Task 3D: Critical Questions & Issues That Emerge

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate? Limited? Focused? Planned? Unplanned?
Being a 'networked professional' in my industry is vital. I feel like I need to keep on top of my networking in order for me to always be developing my skills in this area. Most of my sources have been taken from ideas that I found on the internet and looking back at this now I think that I could make a bigger effort in future to use other resources such as the library. When I begin my teaching job in the new year I am going to try and include references in my blogs to myself as both a performer and a teacher as this will help me develop my learning in all areas of my professional practice. I feel that my engagement with the BAPP course so far has been focused and I have tried to devote any spare time that I have had to my studies in order to achieve the highest possible outcome. I did not make a plan of when I was going to complete each task and this is something that I could look into changing in my studies in the future, however I have not fallen behind at all and I think that my self motivation and determination to succeed has helped this a lot. I have also been able to attend a few of the Skype sessions with Paula when I have not been working and these discussions have really helped me when completing the tasks for my blog.

Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?
Definitely! It has been helpful for me to read a few blogs from other BAPP course members who have now progressed onto Modules 2 and 3 or who have even completed the course in full. It is very interesting to read different view points on the same tasks and seeing what each individuals take on each task is like. Writing a blog is very personal and as I have mentioned previously, when I begin my teaching job I am going to try my best to apply some of the theories that were discussed in Reader 3 into my own personal professional practice.

Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking, planning or practice?
Sharing my ideas with others who are also like-minded does shift my thinking as it allows me to compare and contrast my ideas. Being well connected to others in my network will only improve my professional practice. I haven't changed my planning at all but the way in which I am being conscious of time management shows that I do not need to share these ideas with others as my method is working in a positive way for me.

Does critical reflection help you decide what really matters and the actions to take?
Critical reflection has been a very useful tool for me to use throughout this module because I am a perfectionist. So rather than reading back my work and only having negative thoughts about it, I am now in a position where I can critically reflect on my work and not feel discouraged by it, looking into the positive areas of my work and what actions I can take to improve it, rather than just seeing the negative points which doesn't allow me to develop my reflection skills at all. As I said in a previous blog, I used reflection a lot in my training and this module has shown me the importance of using reflection in my professional practice too. Reflecting on my work so far on my BAPP journey, I would love to start blogging more about other subjects and not just focusing on the tasks set in the module. I think this would give me more confidence when blogging and I could use my blog as an extension to my Twitter page which I referred to in my previous blog as a platform for venting. A tweet can be a maximum of 140 characters in length and that is nowhere near enough to discuss a topical news story in the arts!

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?
Theories assist me in thinking about my professional networking in different ways as they have forced me to research my ideas about each theory and back up my opinion. The theories go hand in hand with my networking and make me really think about my current networks. I had never thought about networking in any other industry before studying this part of the module, but by reading the example about the Prisoner's Dilemma game I was able to widen my knowledge to a subject that is not directly related with the arts. The different ways of thinking have definitely challenged me to think deeper into my networking and give my networking purpose.

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? And if so, how?
I am definitely thinking differently prior to this part of the module as it has made me really think about and understand the importance of developing my networking skills in my industry. It has made me aware of my current networking but also given me room to think about how I would like to improve my networking and the end goal I would like to achieve in this area.

There are ethical issues that arise when communicating with others and these include being respectful towards the other individual and understanding the difference between constructive criticism and verbal abuse or bullying. The other individual has obviously made the comments that they have because they believe strongly about what they have said and it would be demoralising to put them down and may result in them doubting themselves. This negativity might also stop them from developing their networking or professional practice if they have lost all hope after a comment that has been made.

Task 3C: Sources of Information

By using the Connectivism theory I have created a list of my top 5 most important sources of information. Obviously Web 2.0 plays a massive part in my choices as it provides us with information that we need at the click of a button. The world would be a very different and less advanced place without Web 2.0...

1. My Phone
So as much as it pains me to put this top of my list, I absolutely could not live without my phone. It gives me access to everything I need from day to day and I have anything I need at the touch of a button, or even better, by asking Siri for help! My phone book keeps all of the contacts in my network in one place with their details safe and stored. Receiving emails straight to my phone makes my life so much easier. If I had to reply to emails by using my laptop I probably wouldn't reply until quite a few hours later but I can reply to emails using my phone within minutes of viewing it. This is very helpful if my agent emails me details of a casting and needs a quick response in order to advise the casting director if I am able to attend. Facetime is one of the best apps on my phone. Living away from home can sometimes be challenging and knowing that I am able to both see and speak to my family (not forgetting my Westie dog) with such ease is amazing. I can connect with them at all times of the day and I love the interchangeable cameras (front facing or front of phone). I must also mention the apps that I have chosen to download to my phone. I think this is a great side to my phone as it makes it more personal to me. I have apps that will allow me to access anything from live travel updates so that I can keep updated and safe on the move to The Stage app where I can view upcoming auditions without signing into my account online.

