variety of different people but usually companies normally cast dancers who are a certain height,build and look.
This module has inspired me to try out new ways of journal writing and how it can be used as a positive tool of reflecting.
People come across new ideas by having an experience and then reflecting on those experiences.John Dewey 'reflective thought an active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends' (Dewey 1933)
Action and Research
Dewey and Lewin have informed the work of David Kolb. Kolb invented the idea of the learning cycle. It has four stages:- Concrete Experience - by doing something
- Reflective Observation - by watching people around them
- Abstract Conceptualisation - by working it out there head first
- Active Experimentation - start learning when they start trying it out
My starting point would be "choose a model or goal" for instance by aim is to become a west end performer. I then compare it to reality, to me it seems unlikely but possible as there are many obstacles on the way. I first would need to audition, pick the right song and make sure I am exactly what the casting directors are looking for. For instance I may not be the right look/height/ability that they are looking for. I have selected the problem of style and appearance. Even though I cannot change my ethnicity/facial features I can maybe change my make up to make it more suitable for the role. I could also change my clothing, maybe be wearing tight fitting/loose clothing or maybe wear brighter colours to make me stand out more. I feel the best way to learn from auditions is to look around at other people. I purposely look at everyone looking at their clothing, ability and looks so that when the casting directors say names of candidates for recalls I can tell what kind of dancers they are looking for. Sometimes this may not be the case as they may want a variety of different people but usually companies normally cast dancers who are a certain height,build and look.
Multiple Intelligences, VAK
Howard Gardner looked into how people have different ways to understand and engage with learning. He introduced the idea of multiple intelligences to prove that people are intelligent in many ways.- Spatial
- Verbal-Linguistic
- Logical Mathematical
- Bodily- Kinaesthetic
- Musical
- Interpersonal (e.g. friends and relationships)
- Intrapersonal (e.g understand the emotional life of yourself and others)
- Naturalistic (e.g find meaning the natural world)
Multiple Intelligences, Artistic Vision
Peter Honey and Alan Mumford created four stages based on Kolb's ideas.
Dewey, Lewin, Kolb, Gardner, Honey and Munford all suggest that we have different ways to engage with experience. This in turn is valuable to us as it is important to find your own way of thinking that is beneficial to you.
Reflection-in-action and Reflection-on-action
Donald Schon introduced the idea of reflection-in-action (In the middle of it) and reflection-on-action (Looking back on it). Dancers use the concept of reflection-in-action most as they need to respond what is happening when it happens. For example in a dance routine and the dancer isn't in time with the music, the dancer will need to ask why this is happening and then change it almost immediately. I do personally think this is a good concept as it wastes no time and your ideas are always fresh and new. Kottcamp's has also discussed that if a dancer waits until the evening to go over their routine it is much harder for them. However if an individual is not used to this concept it may not be as valuable to them.
Monday 24 November 2014
Task 2b: Reflective Writing
So far I am finding writing a journal very interesting. I try and re-read my journal every week so that I can see what I have done and if I can change anything about it.
I have recently got a job as a temp over christmas so I am very intrigued to how my journal will change over the course of this period.
Different ways to write:
Description: What happened? where and when? main events?
Describing what happened. I found this style quite natural to use as I am used it however I never used to write about my feelings in my journal. Normally I would just write about my day and what I did so adding feelings gave me another perspective. I would normally write about my day in the evening as I can then recall everything I have done but I think it may be better if I wrote about my feelings during the day before I forget them.
Initial Reflection: How did you feel? thinking? mood? anything unusual happen?
As an individual I am quite organised and like routine but when something goes wrong like my train is late or I forget my lunch, I feel like my day is ruined in some ways. My feelings change from day to day but I have found that the busy I am the happy I am. I think this is because I hate being bored so even if I have a day off with nothing to do, I always have to find something.
List: Making a list of how you felt during the day? break throughs? glad you did?
Making lists about things I saw and what is going on my mind all day was quite challenging as I pretty much to the same thing every day.
Evaluation: Did it go well? what worked? Did you learn/discover/avoid anything?
From starting a new job I feel that I have learnt so much in such a short space of time. It is almost like to much information to deal with as we all got told everything we need to to know in one day.
