Surrounding ideas vs progressive ideas
As I wrote my first blog of the term and responded to my module feedback, I felt a turning point within my practice. After engaging with others about research and how research should inform and lead the thought process, I realised I haven't been using the research process in DAN4510 as productively as I could.
Most of the time, my reflection happens after the event and this means I usually come to a conclusion or my thought trail spirals off into another dimension and then beginning thoughts have been forgotten. I get excited because as our practice should be informed by research, I feel passionate about new perspectives and ideas. However, through discussion with Stella, she mentioned she uses theory to help articulate her thoughts, whereas although I am thorough in the reflective process, I don't delve into the theories that started the original practice in the beginning.
I imagine my reflective process as follows...
All of the strands wind off but don't go anywhere. Now I'm sure with my practice this is not the case, I am very progressive and always look for how to enhance and develop my learners. But actually the importance in not in quantity but the quality of conversations that take place. The why's, what's and how's and actually the impact this has on me rather than others. I have spent a long time investigating the extrinsic outcomes but not looking at the intrinsic value of investigating your own self. Like peeling off each layer of onion, research gets deeper, ideas become more valued and meaningful and deeply connected to your self, your being and your own ethical understanding.
I felt anxious about writing this post, as I was embarrassed. We have just completed a module on understanding why I do things and I'm still not convinced I have dug deep enough. Well if I think about this course as progressive, it is okay to learn from trial and error and understanding what works for me. It is not failure but just another layer being torn off to become more vulnerable. I remember reading in the DAN4630 module, it is exciting to not know things, because vulnerability means new prospects and new findings, and new pathways. The only way to get there is to question and use your thoughts as a research starting point to find more about yourself rather than using research to support your thoughts. Research should continue to take me somewhere not limit my thinking. I aim to explore the way I research and really delve into the research process, taking an outside perspective and trying a different approach. I also want to reflect on my daily practice using the why's and not the what's. The reading begins again and its exciting!!!
Most of the time, my reflection happens after the event and this means I usually come to a conclusion or my thought trail spirals off into another dimension and then beginning thoughts have been forgotten. I get excited because as our practice should be informed by research, I feel passionate about new perspectives and ideas. However, through discussion with Stella, she mentioned she uses theory to help articulate her thoughts, whereas although I am thorough in the reflective process, I don't delve into the theories that started the original practice in the beginning.
I imagine my reflective process as follows...
All of the strands wind off but don't go anywhere. Now I'm sure with my practice this is not the case, I am very progressive and always look for how to enhance and develop my learners. But actually the importance in not in quantity but the quality of conversations that take place. The why's, what's and how's and actually the impact this has on me rather than others. I have spent a long time investigating the extrinsic outcomes but not looking at the intrinsic value of investigating your own self. Like peeling off each layer of onion, research gets deeper, ideas become more valued and meaningful and deeply connected to your self, your being and your own ethical understanding.
I felt anxious about writing this post, as I was embarrassed. We have just completed a module on understanding why I do things and I'm still not convinced I have dug deep enough. Well if I think about this course as progressive, it is okay to learn from trial and error and understanding what works for me. It is not failure but just another layer being torn off to become more vulnerable. I remember reading in the DAN4630 module, it is exciting to not know things, because vulnerability means new prospects and new findings, and new pathways. The only way to get there is to question and use your thoughts as a research starting point to find more about yourself rather than using research to support your thoughts. Research should continue to take me somewhere not limit my thinking. I aim to explore the way I research and really delve into the research process, taking an outside perspective and trying a different approach. I also want to reflect on my daily practice using the why's and not the what's. The reading begins again and its exciting!!!
Hi Jessica
ReplyDeleteI know it's so odd how often since finishing the last module I think: oh that's why I do that... or that leads me to think this... or that's the theory that underpins what I already do, I didn't know it was an actual theory! and mostly I think, if I'd made these connections earlier I could have added it to my essays. But I'm beginning to understand it's actually the process of finishing that leads to the new discoveries, I think Helen spoke about it last term, 'the part around the edges where the magic happens'. Thanks for sharing, even though you were anxious, I think it helps to know we're all unsure, but learning.
...Just had a new discovery and seen the notify me button at the bottom of your page, still learning how to make this blogging work as a proper conversation but I'm getting there.