2. Google
I cannot remember what we all did before Google existed. When people used to say that the internet was going to take over the world they definitely weren't lying. The amount of times I have asked a question and have been told to 'Google it' are just too many to keep track of! Google is a global search engine so allows me to search about anything that is going on around the world and I will have an immediate answer. "Google's mission is to organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" (Google, About Us). Google has played a huge part in my BAPP journey so far as it has allowed me to search for sources online rather than having to spend time that I don't always have in a library.

3, YouTube
YouTube provides me with videos which I can use in my work and professional practice. When learning a new song I normally like to 'note-bash' (work out the melody of the song) on a piano but unfortunately I do not own a piano in my house in London. If I am unable to gain access to a keyboard or piano then I can go onto YouTube and listen to the original cast recording of the song with ease. YouTube is also very useful for finding backing tracks to songs and this is helpful when I do not have time to visit my singing teacher if I get told about an audition at short notice. I also enjoy learning visually so if I need to learn how to do something a bit more practical then I could watch a video online and this would probably help me solve the problem.

4. Theatre/Cinema
I try to visit the theatre or cinema as much as I can. I enjoy going to see new material and writing, (including low budget films or shorts) that I am unfamiliar with as well as classic musicals and plays that are well known and loved. Sometimes when you are having a 'quiet spell' in between auditions and work, it is important to go and see performances. This allows you to see what is currently popular and can help with picking audition material or even helping you to learn about the show and everything that it is made up of, such as the writers and composers. I often find myself sitting in the audience at shows asking myself which roles I might be suited to and which were in my casting bracket as it helps to keep my mind stimulated.

5. Twitter
This social media site is becoming increasingly important in my professional practice. By following both upcoming and established casting directors, tweeting directors about their work that I have seen or connecting with new and upcoming theatre companies, I am able to expand my network of professional contacts and get my profile into the public eye. Twitter is easily accessible on an app on my phone so I can use it on the move too. Twitter also acts as a platform for venting opinions for actors and other industry professionals who might want to respond immediately to news stories associated to the arts.

There are many other sources of information that I also use on a daily basis but these are the top 5 that I use at present. I look forward to seeing others blog about this to see how their sources of information compare to mine!


Reference List

https://www.google.com/about/

Task 3B: Theories Relating to Networking

A professional network is "a work related community held together by either close working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs" (Reader 3, BAPP). Reader 3 is based on 'The Networked Professional' and the different ideas we can use to network. It discusses five theories of the professional network. It has taken a few days for each of the theories to sink in properly but I now feel that I fully understand each theory and how I could perhaps use each one in my professional practice. The five theories that create 'The Networked Professional' are Cooperation, Affiliation, Social Constructionism, Connectivism and Communities of Practice.

Cooperation
In order to make any progress when working with others or as part of a team, cooperation is essential. Reader 3 discusses how this theory is linked closely with the Game Theory, where one player succeeds at another player's expense. Robert Axelrod, who comes from the discipline of political science is one of the most significant researchers in this theory, "when should a person cooperate, and when should a person be selfish, in an ongoing interaction with another person?" (Axelrod, 1984). He discusses the importance of cooperation in a game theory and, in particular, the game Prisoner's Dilemma. It is a simplistic example which clearly shows the type of situation in which these problems become apparent. Axelrod continued to carry out investigations comparing theories submitted by game theorists such as psychologists, economists and mathematicians. The theory of 'TIT FOR TAT' was the easiest and also the most desirable. "TIT FOR TAT is merely the strategy of starting with cooperation, and thereafter doing what the other player did on the previous move" (Axelrod, 1984). In my professional work I could never ignore people after they had helped me with my career in any way. I find this behaviour very inconsiderate and out of order as it means using someone to get to where you want to be. I was brought up to always treat others the way you would want to be treated yourself, however, as I have grown older I have realised and seen first hand that sometimes others will take advantage of you if you are 'too nice', and that sticking up for yourself can make others respect you more as long as you go the right way about it and are not completely rude. I am going to make sure that I have the right balance between the two in my professional networking because for example I would not go to an open audition and let everyone go ahead of me in the queue, but I would respect people who were in line before me and wait my turn.

Affiliation
Affiliation is a social process, in the field of social psychology that gives us "a network of support that will help us when we are in need" (Crisp & Turner, 2007). Affiliation is an important theory in the performing industry and one that I try to use often. I have many contacts who have helped me in my professional life, no matter how small or large their input was and it is comforting to know that people are there for you if you need them and that they can rely on you too. Crisp & Turner explain the benefits and the need to "seek out others and form close relationships" (Crisp & Turner, 2007). I think that I use affiliation more than I realise because making friends along my career path is definitely a bonus. It is a tough industry to be in and knowing that I have friends and family who support me in all I do really helps. The main difference with affiliation and cooperation is that cooperation is definitely more professional and doesn't allow the networking to get too personal. Affiliation is an ongoing relationship which develops over time.

