Getting Started

Great to meet so many of you during the Welcome skypes over the weekend. 

As we all get settled into the first week of term; finding your space for study is really important. Figuring out when and where the BA is part of your life to that your practice and your study becoming intertwined.This is essential in a programme which is about your Professional Practice. As you move through the first couple of weeks, reading through module handbooks, beginning to dig into something from the reading list and becoming more conscious perhaps of your own practice as a 'thing', it is important to remind yourself to take the time to listen to your own rhythms, observe your own patterns and be aware of your own learning processes. 

Whilst this week's date marks the 'term start date' on our calendars it is important to recognise that starting something isn't usually as quick as a calendar date suggests.  

Starting out for the first time, or starting back to re-join something after a break can mean a re-balance of patterns, schedules, spaces and places...finding how study is integrated / (re) integrated into your work/life patterns.  We think it is important that you begin to find some kind of 'home' for your study, this might be clearing a physical space in your house to work in, finding a coffee shop that has a good vibe to you to be able to work there, checking out libraries or other spaces that may feel good to you.  

 

Looking at your schedules...it may be that you are able to block out one day per week that you ring as your 'BA day', it may not...You may prefer to set aside an hour each morning / an hour each evening and decide that you'll dedicate that to your studies.  You may see already that you have a particularly busy period next month and so no you will not be able to dedicate time to your studies then, but can free-up some time either side of that period. Whatever the pattern, whatever works is individual to you, and important for you to recognise and commit to, completing your Study Plan helps with this.  Adesola and I are pretty flexible with our work/life patterns too and so we can work with you in terms of appointments for one-to-one Skype calls, responding to emails etc, BUT... this is where the blogs are a great way of communicating...you can blog whenever you feel like it...2am, 6am... and others will engage with this when they feel like it, quite possibly in a different time-zone altogether! The blogs are a great week 1 activity to get you connected with those on this BAPP journey with you...get to know your support network right now!

So take this week to observe your patterns, re-jig a little space where needed, feel comfortable in your study environment, locate yourself within the university systems (UniHub / My learning / handbooks).

I'd like to leave you 'starting' with a note on beginning from Musician/philosopher Gary Peters;

'The beginning is not the start of the work but the choice of a way into that which has certainly already started'.

 The study is your professional practice...start finding your way in!

New term...

Welcome to those joining us and beginning their BAPP journey this term and Welcome back to all our returning students. 

We have Induction/Welcome back skype sessions scheduled for the following times next week:

Friday Sept 13th - 6pm  
OR
Saturday Sept 14th - 3pm

Please make sure you sign-up for one of the sessions by commenting on Adesola's blog:

http://adesolamapp.blogspot.com/

Those new to BAPP please send both us a skype contact request before the calls so that we can make sure you're able to be a part of them!

Helen's Skype - helen.kindred2
Adesola's Skype - aonthephone

Looking forward to talking with you all then and to the term ahead...

Helen

Drafts...Feedback...Thinking...

A note on Drafts...

Great to receive yor drafts of work this week...As your supervisors work through them a note for your consideration moving forwards from this point and looking at the value of drafts and feedback in furthering your thinking...


Drafts are intended to initiate a feedback dialogue (in person, skype, via email) with your supervisor, they are not usefully used to ask if things are 'right' or sent with an expectation of receiving corrections, by way of a pre-marking opportunity.

Please do receive feedback as an extended discussion of your work. 

Often feedback contains prompts for further reading, suggested texts/practitioners to look at, comments regarding the level of critical thinking/analysis in your writing over overly descriptive personal narrative approaches etc.. Feedback comments are not telling you to 'correct' something and re-submit, but more trying to help you to move your thinking and writing on as we see the process of your work developmentally.

With this in mind, when you have received feedback on a draft of work, please take time to read and consider comments made, come back to your supervisor asking to extend the conversation, arrange a skype is you have further thoughts and questions as a result of the feedback, but please try not to send a 2nd draft asking if the work is now 'correct'.

You are all working as professional people within your industry and as such we see our role as supervisors as guding you, being a critical friend, promting, pushing your thoughts, challenging you in order for you to develop your thinking further. We are not testing you getting things 'right' we are interested in your engagement and curiosity about your own work. This is pivotal to your development and to the BAPP Programme.

Late night coffee house discussion group...

Last night we covered a lot of different areas mainly looking at the 'things' that are supportive of, integral to, make up the portfolio of work to be submitted for Module Two and Three. 

