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