Social Constructionism
"Social constructionism is a one of a set of related explanations about how meanings about the world are made" (Reader 3, BAPP). This theory is based on social relationships, and by interacting with others and the world around us, we are able to construct our own opinions on certain situations depending on our experiences. We believe everything we are told as young children by our parents because we don't know any better, but as we grow older, we are able to make informed decisions and understand for ourselves because we are having to deal with these things on a daily basis. For example, on the first day of a big event like a course or a new job, we are always incredibly nervous (no matter how hard we try not to be) because you find yourself in surroundings that are completely new and alien to you. But after attending the job or course for a few weeks you will have adapted and feel like you belong to this network and group of people a bit more. This theory will be useful in my industry as I think a lot of my work is about making a decision or forming an opinion on something for yourself and not just believing or agreeing with someone else because you are too scared to be different.

Connectivism
When first studying Reader 3 and reading about the theory of Connectivism, I instantly thought about what I had learnt throughout the tasks at the beginning of the Module which were related to Web 2.0. This theory believes that Web 2.0 is altering our brains and that traditional ideas about learning, for example, a teacher transferring their knowledge to a student, needs to be changed. The theory discusses how we interact through networks and suggests that Web 2.0 contains all of the information we need. I am currently using this theory throughout the BAPP course as we have to write a blog to supplement our learning. Writing this blog has helped my learning in a way that I would never have thought of before starting the course. Web 2.0 is always expanding and this theory provides a clear explanation about how networks give individuals a chance to connect with others and learn within that particular network. This theory allows me to improve my skills within Web 2.0 and my networking overall because learning is "a persisting change in human performance or performance potential" (Driscoll, 2000).

Communities of Practise
This theory explains how we learn by engaging in social relationships. We all have our own circles of contacts within our professional practice and each of these groups "produce learning realised in different forms" (Reader 3, BAPP). The relationships in this type of network stay strong because they are created and developed through social interaction, life communities and mutual interests such as performing groups. Whilst training at college I made friends who may in future turn into work colleagues. In all of these groups, members share a similar passion and love for their art. "The social structure of this practice, its power relations, and its conditions for legitimacy define possibilities for learning" (Lave & Wenger, 1991). I think this theory is relevant to my professional practice because the industry is a very social place and in turn this theory has a huge social aspect, allowing us to form circles of contacts within our networks. This is much different to the Connectivism theory where all of the networking is done online and by using Web 2.0 which does not allow for any face to face networking. Most of my networking at present is done by using Web 2.0, but after studying this theory I now understand the importance of exploring my circles of contacts and communities of practice.

Having read through Reader 3 again you need to, with theories such as Connectivism, ensure that you do not merge personal and professional work when using Web 2.0 to network. You must ensure that you consider exactly what you are writing online and how writing or making comments which are slanderous towards a person or company could affect your image in the future. Social media can be great for networking if used in the correct way.

The theories in Reader 3 allow me to think about how the theories could help or affect my networking in the future. The theories have made me more aware about how I currently network within the industry and what steps or theories I could take to improve my networking skills and become a better networking professional within the arts. I now have more understanding of all of the theories and this will definitely help me to develop my success within networking.


Reference List

• Reader 3 - BAPP, Middlesex University
• "The Evolution of Cooperation"; R, Axelrod; 1984.
• "Essential Social Psychology"; R J Crisp & R N Turner; 2007.
• "Connectivisim: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age"; G Siemens; 2004.
• "Legitimate Peripheral Participation in Communities in Practise"; J Lave & E Wenger; 1991.

Task 3A: Current Networks

Networking within the arts is vital. The industry is extremely tough and making contacts can make it a bit easier if you have a supportive pool of contacts who can give you a helping hand.

What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have, or do, engage your professional network?
After graduating college I realised that I wasn't networking as much as I should have been. I have tried to develop my networking skills but I definitely think that I could still be networking more within the industry. Social media is a great way of networking within the performing industry. I mostly use Twitter to network by following creatives within the industry, for example, casting directors, producers and writers of new material that may be looking for actors that are within my casting bracket. A lot of casting is based on your look and sometimes this can be enough to be seen for an audition. If directors or theatre companies publicly announce that they are holding auditions for a show that I think I am suitable for I will contact my agent and ask to be submitted for an audition. I have also gained a few contacts by 'tweeting' directors or writers if I have been to see their work and have enjoyed it.

What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practitioners that you admire?
More established actors network by creating their own websites and fan club pages which allows them to send out monthly/weekly newsletters to keep their fans and followers posted on what work and jobs they have recently done or if they are appearing in any upcoming productions. Anyone can sign up to their newsletters and they are able to self-promote very easily by doing this. Other sites such as IMDB are also useful for actors as this will give a full list of their credits which can be viewed in one area online. This is also helpful for members of production eg if an actor had an audition with a film director they would be able to view which films the director had also worked on and gain a bit more background about them before meeting them at audition, for example. Casting Call Pro allows actors to put themselves forward for auditions and this site also allows you to contact others within the industry including agents, casting directors and other actors.

