RPL Claims

My last few weeks have been spent trying to write, read, research and reference while juggling work and personal life. It has been stressful but also very productive. 

On Tuesday we had a discussion on RPL which clarified a lot of questions and queries. It feels like we're all second guessing ourselves but in the end we're all on the right track. I'm glad we had this session and Adesola also explained the Claims Form very well. Between my one on one a couple of weeks ago and the call on Tuesday I feel reassured in what I have to do.

As mentioned in one of my AOL's I work well under pressure so trying to get all my essays written by the deadline in November is what's keeping me motivated.

That's why I was somewhat shocked when we were told we can take as much time as needed to finish our AOL's (apart from one which needs to be handed in with the claims form by the deadline). I instantly lost all my motivation to carry on. I respond to structure and rules and being told I can take up to a year to hand in my work didn't serve me well :P

However as I started to think more clearly I appreciated that this might be beneficial to some people who are very busy and couldn't meet the deadline. There's so many different people on this course and some might have full time jobs and families to look after and I can see how it would be extremely difficult to write so many essays in a just a few weeks. I had to make a strict schedule for myself in order to be ready with all my AOL's by November and although I'm busy I'm sure some are busier than me. Life happens and situations arise that sometimes might "steal" our study time. 

I have decided to go ahead and still try and finish all my AOL's by the 16th of November. That was my original plan anyway and it kept me going this far. I'm enjoying the process and also know I'd find it hard to move onto another Module knowing that there's still work due from this one. I would like to tick the AOL's off my list and look forward to the next challenges of the course. 

That's just the best approach for me.

What are your feelings after the session? Who's delighted that they can take their time? Who's like me and would just like to get it finished and sealed off?

Another week, another challenge and lessons learned

I'm finally starting to get a grasp of the work I need to do. I still feel nervous and overwhelmed at times but definitely can see a pattern that helps me best achieve my weekly goals ( I set those myself to make sure I progress), and ways that work for me.

I've found the University Library very helpful and easy to use. I also realized how handy video tutorials can be. I like to write things down as I listen to a tutorial and find my way of understanding a given subject.

I also force myself to just write. I start by just explaining my experiences and how I felt about them. Then I take time to research and at the end I basically re-write same work in more formal manner. So far, so good. I felt it took me too long to get to this point but now I realize it's all part of the process of learning. In a way I'm learning by learning!

I no longer feel the constant "I can't do it" feeling but instead think : "Here is something new I need to learn". The best part about that is once I've learned it, there's a huge sense of satisfaction, and motivation that if I learned one thing I can definitely learn more.

On a separate note last week I got back to my teaching job for the first time in 6 months which I think really inspired me to be even more involved in this course and learn as much as possible, so that I can keep improving as a teacher. The energy I get from being back in the studio has helped me a lot. I've less time to study but more willingness now than before. I find it interesting that doing the job I love inspires me to keep developing in order to do it even better.

That's just the thought of this week.

I also had my one on one and that helped an awful lot to establish where I'm at and how I'm doing. I was reassured in my approach and now have the confidence to keep attacking those AOL's!

Hope you're all feeling a little better and less overwhelmed. If not, I'd say turn to your supervisor for help. Just to be pointed in the right direction might be what you need, I know that's what I did and it really helped.

How's everyone feeling about their AOL's? Feel free to share your worries and/or ideas of approach. This is just what worked for me but it's probably different for each individual. 

Researching and reflecting

This week I started researching information needed to get me started on my first AOL.

As always at first I felt overwhelmed and scared...this seems to happen every week, at the beginning of every new task. By the time I write my weekly blog I feel calmer and more confidant. 

I am an old fashion person who prefers books to internet and pen and paper instead of a keyboard. Only after beginning my research I realized just how much information there is available to us online! It is truly incredible how much data one can collect with a click of a mouse! Google scholar, YouTube tutorials and many more helped me find, and understand theories about my area of learning as well as reflective and academic writing. I'm not normally a fan of all the technological advances. I am a traditional person and don't like the way virtual world seems more important than real life to some people in today's days. Saying all that, I must admit that technology has helped me a huge amount this week and I am starting to see all the positives to it. 

I think of all the people who did this course years ago with just the handbook and a local library.....well done to them all!

The only thing I struggle with now is finding the time to read all the materials I gathered. My schedule is pretty busy and I find it difficult to concentrate on days I have other commitments on. I guess its all part of the learning process. 

Upon my research I came across something I wanted to share with you all from the book I found in the university library- Dance Leadership Theory Into Practice by Alexandre, Jane M.

Dancers function as leaders by virtue of the knowledge and skills,

the “gifts” they hold as dancers; their authority is conferred by the

fact that they are dancers. It is tied, inextricably, to their practice; it

is rooted in the fact of being an artist. 

Truly lovely words....

How are you all getting on with your research? Exited? Overwhelmed? I think I'm both!

If anyone has any advice on where best to look at research online apart from the obvious googling, I'll happily take it. I'm new to all this but definitely starting to enjoy the process :) 

Academic writing

 On Monday I attended the academic writing discussion with Peter Thomas and by far it was the discussion that helped me most. 

Coming from all practical background the idea of academic writing is super scary to me. As you can probably tell by my previous blogs I like to put things in simple terms. I don't use fancy words or deep creative quotes and haven't written an essay since school. I like my words to be understood by all, hence why I write simply and in my opinion don't "sound smart". Starting this course and reading other people's blogs and some core texts listed in the handbooks I became even more anxious that I don't sound smart enough for this level of study.

However, what I gathered from the discussion is, it doesn't matter if my words are not fancy as long as I have something to say. As long as there is knowledge behind my writing I shall carry on and give it my best.

I liked how Peter explained the process of writing in three phases:

GENERATE                                     ORGANISE                                  PRESENT

write                                                  review                                             re-write

I was definitely too concerned with how my writing sounds straight away instead of just making a start. I realized at this stage I just have to give it a try: generate. I will probably learn most through the process of writing as it's how I generally learn best in life- by doing. 

I know I have a lot of knowledge to share even if I have never written it down before. I tend to ramble so putting words down shouldn't be a problem. I just need to have the courage to start. I worry about how it sounds towards the end. 

Peter mentioned a lot of very useful resources available to us all and I'm very grateful they're there. I still need to learn how to reference as I have never done it and that scares me too. So many aspects of writing all these essays scare me but the only way I'll get over that fear is by persevering and learning. 

Long time ago I read a book called "Feel the fear and do it anyway" by Susan Jefferers where she talks about letting yourself be scared and carrying on anyway. So that's what I will do. Hopefully next time I mention a book in my blog I will be able to reference it ;)

So if you're new to academic writing please comment your thoughts below. It's always nice to know there's someone else in the same boat as me. 

I've decided to attack this writing task head on and today I wrote the first paragraph of my first AOL! It might be all wrong  but that doesn't matter now. The organizing and presenting part of it will come but for now I'm just happy to have started.