Alys May-James BA Professional Practice Blog

Last week people on module 3 were invited to a zoom call to see where we are all at with our research. It was lovely to catch up with everyone and see where their ideas and research have taken them. Below are a few key points that I took from the meeting. This process is cyclical, not linear. We aren’t looking for a set answer to end our research but trying to gain a deeper understanding which we can then feed back into our lives and practices which can then bring up more questions. Always link it back to my practice- this is a common theme through our research. Identify themes found from analysis clearly and state why it is a theme. Connect the themes we find in our research back to our professional practice. In our analysis we are looking for patterns, it isn’t about giving raw data. But can use quotes from interviews to show how themes have come up. Include methodology in your overview, what you did, why you did it, how it went, what changed Artefact is a ‘practice-based thing’ th

Last week we had a zoom call about how to conduct interviews. Here are a few of the main point I picked up from the discussion. Be open and receptive. Create space for your participants so they can open up about what they want to talk about. Don’t go in with a fixed idea about what you want to find. Let the data you collect speak for itself. You don’t need to include all the information you collect from your interviews. Be selective. Use open questions to allow for further discussion, rather than yes or no answers. Start with an easy question to break the ice. Be an active listener. E.g. Nod, comment on what the participants are saying. Respect everyone’s opinion, even if you don’t agree. Don’t let your own opinions get in the way of the data. Be aware of your own bias and question it. I hope this helps people to carry out their research!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe we are in April already, nearing the end of module 3. It is getting close to draft deadlines which I think is a stressful time for many people, including myself. I find myself wondering if what I've done is right or any good. Although it seems fairly common to feel this way, I think it is also really important to look back at what we have accomplished so far. The work we have produced, the new skills we have learnt, all whilst we are in the middle of a pandemic! The fact we have continued on through this and done the best we can in this situation, is something to be proud of. So although this time is stressful, remember to take time for yourself and think how far you've come. Especially in more stressful situations it is important to take time for ourselves. I have found sometimes it is more productive to step away from the work and come back to it later with a fresh perspective. Personally I think walking and yoga are amazing for cl

The last few months I have been collecting my data on the use of touch and dance ready for analysis. I decided to use thematic analysis with triangulation to find the common, emerging themes across my data. Having found several themes through my literature research, my interviews and my own experiences, I decided to start mapping out these themes. However, when it came to writing them in my research report I was struggling with how to structure my findings. I felt like I had gathered so much information but I didn't know what to do with it once I'd analysed it. Below is a video that I found really helpful for the layout and structure on presenting my themes in my research report.   Here are some of the main points I have taken away from this video: Be clear  State what the research is about and then explain the themes that have come from the research.  It is personal preference how you lay out your findings  Separate your themes into different sections of the report  State the

As my research is focused around touch and dance, contact improvisation has been of great interest to me. Below is a video I have watched and analysed as part of my research.  Contact Improvisation is a form of dancing that requires touch. The whole art form is created around people moving together and being connected physically. This physical connection allows for a constant flow of information between the bodies involved.  This means that not only are we being physically touched, but also mentally. It gives permission for us to move in the moment, without judgement of what is right and wrong. The focus is on the information we are giving and receiving,  which allows for freedom of body, mind and spirit.  I would love to hear what you think about this video.  Bibliography   Video available at:  We Rise and Fall Together | Contact Improv | Nathan Dryden | TEDxSaltLakeCity - YouTube  (Accessed 27/03/2021)

It has been 2 weeks since lockdown lifted for schools and so I have been back at work with the children. It has been tiring being back, but lovely to see everyone in person and not through a screen. It has been a busy but rewarding time. Since being back I have noticed a change in the children. Many of them seem to be craving a close connection to the staff, including staying in at breaks and lunch to talk to us, drawing us lots of pictures or writing us notes, but also some of them wanting to hug us. This is really interesting to me as it fits into my research on the use of touch. As teachers, we have to be very careful and strict with the use of touch as sadly there have been cases of misconduct reported in the media, which have made people very wary of touch. We also have to be very strict due to Covid-19 and the health and safety of everyone. There is a lot of negative associations with touch, but very rarely do we acknowledge the importance of it. Touching is ‘an essential e