Are there methods, approaches and technologies that you use socially that might apply and help you develop your professional networking?
I use Facebook socially but it is also great for networking. I am a part of a few groups on Facebook which allow actors, casting directors and producers etc to post auditions and helpful information for working in the arts. YouTube can also be used for professional networking as it allows you to easily post media online which you can then share with others. If an industry professional like a casting director viewed a video I had posted on YouTube of myself acting or singing and enjoyed it, they would be able to get in contact with me without the extra hassle of going through my agent, and this may lead to future auditions or work with this company or casting director. This would also save the time for a face-to-face audition and in turn, saves room rental costs. As I mentioned above, having a personal website can help an actor a lot. Media such as videos, voice links, showreels and even headshots can be posted online and this allows more industry professionals to see your talents in the comfort of their own home!

When you reflect upon current networks, can you think about the motives of others to be in the network and what values and purpose they have in mind?
The motives of others to network is mainly to make contacts. By making contacts you are putting yourself out in the industry as an actor and this can get you noticed. Actors network to better themselves and by being active on social media sites such as Twitter, for example, actors have a higher chance of getting their profile into the public eye, hopefully securing auditions then jobs and working their way up the industry job ladder.

What would your ideal network look like and why?
My ideal network would include a wide variety of people who are in all different aspects of the industry such as directors, writers, producers and other performers. Even having professionals from different areas of the arts such as musicians, artists could make the process even more interesting. These contacts would be able to work together to create art.

What realistic things could you do to work towards developing your ideal network?
To work towards developing my ideal network I could definitely be more active on social media. I think that creating a LinkedIn profile might be the next step in developing my networking. I feel like LinkedIn is a very popular website so creating a profile would be a very worthwhile thing to do. The article below explains why this site is so helpful for actors.

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/why-all-actors-should-be-linkedin/

What tools and methods do you need to use? What do you know about your current, and intended networks, and importantly, what do you not know?
After going through Reader 3 and completing this task I am going to work very hard to improve and increase my networking skills. In the future, I think that a website for my acting work would definitely be worthwhile and I could use this to promote myself by adding media such as video clips.

Task 2D: Inquiry

So far, the BAPP course has forced me to think more in depth about thoughts and ideas that I never would have done before. I feel like my reflective practice is developing so much on a daily basis and I can see the change in myself from reading my journals entries at the end of each day.


What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?
From a very young age I always knew that I wanted a career in the arts. Performing has always been my passion and from the few opportunities I have had previously to teach drama to children (work experience at school, assisting at school summer camps etc) I know that it is something I would also love to do in the future. I have taken the next steps towards this and will be teaching Musical Theatre to children in January after my panto contract ends. I am very excited about starting my new job and I feel ready to pass on what I have learnt throughout my training and hope that it will be a rewarding experience. I admired a few of my teachers at college but my biggest inspiration from a professional point of view has to be my singing teacher, George, who is primarily an actor. Teaching is his secondary job to keep him afloat in between and alongside his professional performing contracts but he is completely dedicated to helping his students achieve their goals. He is so committed to helping his students I feel that I can contact him at any time for help. His enthusiasm motivates me to work hard to provide the same level of professionalism that he maintains. I aspire to be like him when I begin teaching and I hope that my students gain many new skills and confidence from my classes. I also admire my new employer, Megan, who owns the school that I will be teaching at. She took a huge risk of setting up a company which might have failed and has worked to promote her business and ensure it is a success. I am looking forward to working with her more in the New Year and learning from her.

What gets you angry or makes you sad? Who do you admire who shares your feelings or has found a way to work around the sadness or anger?
The performing world is a very small one and I get angry because of the politics that exist in the arts. I have known people to be successful not because of what they know but who they know and it is sad to think that they have had it easy and have not had to work hard to get to where they are! It also saddens me when people make comments such as: "oh you studied Musical Theatre, that must have been easy, anyone could do that". Correction. It was not easy, in fact it was the complete opposite. I was in college from 9-6 (usually later) every day, 5 days a week, working and sweating my butt off to improve my skills and it annoys me when people who haven't trained think that they could walk straight into the industry without proper training. I found a blog online that I really relate to and I admire anyone who is in the arts who never gives up on reaching their end target or goal. It is an industry filled with rejections and is brutal, but I couldn't see myself doing anything else. http://www.poisonandice.com/tuesday-talks/lets-face-it-your-art-degree-is-going-to-get-you-nowhere

