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 :)
Hello Lena,
ReplyDeleteI remember feeling very overwhelmed during my first term and especially on AOLs! What worked for me was that a set up a timetable of studying and followed a study plan so I could get into my research and my data at least 2 or 3 times a week! Just brainstorming if I felt lost and didn't know how to continue! Just remember feeling lost is also part of this journey.
Wishing you best of luck!
Maria
Thanks a million Maria. It's getting a bit better as the weeks go :)
DeleteHi Lena, I feel like you feel. Excited and overwhelmed as well. I am researching material for my AOLs as well. Thanks for sharing those words. I'll have a look at that book as well :)
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
DeleteNo problem. That book was really good for research. Best of luck with all your writing. We can do this! :)
Hi Lena,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful statement. Thanks for sharing that here in your blog.
I'm right with you on most of what you wrote. I feel a bit old fashioned and traditional, too. I also prefer books and paper, yet I am grateful for the accessibility to information thanks to all these technological developments. I mean, we couldn't even be doing this course from different parts of the world without it! :)
I, too, bounce back and forth from excitement to feeling overwhelmed. I am both, it just depends on the day and time!
As far as finding info and research, I have had some luck googling and then searching the articles or books on the MDX library site. Not everything is online, which is a bit frustrating so I have placed orders for the books to be posted to me. We'll see how long that takes.
I'm going to look up the book you referred to here.
Thanks!!
Hi Natalie,
DeleteIt's good to know I'm not the only one ;) I've literally got scraps of papers with notes everywhere and I'm just staring. Also found it handy to have a Word document open while I'm researching and copying the bits I find most useful for my essays. Maybe soon I'll learn to have one messy Word document rather than all the papers around :P...although I'll probably have both :)