I am learning new things daily

One of the reasons I started my MA, was I didn't want my thinking to become stagnant. I thought the MA would be the answers to employability, which of course plays a big part in the industry. But not for the reasons I thought. I have only been on the course for a short while, and I've had so many, what you could call 'light bulb' moments. And then I realised, an MA is not just about evidence and knowledge, although this helps us to consolidate our ideas, but for the purpose of re-finding myself again as an artist, digging deep and discovering what makes me tick as a person.

I first came up with this idea when I tried to answer 'How do I see myself as a professional?' I realised, how can I possibly answer that when there are many pages of my identity as a learner, teacher, facilitator, dancer, artist. But I'm not trying to find an 'answer', I'm trying to understand what makes me tick and why. I feel within my job role, I can practice ideas externally because as a teacher we are responsible for imparting knowledge and understanding for retention. But often it is those real thought provoking moments that happen internal that help me to understand my ideas and my processes.

Moon (2004) discusses that unless learners can express their learning effectively, what they know will not be recognised. But why do we need to recognise the knowledge, shouldn't it be the process that should be discussed or explored. Moon (2004) then goes onto to discuss the ideas of representation, the knowing what vs the knowing how.

When I look at the image, I have learnt three new things about myself. 

• The colours on the right interconnect, and the fact I have spotted that straight away shows my brain is trying to create new thoughts and ideas, from no factual information. 
• I am now analysing why the paint splurges are outside the lines, and I start to think about where those paint splurges will take my thinking.
• And I then start to think about the pattern of the lines and the fact some of the lines don't join, so I'm trying to work out as a dancer how I can make them link. Where would I move? 

Quite sporadic thinking, but there is a purpose to why I am thinking like this, because I am trying to connect the dots to why my thinking has taken me in three different directions. 

The process of how I think, as a learner makes me unique not because it is a new way of thinking but because it is personal to me. Three weeks ago, I would have criticised my thinking because there wasn't an end product, and the fact there is no result/answer would have made me feel agitated, and start to use negative self talk. As Grosswiler (2016) states this is the perfect way to screw yourself over and negative self talk, begins to act as though you are talking to the jury.

I have discovered this week, I am a questioner, and like to externalise these questions. For me in the classroom it isn't about finding the correct answer, but how I allow my learners and myself and move to the next question, and next question to excel and broaden our thinking. And if the thinking, conversation diverges off then that's okay because that's what our body/brain internally wants us to follow.

Next I will be delving into emotional intelligence and how this works with my thinking within my multiple identities as a professional.


Grosswiler, K (2016) Overcoming your own worst enemy...you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wptZ3vr9nLs&t=578s

A handbook of reflective and experiential learning. Jennifer A. Moon (2004)