What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?
I love the feeling of achievement that I get at the end of any performance when the audience are giving their applause because it shows that they have respected the work that you have presented. Hopefully the performance sparked something inside of them which will encourage them to experience more live theatre. Performing always gives me a buzz of adrenaline and even though the industry is tough, I will continue to fight and push harder because the feeling I have when I am performing onstage is irreplaceable. Having worked in The Disney Store for over 3 years, I love working with children and I cannot wait to start my new teaching job. I am looking forward to seeing how they improve over the course of the term. I admire (most) actors who are now big stars but have publicly shared their stories of failure, I recently read about Meryl Streep, She was told at the age of 27 when she was an unknown actress just starting out in the industry that she was "too ugly" to be cast in the film, King Kong. Her love of acting was too strong to let this comment defeat her and she used it as fuel to keep going.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11988870/Meryl-Streep-told-she-was-too-ugly-to-act-in-King-Kong.html

What do you feel you don't understand? Who do you admire who does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same questions as you?

I don't understand why drama and arts subjects are under valued in schools. When I was at school, my first drama lesson wasn't until I was in my 3rd year of senior school (age 15) when I was allowed to pick the subject to study it as one of my Standard Grade exams. If you did not choose drama as a subject then it was never on your timetable. I completely understand that children need to study other subjects like English and Maths as a priority and that not everyone (like me) wanted to make performing their career but drama builds confidence, helps to develop communication skills and encourages children to co-operate. It can help shy children make friends because drama games or exercises encourage teamwork and will also help to develop emotional intelligence. I highly admire the work of the Arts Council who just last year pushed for a 'cultural education challenge'. Schools Minister Nick Gibb said "an academic curriculum and a cultural education can only compliment each other, whether it is reading a wide range of literature; broadening your understanding of Shakespeare's plays; giving you the historical knowledge to contextualize Picasso's paintings; or allowing you to read Racine in the original language". I completely support his statement because when it came to studying Shakespeare in my English classes at school, I was already ahead of others as I had studied some of his plays previously in my drama classes and whilst completing my Speech and Drama exams.

How do you decide the appropriate ethical response in a given situation? To what extent are disciplinary responses different to that you might expect more generally in society? For example, what level of physical contact would you deem appropriate (and not) from another professional that you would find unacceptable more generally? Why?
I am actually looking forward to exploring this question more when I start teaching in the New Year. Because the children will not be typically sat at a desk doing written work I think I will need to work hard in order to find the correct balance between work and play. It is a bit more challenging trying to gain respect from the children as the musical theatre classes I will be teaching are more of a hobby to them rather than a school subject and I need to ensure that they still view me as a teacher figure rather than a friend. I am going to ensure that my classes are fun and enjoyable but that I am still able to take control. I am now DBS checked and understand the rules when working with children are very strict. I am going to try and have a 'rule system' so that the guidelines are laid down at the start of term so if any of the children do misbehave then they know the 'consequences' from day one, for example, time out etc. This will also make sure that I am consistent with my discipline and keep all the rules the same for everyone in the class.

Task 2C: Reflective Theory

Reflective practice is the ability to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning.

Before starting on my BAPP journey, reflective practice was a method that I used subconsciously throughout the duration of my training yet I wasn't aware of it until recently. By reflecting on classes, exams and past experiences I have greatly developed my skills, both as an individual and a performer. Reflection allows me to look back at times in my life that were good or maybe not so good, and use these experiences to help me become a stronger person which I will benefit from in future. If you do not understand why an experience was bad then you cannot take anything advantageous from it and reflecting on experiences should allow you to find the positive within the negative, "turning experience into learning" (Boud, 1995).

Reflecting on your actions allows you to develop a second attitude to life; learning so much about yourself and others around you, your work and the way you relate to it. I normally reflect by using the method of inward thinking but since starting the BAPP course I have really enjoyed using the method of writing a journal to reflect on certain events. This has allowed me to adjust my ways and remove some stress from my life as writing things down really helps you to see the bigger picture. It is easier to adopt the practise of daily reflection rather than leaving it for a few days when the attention to detail of events may not be so fresh in your mind. Journal writing has reminded me how important it is to reflect on a daily basis or as often as I can.

John Dewey, an educationist and philosopher saw the reflective thought as an "active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and further conclusions to which it tends" (Dewey, 1933). He saw education as an experiential action and linked the quality of education to the level of engagement. Dewey believed the educational process to be a "continual reorganisation, reconstruction and transformation of experience" (Dewey, 1916), and that "interation with the Arts led to a unique and valuable experience" (Dewey, 1934). I love how this theory looks at the relationship between education and the arts. If children are engaged with what they are being taught then they will learn more and the teacher will reach the conclusion faster and with ease.

