First Skype Session- 24th February 2015

After having my first group skype session with Paula, I feel so much more confidence about Module 3 and what it entails. As I was very rarely able to be a part of the campus sessions and skype sessions in previous Modules I understand how helpful it is to blog about to discussion and notes I have made during the session.

The session began by clarifying what the final results of my  Module 3 work will consist of:

Critical Review

Described as a formal written explanation about what my professional inquiry is it about, the research I have made and what I have discovered. Consisting of around 6,000 words and estimated to make up 50% of my final submissions, the Critical Review will be separated into 4 sections.

Introduction
Within this section we describe the beginnings of our professional inquiry. 

Evaluation- Literature Review 
The evaluation section is where we will put our literature review. The literature review will be a summary of the main points, arguments and debates raised within the literature. Describing what the individual sources of literature give me as an overview. Paula stressed the importance of keeping up a bibliography throughout the inquiry process to avoid problems later on in the term. We were also told that as the word count limit is quite tight, A longer literature review can be attached as an appendix if I feel it would be necessary.

Analysis
The analysis section is my opportunity to triangulate the information I have collected within my chosen research tools. Identifying and using what similarities and differences there are that seem the most beneficial. It is at this point in the critical review I will be considering what audience I will be creating my professional artefact for, as well as what it may be.

Critical Reflection 
The critical reflection is of the same format as those we have done in previous Modules. Using appendices from the sources I have used in order to explain the process I have been through throughout my inquiry and reflecting upon any trials and success I have come across.

Paula recommended  that we start writing these sections as soon as we feel ready so that it can be improved upon throughout the process. As I have broken the study period into 3 thirds so that I keep on track with my research and inquiry development I intend to begin writing my Critical Review at the end of the 4th study week. 

Professional Artefact
The second part of the inquiry is the professional artefact. The artefact is a way of explaining my professional inquiry topic and discoveries in a form specifically aimed at my chosen audience. The form that it take is open to what I feel to be the most beneficial for my aim. The examples we were given included a website, pample, video or even a choreography if it is appropriate to my topic. The word count for this part is approximately 3,000 words although if written words aren't used it easier to be described as making up 25% of my final inquiry. 

Oral Presentation
The final 25% of my inquiry will be an oral presentation. This will take place after the 12 week term and submission of the aboves pieces. The proal presentation is my opportunity to voice my inquiry topic, researching, findings and experience to a peer group. It was suggested that we can also design and create a powerpoint presentation to coincide if it would be helpful.

Keeping On Track 

We also discussed ways in which we can see if we are on track with our work. Much like the helpful weekly targets given to us in the previous modules. The diagram of the 5 steps of creating our professional inquiry is a very helpful to reference throughout the study period.

"The five stages and corresponding steps in the professional inquiry"

Middlesex University - WBS 3760 Module 3 Handbook BAPP Arts, Institute for Work Based Learning 2014-2015 page 13

Looking at this diagram I now consider myself to be between stages 2 and 3 of my inquiry. Already well into my literature review, I have also begun interviews which is my main inquiry tool. Continually identifying where I am in the diagram will help me to keep on track throughout the term.

Useful Sources

Below is a list of useful sources we discussed in the skype session that will be helpful with inquiry research as sometimes finding literature can become difficult.

• Schonol - Can use other university libraries to search for books, this is the format used to do this through Middlesex University.
• Online Library Site
• Libguides
• My Unihub > Library > Summon 
• b.o.b reading list module 3

We were also recommended to use "citethemright" website in order to create the correct harvard referencing for all written work.

Inquiry Update

It is a rather daunting feeling knowing that after months of work, tasks and self exploration that I am very quickly approaching the end of my BAPP course. Module 1 and 2 have enabled me to explore certain realms of my profession, aside from just the physical act of dancing, that although I have had a small amount of interest I have never really researched. And for this reason I am rather excited (although desperately nervous...eek!) about what I am going to find out about my profession, myself and fellow dancers in the hopes of benefiting my own career as well as the future of others.

"The Role of Nutrition for Dancers and its Physical Impact"

My inquiry topic has gone through a lot of alterations and development since the end of Module 2. I have since established a better focus within my original inquiry topic of  "Nutrition". I have decided to remove my undivided attention on the food aspect of nutrition, but instead explore what defines nutrition and what this then means to a dancer. This change has enabled me to broaden the themes within my topic:

Preparation
Time Restraint
Location
Availability
Attitudes
Emotion
Health
...(to name a few) 

I am going to be researching into how all of the above factors may effect a dancers dietary choices, professional behavior or ability and emotional and physical well being. As well as hoping to discover any more I may not yet know about. My main inquiry question therefore is "What does nutrition mean to a dancer?" as I believe a greater understanding of this would be very beneficial for dancers such as myself. 

In order to gain further insight into the mindset of others I intend to conduct a series of one-to-one, informal interviews with the following people:

Female Professional Dancer
Male Professional Dancer
Vocational Teacher
Mother/Parent
Chef

I do not want to merely interview those within the "dancing world" as I am of the impression from my own experience in training and performing career, that many dancers do not have enough knowledge about their own nourishment. My aim is to learn more about these peoples understanding and opinion of what nutrition is/ what nutrition means to them/ where this has originated/ how certain aspects of their career or life has affected their opinion/ how their life, health, well being may have improved or suffered during their career and why/What steps they take or need to take in order to improve their personal or professional health. Keeping an open mind about what I may discover in the process.

All of my interviewee's will remain anonymous as their identity is not of importance to my inquiry and the freedom to be able to speak without concern of repercussion from identification will hopefully result in honest, open and personal responses to my questions.

I will also be researching my topic through the use of literature. As I have changed my line of inquiry considerably I will almost be starting from scratch in terms of appropriate literature for what I wish to find out. After speaking with my tutor about research possibilities i tend to look further than books and broaden my search to all audio, visual and written works.

Finally using my own thoughts and opinions of the inquiry topic, and almost interviewing myself at the beginning and throughout my research process in order to reveal how much I have learnt during and conclusions I can take from it.

Joining all three of these form of research will enable me to identify any themes, similarities or differences their are between the opinions. From that I hope to create an artifact (of which I have not yet decided) that will present my findings in a form that will educate, advise and help other dancers like myself. As I do not yet know what I will discover I have also not decided upon my audience, other than them being dancers, as I do not yet know at which point of a dancers training or career this knowledge is lacking most and there would be most beneficial.

It is undoubtedly going to be an emotional 12 weeks (in every sense of the word)!

Good Luck Fellow Module 3'ers!

:-)