Graphs, Charts and Diagrams: Create a diagram or chart of your day.
I have drawn a graph in my journal but I am unfortunately having trouble putting it on this blog.
I decided to compare today with last week to see if there is any difference. I thought this was a good way of seeing where I spend most of my time and how I can be more productive in the future.
What If?: What could have happened? What would you love to/hate to have happened?
I know that I am a very distracted person so I always have to plan out my days in order to get everything done. Occasionally not everything gets completed as a situation may arise that may change the course of your day. In my mind I always imagine the day and I'm always positive but somethings just go to plan so I have to deal with it.
Another View: Write about your day from another perspective. e.g. person/object
I have found this style the most interesting as I have never thought of how my day is from another view. One of the days in my journal I have thought of how the tills at work would feel. I knew that I personally wouldn't like to be prodded and pushed all day long and that the till must be tired all day as it is constantly being used everyday. I then saw how the till would have seen my day, looking up and hoping that I don't break it.
I have recently got a job as a temp over christmas so I am very intrigued to how my journal will change over the course of this period.
Different ways to write:
Description: What happened? where and when? main events?
Describing what happened. I found this style quite natural to use as I am used it however I never used to write about my feelings in my journal. Normally I would just write about my day and what I did so adding feelings gave me another perspective. I would normally write about my day in the evening as I can then recall everything I have done but I think it may be better if I wrote about my feelings during the day before I forget them.
Initial Reflection: How did you feel? thinking? mood? anything unusual happen?
As an individual I am quite organised and like routine but when something goes wrong like my train is late or I forget my lunch, I feel like my day is ruined in some ways. My feelings change from day to day but I have found that the busy I am the happy I am. I think this is because I hate being bored so even if I have a day off with nothing to do, I always have to find something.
List: Making a list of how you felt during the day? break throughs? glad you did?
Making lists about things I saw and what is going on my mind all day was quite challenging as I pretty much to the same thing every day.
Evaluation: Did it go well? what worked? Did you learn/discover/avoid anything?
From starting a new job I feel that I have learnt so much in such a short space of time. It is almost like to much information to deal with as we all got told everything we need to to know in one day.
Graphs, Charts and Diagrams: Create a diagram or chart of your day.
I have drawn a graph in my journal but I am unfortunately having trouble putting it on this blog.
I decided to compare today with last week to see if there is any difference. I thought this was a good way of seeing where I spend most of my time and how I can be more productive in the future.
What If?: What could have happened? What would you love to/hate to have happened?
I know that I am a very distracted person so I always have to plan out my days in order to get everything done. Occasionally not everything gets completed as a situation may arise that may change the course of your day. In my mind I always imagine the day and I'm always positive but somethings just go to plan so I have to deal with it.
Another View: Write about your day from another perspective. e.g. person/object
I have found this style the most interesting as I have never thought of how my day is from another view. One of the days in my journal I have thought of how the tills at work would feel. I knew that I personally wouldn't like to be prodded and pushed all day long and that the till must be tired all day as it is constantly being used everyday. I then saw how the till would have seen my day, looking up and hoping that I don't break it.
Sunday 16 November 2014
Task 2a: Reflective Practice
Reflection - Learning from everyday activities which gives us experience.
I have always had a journal from as long as I can remember. Although it has mainly been used to keep my life organised, I have included information from past experiences. I have collected these experiences to remember them and looking back they are all positive ones.
I am looking forward to writing what I think and maybe a few negative events in order to learn from them. This has so far been a strange change in my writing as I am so used to writing all my positive experiences but I will hopefully learn from them and become more knowledgable.
Kolb has 4 different ways people begin to learn, they are:
Concrete Experience - by doing something
Reflective Observation - by watching people around them
Abstract Conceptualisation - by working it out there head first
Active Experimentation - start learning when they start trying it out
I have to admit I did not know where to start when starting my blog. It took me ages to even create an account let alone write anything. I wanted to make my blog unique but had no idea how complicated it was. I am not used to this kind of writing, I'd much rather write it all down on pen and paper. I have found writing a blog useful as it is now becoming easier to navigate and I'm becoming quicker at writing so all in all it was worth all the time I spent. I therefore learn from Active Experimentation as I like to have ago myself and make mistakes but therefore learn from them. Each blog I do I must do around 4/5 drafts before I publish it on my blog. It normally takes about a week as I find out more information I want to add and then swap and change the information I already have around.