Dewey informed the work of Kolb, who developed the idea of a learning cycle. Kolb, like Dewey, also believes that it is important to recognise that you have had an experience and with his learning cycle your experiences can be reviewed and analysed. The entry points on the four-point learning cycle are as follows:

1. Concrete Experience - doing/having an experience
2. Reflective Observation - reviewing/reflecting on the experience
3. Abstract Conceptualisation - concluding/learning from the experience
4. Active Experimentation - planning/trying out what you have learned

Kolb's learning cycle has been very useful for me in my profession as this theory highlights your learning style. I used this method when initially beginning my journal, starting at concrete experience but then moving on to reflective observation and abstract conceptualisation, which meant that my journal writing was more valuable to my learning. By following Kolb's learning cycle you can easily touch on all forms of reflection depending on the individual. Knowing how you learn means that you can understand what you need to do in order to gain the most out of your reflective practise.

Jennifer Moon, also an educationist, looks at the processes, goals and methods of reflection on different types of situations. Her focus of interest is in the process of human learning and she believes that we need to acknowledge our experiences in order to reflect and learn from them. Moon recognises that when our reflections are put into words they are 'real' and that they have understanding and meaning in them that are important to access. Moon also said that "a learning journal is essentially a vehicle for reflection" (Moon, 2006) and I could not agree more with this statement. I have never kept a journal before starting the BAPP course and I now use a combination of journal writing methods which means that I am forcing myself to change my mindset on the way I complete the journal writing task, which should result in my journal having valuable entries which I can use to reflect on.

Donald Schon introduced the idea of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action and I have been using this method of reflection regularly without even realising! As a performer this method of reflection is key as if you were in a performance and it wasn't going to plan then you would have to think on the spot (reflection-in-action) to change your technique accordingly. These methods allow you to realise what you want to achieve and by looking over my previous blogs I can reflect on what I wrote at the time and see if I would adapt them now (reflection-on-action).

Miriam Webb disagrees with and criticizes Kolb's learning cycle method, commenting that it is not valid and that it is faulty at the core. She believes that in order for learning to happen, you do not need to experience all four entry points of the learning cycle. She says that "it concludes that all four modes are not required for learning to take place, and demonstrates that this component of the theory is rife with inherent contradiction and inconsistency." (Webb, 2003).

To conclude, I believe that the methods of reflective practice to use depends on the individual. There is no right or wrong way of reflecting on your actions or experiences and the main thing is understanding why it is important for you to reflect and finding a method that suits you best. Overall I think that as long as you are learning from your experiences and adapting to better yourself, you can't go wrong.

Reference List

• Reader 2 - BAPP, Middlesex University
• https://www.cemp.ac.uk/people/jennymoon.php
• http://reviewing.co.uk/research/experiential.learning.htm#webb
• https://graysreadinggroup.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/the-reflective-practitioner-by-donald-schon/
• "Reflective Practice (Fourth Edition): Writing and Professional Development" by Gillie Bolton

Task 2B: Reflective Writing (Journal Writing Experience)

Journal writing is surprisingly therapeutic! It allows me to focus on both positive and negative events that happened throughout my day and is helping with my overall development. I can easily take a weight off my shoulders by writing it down and in the long run I feel much better when I have reflected on the situation. I am enjoying having my blog online which is public and also my private journal as it allows me to confide my more personal thoughts and views offline! I am still able to reflect on both my blog and my journal at a later date in my BAPP journey. I have tried a few of the different ways of writing my journal and have found the methods which worked well for me.

I didn't intend to, but ended up putting Description and Initial Reflection together. It seemed natural to write about what happened and my feelings on the event. This is the way that I had started off writing my journal initially so I found this method very easy. When I first began to experiment with the different methods of journal writing I did find it quite hard to get out of the habit of instantly writing my journal in this way.

I enjoyed using the List method as I naturally love writing a list. I'll write a list if I'm going to the shops to remind me what I need or if I'm going on holiday so that I know I have taken everything! By writing my journal in this way I felt like my life had a bit more order and that I was in control. This method also meant that I wrote about the day more as a whole rather than just focusing on one or two key events that had occured. I am definitely going to continue to use this method in some of my journal entries especially if I have had an eventful day!

Evaluation felt like it was also a good method to use when writing my journal as I was able to see what was positive that day and what I could adapt. This method really made me think about what I could improve on and this allowed for a lot of reflection on my day.

The Graphs, Charts and Diagrams method was the one that I found least useful. I made a graph based on how my stress levels had been that day but struggled to remember exactly how stressed I was in each hour of the day when I was creating the graph at the end of the day. I was surprised that this method didn't work as well for me because I am a visual learner. Unfortunately I didn't gain anything new from this method of journal writing but I'm glad I gave it a go!

The What If method didn't really give me a lot to say when I used it on it's own as there weren't many what if questions I could have asked myself for the day. I felt like my reflection when using this method wasn't very in depth and that I wasn't fully reflecting on the important issues. I am going to give this method another go at some point and might even try combining it with the Evaluation method to see if that provokes any more thoughts in my head.

