Supervisions

 

 A note on Supervisions 

Availability is updated on doodlepoll every two weeks. Please do go to the TUTORIALS folder on your unihub programme page to book a time that is showing as available - this saves several emails back and forth arranging times.

Please do note that Supervisions are to discuss your work - I have had some great conversations with people this week for example talking around possible Areas of Learning and comprehending the three lenses and tasks in the handbook in relationship with theories that have been engaged with through the reading list materials (module One), and thoughts around possible areas of potential inquiry with discussions of the literature engaged with so far and preliminary research into methodologies and methods (module two). 

Please try to think of and therefore use supervision time for this kind of discussion. Please do think about the time allocated for supervisions (noted in your module handbooks) and how best you would like to use this through the term - save good time for thorough discussions around drafts of work for example.  If you have a quick question, of course simply drop an email.

 

With this in mind, while Adesola is on sick leave - please do not disturb her with emails or try and book anything on doodlepoll instead please send your email/supervision request to discuss work to Dr Sam Murray <s.murray@mdx.ac.uk> who is with us also on the programmes team for BAPP.

Have good weekends...

Module Three Focus

 This week we had some good conversations around research inquiry with the Module Three students. 

We shared what it is we are all doing, in research terms, not being afraid to state that the research is taking a qualitative approach (methodology) and to look at what that means and how it connect with data collection of interviews (methods) for example .

Those in the call shared experiences so far in this process and we talked about digging further to look at different perspectives to your own when heading into the inquiry, to really approach the inquiry as an opportunity to explore and get to know an area of your professional practice more deeply. Think of it as a journey, adventure, exploration rather than a 'thing' to tick off or solve. B Be open to what you might 'find' on the way that you didn't set out to. 

Remember you're not trying to prove anything and research can be messy...and that's ok!

is usually more interesting 

than

this...

Do share your thoughts...

Module One Focus

 Module One Focus group today : Seeing your Practice, Seeing your Self

We had some great discussions around how we see and think of and feel within our practice, how these develop from, are in relationship with are integral to our disciplines with the arts. 

It was great to hear so many of you sharing your thoughts as they are developing around establishing your professional practice, making connections with the literature and theories of the module and questioning how you see, what you thought you knew, what you might know differently through the course of this module. 

Do share the links to your blog posts continuing these conversations here... If you missed the session do join the conversations through the blogs!

Module Two focus

 Today we had conversations with a focus on the journey of module two. 

We talked about the module as being a journey of mapping fields of interest for futher inquiry through research and how this module is about planning not doing the research. The need to research 'research' is key to this module in order to build a framework for your inquiry to take place (in module three).

Morgan, Laura and Rhian shared some starting points of interest that they are curious about exploring and in the process of other people responding with comments, reflections and questions these starting points began to take shape into some key areas to delve into in order to get to know better the seed of interest. 

We talked about literature being the next stop on this joruney in order to see who's already taken it before you, what they thought, felt and experienced and how this can be a starting point for you, recognising that you're unlikely to be the first person taking this journey. Looking at what is around us is key, acknowledging others perspectives and setting out as adventurers to explore not trying prove something to be true. 

 Notice how much grew from the offerings of people's ideas in this conversation... keep these growing until the questions come to you, rather than trying to define your inquiry title at this stage .

Open Discussion Groups

We had two great discussion groups today with people for across all three modules contributing to the conversations. 

In the morning we spoke about 'research', literature - sources more broadly, ethics around the information you have access to, credibility and aknowledging the value of discussions to help us question our own assumptions, see things from another perspective to our own and so broaden our learning rather than seeking to continue to simply affirm what we already know, or think we know...

I was reminded of this TEDtalk from writer Chimamada Ngozi Adichie

What are your thoughts?

This evening we scratched the surface of some pretty big areas: creativity (an offer of one example of writer Amy Tan speaking to their process below) and ethics. 

We talked about processes of interviewing - to invite conversation and who and why we want to have conversations with, and about how significant feelings and the recognition of these in our learning is important in module one as we identify three areas, but also as we continue to shape and be shaped by our experiences. We touched on (and we be great to hear more Gabrielle, Paul on this) our sense of Self and how that guides, impacts our way in the world and is constructed through our experiences.  

 

 

I look forward to hearing more as you continue the conversations taking further the areas that felt significant to you...

IMPORTANT >>> ZOOM this week

 An update: 

Our Open Discussion Groups  (Wednesday 8.15am / 9pm) and Module focus groups (Module Two - Thursday 6pm) will take place on ZOOM this week. Please note times are given in London time.

Please go to the BAPP ACI programme page and you will find a folder titled ZOOM LINKS at the top containing links to the sessions.

Look forward to more conversations on there with you all this week!

Being-in-process

The Power of Vulnerability - 

Brené Brown

Sharing this TEDtalk as it reflects on some key moments you may be experiencing through your journeys on BAPP - perception, story-telling, research and places being vulnerable in the process as part of the process of not knowing, the process of learning. Brown also acknowledges the committment to her research (10 years) and the ebbs and flows of this - as you begin to identify areas of inquiry (module two) or set out on undertaking your research (module three), as reminder that you are not setting out to answer questions, or solve the World's problems in a 12 week inquiry project - you ARE setting out to explore an area of your practice more deeply in order to perhaps know it differently. 

 

What are you thoughts?

 

week one... new beginnings and getting back in...

 Good to see so many of you at the Welcome sessions over the weekend...

 

First week of term this week and a chance to get yourself into or back into a rhythm with your study, work, life patterns. 

Take time to read and re-read the module handbook, familiarize yourself with reading materials (reading list on unihub/library) and blog your thoughts coming into the term, read and comment on each others blogs and generally settle in. 

Returning students - Please do give time to your completing your response to feedback from the last module and return this to your supervisor, attending to comments given, suggestions offered, amendments that may be indicated before flowing fully into the new module this term. 

Take time to connect and re-connect with each other through your blogs, welcoming new students as you go. 

We will collate and add new blog addresses to unihub this week - do set up and write your first blog those who are new to the programme so that we can meet you and send me your blog address!

Happy Monday...

New term

 

Great to be welcoming new starters to the BAPP community this week as well as welcoming back returning students as you move into your next modules of the programmes. 

A reminder that we have our Welcome/Welcome back sessions on Zoom this week 

Friday 5th at 6pm (UK) 

OR

Saturday 6th at 3pm (UK)

choose which day/time works best for you and come to that one, no need to attend both!

We are welcoming also an extended Programme Team this term with Angela Woodhouse and Sam Murray joining Adesola and I. Angela and Sam come with a wealth of professional practice in the arts industry and will introduce themselves during the Welcome sessions and be sharing their practice with you through talks/lectures this term. 

 

You should all have access to your schedule of activities this term (on Unihub in the Academic Calendar folder) and in your Programme Handbooks. Returning students please note Handbooks are updated for Jan 2021, please use these ones for accuracy not anything you may have downloaded last term. 

Please continue to check Adesola's blog and my blog regularly (at least weekly) and we will continue to use Adesola's blog for signing up for skype sessions as listed in the schedule. If you want to be a part of that discussion group you must comment on the blog to say so!

Adesola and I are inviting you to sign up for yout first 1-2-1 supervision of the term. Please do so if you haven't (via Doodlepoll) to discuss the term ahead and feedback from your last module for returners.

Please note that grades for work submitted last term are published on MyUniHub after Feb 15th.

We look forward to a great term ahead with everyone!!

Helen