Also inspired by Kolb's ideas Peter Honey and Alan Mumford created four stages that are adaptations of the four points in Kolb's cycle. (Honey and Mumford, 1992)
These stages are:
I have always had a journal from as long as I can remember. Although it has mainly been used to keep my life organised, I have included information from past experiences. I have collected these experiences to remember them and looking back they are all positive ones.
I am looking forward to writing what I think and maybe a few negative events in order to learn from them. This has so far been a strange change in my writing as I am so used to writing all my positive experiences but I will hopefully learn from them and become more knowledgable.
Kolb has 4 different ways people begin to learn, they are:
Concrete Experience - by doing something
Reflective Observation - by watching people around them
Abstract Conceptualisation - by working it out there head first
Active Experimentation - start learning when they start trying it out
I have to admit I did not know where to start when starting my blog. It took me ages to even create an account let alone write anything. I wanted to make my blog unique but had no idea how complicated it was. I am not used to this kind of writing, I'd much rather write it all down on pen and paper. I have found writing a blog useful as it is now becoming easier to navigate and I'm becoming quicker at writing so all in all it was worth all the time I spent. I therefore learn from Active Experimentation as I like to have ago myself and make mistakes but therefore learn from them. Each blog I do I must do around 4/5 drafts before I publish it on my blog. It normally takes about a week as I find out more information I want to add and then swap and change the information I already have around.
These stages are:
- Having an experience
- Reviewing the experience
- Concluding from the experience
- Planning the next steps
Yesterday I was at a cruise audition and afterwards I had many thoughts of how the audition went. I thought about how well I personally did and what I thought I needed to improve on. As an auditionee you never really know what the casting directors are looking for so for me I always give 100%, even if I didn't get the job I know that I did the best I possibly could and I would be pleased with myself.
I always learn from every audition as no two auditions are the same. I therefore believe that the more auditions you do the more confident you'll be. After auditions I ask myself various questions like 'what could I have done better?' and 'If I could do the audition again would I change anything?' The answer would always be yes as I believe you can always be better.
I have used Honey and Mumford's ideas above to help me gain from my experience and I believe it has worked and I hope I learn from all my auditions I have in the future.
I always learn from every audition as no two auditions are the same. I therefore believe that the more auditions you do the more confident you'll be. After auditions I ask myself various questions like 'what could I have done better?' and 'If I could do the audition again would I change anything?' The answer would always be yes as I believe you can always be better.
I have used Honey and Mumford's ideas above to help me gain from my experience and I believe it has worked and I hope I learn from all my auditions I have in the future.
Sunday 12 October 2014
Task 1d: 2D Images
Images are very popular in social media and is a great way of sharing photos with friends and members of the public. My main image bank that I use is instagram which has grown very popular with billions of users.
My instagram is:
www.instagram.com/hollydanielsuk
I have recently uploaded a few of my portfolio photos which I have used in auditions to get jobs. They are full body shots but due to instagram I can't show you the whole photo.
I do think that this is useful in getting work as casting directors can look at your account and they get an idea of what you look at and what you have done. I uploaded two photos one was just a plain body shot and the other is me doing a box split leap. I am very lucky to have the flexibility that I have so I am going to make good use of it and show everyone what I can do. I think it is good to have different images to show off and it shows versatility and would therefore make you more employable.
On my account I have various Disney photos as I had a great opportunity to work at Disneyland earlier this year. Some photos show what I did when I was there and shows people what Disneyland is really like.
I also have various quotes on my page. I find quotes very inspirational and motivating so when I find a good quote I post it so that everyone can see.
I am very weary of what I post on Instagram as I am aware that it is viewable to the public and I don't to be seen a bad way. I only post images that mean something to me or the photo was taken on an memorable occasion that I don't want to forget. I do see my page mainly for myself like a photo album but online and public. I enjoy reminiscing over past images as I know that I put them on Instagram for a reason and I hope that my friends and members of the public enjoy them too.