Another method that didn't really work best for me was the Another View method. I began reflecting as my ring (which never leaves my finger) as it had been on my person the whole day. This proved really difficult and it didn't create a clear picture of what my thoughts and feelings were that day. I tried this one a second time but this time from the view of a few customers that I had served at work. This was slightly more successful but as with the What If method, I think it might be one to combine and use with another method in order to make my journal a little more productive and worthwhile.

I am going to primarily use the Description and Initial Reflection methods to write my journals as those are the methods that I naturally used when starting my journal. I haven't completely ruled out the other methods such as List or Evaluation as I want to make sure that I am challenging my brain and not allowing myself just to remain in my comfort zone. By using Description and Initial Reflection I can reflect on my performing in a detailed way which is clear in my mind. By sometimes changing which method I use I think I will be able to expand my knowledge of how I can adapt and improve myself as a performer as well as help me to progress throughout my BAPP journey.

Task 2A: Reflective Practice

After finishing Reader 2 this afternoon, I decided to make a start on Task 2A which consists of exploring and reflecting on my own thoughts by writing a journal. I have never kept a diary or journal before and I had no idea what to write at first.

I looked back over my notes from last week's Skype session with Paula and remembered when we had discussed what reflection meant to us. For me, it is a case of not waiting for anyone to point out what you can change to improve yourself. After our Skype chat I realised how true this had been throughout my training. The majority of the time my tutors wouldn't tell me straight away what I could improve on and would sit back and let me try and work it out for myself. I did this by watching videos of myself acting, listening back to a recording of myself singing, or looking back over notes that tutors and peers had given me after a showing of material, for example. This helped me improve so much as a performer as I could self evaluate my performance and pinpoint areas where my technique needed work and change it so that it was up to standard.

I have decided to handwrite my journal at the end of every day. I have not started my panto rehearsals yet so at the moment I am just working in my retail job which I will leave in just over a weeks time. As soon as I put my pen to paper I realised that even reflecting on things that have happened at the gym or work that day, for example, which aren't directly related to my performing work, still had an impact on both my performing work and me as an individual and is very useful towards developing my knowledge and understanding throughout my BAPP studies.

"Reflection is an important human activity in which people recapture their experience, think about it, mull over & evaluate it. It is this working with experience that is important in learning" - Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. (1985). I completely agree with Boud's statement and think that keeping a journal is a great way to reflect. You can capture something when it happens and then reflect on it later. Keeping a journal allows you to really think about a situation and means that you shouldn't just act on impulse.

By writing my journal I hope that I can reflect on events, adapt accordingly and move on with any new changes in my work. I am looking forward to see how my journal content changes when I begin panto rehearsals in 2 weeks.

Task 1D: 2D Images

After doing a bit of research, I decided to create a Flickr account which I will use solely for my work and professional photos. I have been using Instagram for a few years so I thought I would challenge myself by using a different platform for my professional photos. Flickr is a large image and video hosting website with over 4 million photos being uploaded daily. Instagram and Flickr are similar but Flickr seems to have a few more options, such as connecting with other users that have similar interests and a Flickr blog. At the moment I am still trying to learn how to use Flickr properly so I am looking forward to experimenting more with my photo uploads to Flickr both on my laptop and on the app.

As a performer, Flickr will allow me to upload videos and photos which relate to my current work in the industry, connecting with other users all over the world who also work in the industry or may have a keen interest in theatre. The Arts relies heavily on social media as it allows us to self promote and may even help in gaining an audition, securing a performing job or by making a first impression on someone important in the industry. Uploading photos and videos to Flickr which are relevant to my career will allow my followers to keep up to date with my recent work and projects. 

This task has helped me to understand just how important social media is within my industry. I am going to continue to upload professional pictures to my Flickr account as I progress through the BAPP Course and this will hopefully help my self promotion skills and social networking.

My Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/145024029@N04/

Task 1C: Audio-Visual

YouTube was created by three former Paypal employees in February 2005 and is a free video sharing website which makes it easy to watch videos online. It is one of the most popular websites with users watching around 6 billion hours of video footage every month.

Anyone can video blog (also known as 'vlog') as long as they have an internet connection, a camera and an interesting and relatable topic to start a discussion. Top vloggers can earn thousands of pounds just by mentioning a product to their millions of fans or followers. Many vloggers quit their jobs to have careers from home and have never looked back. The information below shows just how vloggers can make a living by working from home.

How much can top Vloggers charge?

• Up to £20,000/month for banners and 'skins' around edges of web pages.
• Up to £4000 per mention of a product.
• Up to £4000 per Instagram/Twitter post featuring product.
• Up to £10,000 per personal appearance.

Source: eight&four Digital Marketing & BBC Newsbeat

In my industry more and more castings, especially the first round of auditions for a film or TV job, are now done by a self-tape submission as it saves the casting director time and money on hiring out a space for a day to see actors audition in person. They normally receive hundreds of submissions for each role, so it is much easier for them to see actors initially via self-tape, which they can watch in the comfort of their own home at their leisure. This is helpful for casting directors as it allows them to watch the self-tape videos a few times if they are not sure and means that actors can also submit self-tapes from overseas, for example, without having to pay travel expenses. Self-tapes also have their disadvantages too as you will never actually know if the casting director has even watched your tape.