We talked a lot about 'things'...the professional artefact, the gantt chart, MORE forms and critical reflection.  I asked those who were a part of the discussion to blog what they felt the conversations we had were really about, if they removed the 'thing' itself as something needing to be done and instead looked at the value and relevance of what the 'tings' are and why they form part of the portfolios you are asked to work towards for the modules.

Some suggestions were to look at the process of creating a professional artefact, as a means of communciating the inquiry process within your field of professional practice.

To consider how a gantt chart may offer you a structure in the form of a time frame to help the progression of your inquiry within the context of the term of study of module three. 

The importance of the ethics of your research being integral to your professional practice not just a form to complete. Looking at how you might use the MORE process as a way of helping you to ask the questions you need to address as you plan your inquiry so that the MORE form and your proposal are working in relationship with each other.

We came to the point of the Critical Reflection at the end of the call, considering how this is a useful way to look back on your learning through the module you're on, and as you move onwards through Module Two and Three, recognising and making the connections between the modules in terms of how your understanding of process and practice has developed.  It is important not to see things in isolation as you move through each module, and the programme as a whole, but to look at the relationships between the 'things' presented, be that in the tasks or components of the module submission, the literature, the data you gather...
 

Beverley, Harry, Charles, Andrew, Sophie, Jess and Lee do comment below with your blog posts and further thoughts on the discussions...

Twilight open discussion group

Some great conversations last night at our open discussion skype.

We had people from each module and conversations moved around reading and learning, finding and recognising pathways, making choices to inviting others to share their experiences through interviews and organising information. Whatever module you are in these ideas are relevant and will emerge in some way during the process of your study/learning.

Others that were on the call please comment here with the link to your blog post so that we can continue the conversations.

A reminder to others, that these open discussion groups are a really valuable way to talk to each other, share learning across the modules and speak to others who have perhaps been through the process you're going through now, learn from the reflections on learning from others in the same module as you, or just be open to an alternative perspective.  

Open Discussion Group...

We had some great conversations with people across modules two and three last night.
As everyone transitions into the next module there were naturally some thoughts around what the module asks for, what you will submit at the end of this 12 week term. While it is important to know these things of course, we talked though about the value in being able to be in the present also, so that you are not rushing through to a destination and missing the journey in the process!

Coming into module two allow yourself time to wonder, to reflect on last term's learning and to observe and absorb what is around you in your practice as you begin to realise your interests for an inquiry. Remeber that there is no such thing as a perfect inquiry question, and there's little value in undertaking an inquiry to confirm something you already know and do. Hover on the edge of the cliff a little longer to see where the edges really are for you. As you look at literature, read with curiosity around your subject area, rather than to answer your questions...be open to the process of learning and developing...

Those entering module three had queries around 'what next...?' Remember Module Two was your proposal for a practice-based inquiry. It was setting out a framework for what you intend to do now. So this term you are doing it!! Your reading continues, goes deeper with some key texts, and you begin to gather other data from your field. For now that's it. Don't try to analyse the data as you're gathering it. Let yourself be in each phase without trying to 'steer' or predict the next part too tightly.

Those that were a part of these discussions please do add your blog addresses in the comments here so that we can continue the conversations with you..

New term...New beginnings

Welcome to the start of the new term this week.

Hopefully you are all settling in to the module you are undertaking for the next 12 weeks. All module handbooks are on unihub for you under your BAPP ACI programme page and please do download your calendar of events from this page also. The schedule for all the skype discussion groups, module focus groups, dates for sending in drafts of work and your final submission of work is all listed here, so it's really important you have this working in/alongside your regular diary.

Starting a term can be a little strange on a distance education programme as you don't physically go anywhere, to campus or a studio to begin your 'learning'. What is important though is that you take time at the start of the term now to consider or perhpas re-consider how the study on the BAPP forms a part of your life. When and where will you study, how will you integrate this with other commitments. Chatting to some of you new to the programme this week about the course, study, work balance, I would suggest for returning students also, going back to your Study Plans if you haven't yet and really reminding yourself or re-thinking from the experience of last term how BAPP is a part of your practice rather than a 'task' to 'fit in'.

You might like to find a space to work, pick up a text from the reading list for your module and begin there, simply letting others ideas and your thoughts begin a relationship. While it is important to note what it is you will submit at the end of the term for your module, it is important to recognise learning as a process, and one on this programme, which is integral to your professional practice, so don't be in a hurry to get to the end and tick off an assignment. Take your time, dive-in - YES, swim around, gather thoughts, ideas, questions at this stage...