My instagram is:
www.instagram.com/hollydanielsuk
I have recently uploaded a few of my portfolio photos which I have used in auditions to get jobs. They are full body shots but due to instagram I can't show you the whole photo.
I do think that this is useful in getting work as casting directors can look at your account and they get an idea of what you look at and what you have done. I uploaded two photos one was just a plain body shot and the other is me doing a box split leap. I am very lucky to have the flexibility that I have so I am going to make good use of it and show everyone what I can do. I think it is good to have different images to show off and it shows versatility and would therefore make you more employable.
On my account I have various Disney photos as I had a great opportunity to work at Disneyland earlier this year. Some photos show what I did when I was there and shows people what Disneyland is really like.
I also have various quotes on my page. I find quotes very inspirational and motivating so when I find a good quote I post it so that everyone can see.
I am very weary of what I post on Instagram as I am aware that it is viewable to the public and I don't to be seen a bad way. I only post images that mean something to me or the photo was taken on an memorable occasion that I don't want to forget. I do see my page mainly for myself like a photo album but online and public. I enjoy reminiscing over past images as I know that I put them on Instagram for a reason and I hope that my friends and members of the public enjoy them too.
Task 1b: Professional Communication Technologies
I do not know anything about Web 2.0 but after reading about it I realised that I have used the concept without knowing.
Web 2.0 ideas are sharing with the users, therefore everyone can view the content and users can interact with each other. I do like this idea as it gets everyone involved and share their ideas but I am not sure about it reliability. Wikipedia for example we all know the information may or may not be true as it comes from different people and members of the public can update it too. I do however enjoy talking to people about topics as they normally have the same interest as me and then we can all broaden on each others knowledge.
Although in Web 1.0 there is only a small chance of changing and interacting with people I think it is more reliable. Web 1.0 is very similar to newspapers. Newspaper are the most reliable form of news, although this may depend on the journalists/editors and the newspaper. I believe because of Web 1.0 gets straight to the point and tells the story with no interruptions. From some searches from Web 2.0 because of the users interacting with each other they discuss other views that may not necessarily have anything to do with the topic.
Web 2.0 encourages media such as photos, music etc. I use this idea as it makes people become part of a community and be part of the web in many different ways. It also broadens media so that it can be viewed everywhere around the world.
Google is a quick way of finding information out. If you want to know something, type it in google and the likelihood that someone else has asked that question is very possible. There is probably public forums that people have answered in and given their opinion and it is your choice wether you take their advice or not.
I look forward to learning more about Web 2.0 and I hope it will be beneficial to me in the future.
Web 2.0 ideas are sharing with the users, therefore everyone can view the content and users can interact with each other. I do like this idea as it gets everyone involved and share their ideas but I am not sure about it reliability. Wikipedia for example we all know the information may or may not be true as it comes from different people and members of the public can update it too. I do however enjoy talking to people about topics as they normally have the same interest as me and then we can all broaden on each others knowledge.
Although in Web 1.0 there is only a small chance of changing and interacting with people I think it is more reliable. Web 1.0 is very similar to newspapers. Newspaper are the most reliable form of news, although this may depend on the journalists/editors and the newspaper. I believe because of Web 1.0 gets straight to the point and tells the story with no interruptions. From some searches from Web 2.0 because of the users interacting with each other they discuss other views that may not necessarily have anything to do with the topic.
Web 2.0 encourages media such as photos, music etc. I use this idea as it makes people become part of a community and be part of the web in many different ways. It also broadens media so that it can be viewed everywhere around the world.
Google is a quick way of finding information out. If you want to know something, type it in google and the likelihood that someone else has asked that question is very possible. There is probably public forums that people have answered in and given their opinion and it is your choice wether you take their advice or not.
I look forward to learning more about Web 2.0 and I hope it will be beneficial to me in the future.
Friday 10 October 2014
Task 1a: Professional Profile
How important is the CV?
I've seen casting directors browse at people's CVs and they immediately discard it, but why?
I guess it could be for many different reasons like its not clear, it doesn't have relevant information etc, so is there such thing as a perfect CV? I personally don't think there is.