As a performer, I understand the advantages and importance of self-taping but because I wasn't acting this time, I decided to do things a bit differently... I created my video by using the programme Sony Vegas Pro 13 using a set of images and text along with a clip of music. I thought that this would be more visual for my audience and a bit more interesting than me speaking to my iPhone camera! This also helped me gain new skills in media and editing which I hope to use again as I get further into the course.

So here is the link to my first ever YouTube upload... hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C02gS_pwk0U

Task 1B: Professional Communication Technologies

When it comes to technology, I am a complete novice, instantly panicking and calling my younger brother (who is a complete whizz at technology) for help as soon as something goes wrong! It did worry me at first when I was enrolling onto the BAPP Course that it would be mostly all online... Since beginning the course I already feel that my skills have improved, from using Skype to writing a blog. Special thanks must go to the online help provided by Middlesex Uni especially the handbook on how to use Adobe Connect, which I finally managed to master when chatting to Paula last week.

Naturally, I received Reader 1 and had absolutely no idea what Web 2.0 was. I thought it was something I had to download or a programme I had to use in order to carry out my course studies. How wrong...

Web 2.0 is the current state of online technology in comparison to the early days of the internet. It is the second-generation of web-based communities including social networking sites like Facebook. It is the internet that we all know and use daily. Web 1.0 was a way of using one-way communications, but Web 2.0 lets the reader and creator interact. It allows users to collaborate and share information online.

Social media has a huge impact on the way we live (sad, I know) and I think it has very positive uses in my industry. There are many groups on Facebook which allow me to find out about auditions, up-coming opportunities and events in the industry. This can be useful if you haven't had many recent auditions or if you see a job that you know you are suited to. There are even a few sites on Facebook which give details of jobs for actors out of work, such as promo work or events employment, which is helpful in earning extra cash for a few hours work. I try to 'self-promote' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and follow others within the industry, as I know how important it is to make contacts within the business. It is a great way of staying connected with others by posting updates, for example, if you've had an interesting job.

Social networking sites do have some negatives, however. Sometimes a casting director may go straight to your Facebook/Twitter page before even seeing you at audition, and if they do not like what they see, then there's a high chance that you won't be chosen to be seen. Casting directors have to know that they are working with a reliable and hard-working actor and if they see your social media full of partying every night, chances are they might not get the best impression. It is very easy to upload a lot of your personal data to social networking sites and you have to be careful with how much information you are willing to share. Uploading headshots can be great to get opinions from others about which is best to use, but you never know where your pictures are going to end up, and with a click of a button these pictures can easily be shared with anyone. This could also work in your favour if a director is casting a show and you are exactly what he had in mind.

I think I am very sensible when it comes to using social networking. I try not to be overly vocal about issues which could maybe provoke an argument or irritate others and I don't share too much of my personal information. I do think that as an actress I need to 'self-promote' a bit more and now that I am out of full-time training, I am going to make it my aim to continue to post as frequently as I can in order to keep my profile interesting!

Social media can be a great tool in the industry as long as we all play by the rules.

 

Task 1A: Professional Profile

CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, the Latin translation meaning 'course of life'. It is a summary of your experience, skills and education.

As a performer, having a good CV is crucial. Many casting directors will look at your CV and headshot and then decide whether or not to invite you along to audition. It is so important that my CV works as hard as it can to market my expertise as it is my one chance to try and secure an audition. The hardest part about creating my CV in my final year of training was knowing which experience was relevant to me as a performer now. I soon realised that no one wants to know about an amateur dramatics performance I took part in over 10 years ago and that less was more.

Throughout my training I was always told how important it was to keep my CV up to date as you never know when you're going to need it. I only just realised the other day that my Spotlight PIN and Equity Membership numbers weren't on my CV and these are pretty important when working in the industry. I know my CV is still quite long but it contains the exact same information that I have on my Spotlight page which my agent uses to submit me for auditions.

So, with all the above in mind, here is the link to my CV. Any thoughts or constructive criticism appreciated!

CV: Shanna Logan CV

(Please note: I have removed the majority of my personal data from this CV for security as it is appearing on my public blog.)

Shanna x 

First Blog!

Hiya!

I am a complete beginner when it comes to blogging but you've got to start somewhere...

This is my blog which will follow my journey to complete my BA Hons in Professional Practice in Arts. 

I graduated from The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in July and have since been working, auditioning and 'finding my feet' in the industry. It has always been my passion to teach in the future so that I can pass on what I have learnt (and had to move away from home to study) to aspiring young performers.

I am so excited to get started on the course and upgrade my current qualification!

Shanna x