Alys May-James BA Professional Practice Blog

Web 2.0 is a very important feature of this course. The fact we can even do this distance learning course is down to Web 2.0. Before reading the handbooks I had never herd of it before. I had no idea what it was or that it was even a thing. To me the internet was just the internet and I didn’t think much further into it. Having researched it, I am amazed I hadn’t come across the term before seeing as I use it so often. So what is Web 2.0? ‘The second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social media.’ Oxford Dictionaries What does this mean? Tim O’Reilly has spoken a lot about Web 2.0. Online we are now able to communicate with each other. Someone can put a piece of information on the internet and people can interact with the information. The creator and the people reading and interacting to it are in conversation. They can discuss, debate and exp...

Recently, I have taken part in my third skype session, but it was my first module one focus skype. It was lovely meeting new people and hearing all the different points they had to make. We started by introducing ourselves and how we describe our practice.  It led onto an interesting thought of ‘How do we define ourselves?’ and ‘What are our identities?’ This went on to talking about our ‘profession.’ Whilst introducing ourselves it became clear that we all had a variety of jobs, including but not limited to, actors, dancers and teachers of the arts. From the introductions it seemed that many of us classed our ‘profession’ as being something in the arts. However, through later discussions, it was revealed many of us have other jobs too, for instance, I cat and dog sit too. Even though many of us have multiple job roles, (maybe due to the nature of the arts industry) some of us still defined our practice as, for instance, a dancer. This got us thinking on the definition of profe...

Last night I attended my first discussion Skype for all modules. I found it very insightful listening to other people and their experiences. One of the parts I have been struggling with is the ‘diagram’ or ‘artefact’, so I went with the intention of trying to get some clarity and inspiration! The information from others was invaluable. It became clear to me, from many of the now module two people, that the essay and artefact go hand in hand. They compliment each other and should work in harmony. When discussing which one should be done first, I realised that to get the best results they should be done together and so become fluid. Yes, they are different pieces of work, but they work together and each enhance the other. It is also important to make a decision and commit to it. 12 weeks will go fast, so if you have an idea, go for it! What’s different about the artefact, is that it can be what you want it to be. Some of the suggestions included videos, spider diagrams and pic...

Following on from my last post about feeling lost, I have taken comfort in the recommended reading list. A few days ago, I finished my first book - ‘Getting Started with University-Level Work Based Learning’ Alan Durrant, Garth Rhodes and David Young, 2011 I really recommend this book, especially if your starting module one, as I am. It explains the course in a general sense, so it's not specific to the performing arts, and it explains what is expected of you in a clear and concise manner.  There are three points in particular I would like to share with you. ‘Independence does not mean isolation’  Page 39, Getting Started with University-Level Work Based Learning, Durrant, Rhodes and Young, 2011 I believe this idea is vital for this course. We are ‘Independent Learners’ but that does not mean we are by ourselves. Have you ever herd someone say ‘I am alone but I’m not lonely’ … I believe the blogs and skype sessions are p artly set up ...