What interests me is that no one in the world will have the same CV as you. Everyone may have the same training but then may go on to do different things so I actually haven't got a clue how casting directors decide who they want.
This is a excerpt of my professional CV.
From looking at Anthony's blog http://antgifford.blogspot.co.uk I have noticed that I am not the only one who has more than one CV. I actually have three CVs which I use for different jobs. The one above is my professional one and I also have a normal work one and a fitness one. I do think this is a good idea as most casting directors don't really want to know about what bar/retail work you have done and employers just find that dancing on television is really fascinating and can't stop talking about it.
With my professional CV I actually swap and move things around depending on the audition I am going to. For example if its for a musical audition I would have all my singing experience and qualifications first rather than my dance and vise versa. I'm not sure if this actually works but I personally think it makes it stand out more and is more appealing to the casting director.
At the moment from looking at my CV I think got too much writing but at the same time I do feel that it is all relevant as I am afraid of taking away information that may help me get a job.
I've seen casting directors browse at people's CVs and they immediately discard it, but why?
I guess it could be for many different reasons like its not clear, it doesn't have relevant information etc, so is there such thing as a perfect CV? I personally don't think there is.
What interests me is that no one in the world will have the same CV as you. Everyone may have the same training but then may go on to do different things so I actually haven't got a clue how casting directors decide who they want.
This is a excerpt of my professional CV.
INFO:
DOB: 13.12.90
Height: 5”3
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Brown
Nationality: White British
Ethnicity: Mixed – White and Chinese
Measurement:
Bust: 33”
Waist: 29”
Hips: 32.5”
Shoe size: 3
Dress size: 8
Theatre Credits:
2013: “Vibe 25”• Singer/Dancer • Performers College • Directed by Chris Baldock
2013: “Young Frankenstein” • Ensemble • Millfield Theatre • Directed by Simon Adkins and Choreographed by Emma Rogers
2013: “Peace in Our Time” • Performers College • Directed by John Brant
2012: “Strictly” • Singer/Dancer • Performers College • Directed by Chris Baldock
2011: “In The Zone” • Singer/Dancer • Performers College • Directed by Chris Baldock
TELEVISION/FILM CREDITS:
2011: “Children in Need, Eastenders”• BBC Television • Dancer • Choreographer Paul Domaine
2011: “Text Santa” • ITV Advert • Choreographer Adrian Gas
Other credits:
2014: Character and Parade Performer • Dancer/Animator • Disneyland Paris
2013: “Daisy Ball”• Grosvenor House Hotel • Choreographed by Brain Rogers
2012: “Basildon Fashion Awards” • Model • Southend College
Training: Performers College – National Diploma in Musical Theatre
Dance: Classical Ballet, Pointe Work, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Commercial Jazz, Fosse, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Partner Work.
Vocal range: Soprano • G2-D5
Singing: Grade 8 ABRSM Singing, Individual Singing, Harmony and Close Harmony Work, Ensemble.
Other Skills: Grade 8 Flute and Singing, Piano, Strong Swimmer, RLSS Lifeguard, Level 2 Fitness Instructor, Level 3 Personal Trainer, Qualified Zumba Instructor, Tennis, Cycling, Gymnastics, Juggling, Basic Stage Combat, 3 A Levels, 3 AS Levels, Full UK Driving License, Modelling.
With my professional CV I actually swap and move things around depending on the audition I am going to. For example if its for a musical audition I would have all my singing experience and qualifications first rather than my dance and vise versa. I'm not sure if this actually works but I personally think it makes it stand out more and is more appealing to the casting director.
At the moment from looking at my CV I think got too much writing but at the same time I do feel that it is all relevant as I am afraid of taking away information that may help me get a job.
My Headshot
This is my headshot that I use on my CV. I have always thought that professional head shots have been changed so much that they don't even look like the same person anymore, for example erasing blemishes and making everyone look like there skin is amazing when in reality that is not the case. When I was having my photo shoot for my headshot I did my best to look the same in everyday life but in auditions I sometimes put far too much make up on and then my headshot looks nothing like me. I do however think that a headshot is important in any professional CV as it gives an outlook on who you are before anyone has seen you and then the casting director can then relate to your credits.
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