Log Seventeen: Task 1A - Professional Profile (Final Draft)

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Practice at Middlesex University. During my time at Chickenshed Theatre Company I have gained valuable experience of being patient and flexible when working with a diverse group of children, teenagers and young adults, adults and the elderly of different abilities in an inclusive manner, including medical, speech and communication, emotional, psychological and behavioural and some physical disabilities.

Having studied the Chickenshed Theatre Company’s unique and embracing philosophy in theatre I am able to use my experience and education to engage my team members and perform in an liberal manner by taking an open and professional approach to my work. My attitude towards work is of a positive nature as I have a willingness to learn and develop new skills by retaining a “can do” attitude. I have been involved in a number of projects with children in an educational and social setting. During these educational and social outreach projects I have taken on different roles of working with children such as; one to one support worker, group support leader, and session leader.

As well as my practical responsibilities during the workshops I have also planned the workshops adjusting them to meet every child’s needs and keeping our options open so that we can adapt effortlessly if need be. I believe my strengths are being able to work in a team in a professional manner, multicultural sensitivity as I have wide range of friends of different ethnic backgrounds, and goal-setting so that I complete tasks within an allotted timeframe. My dream is to use my experience I have gained from working in different educational and social environments to help me to continue my training to becoming an inclusive primary teacher.

Log Sixteen: Task 2D - Inquiry

• Question 1 - What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?

 I am enthusiastic and motivated of learning new styles of teaching and learning. I think it’s also important to acknowledge and reflect upon how you've learned new skills during your own unique and interesting journey and I am always excited in sharing skills I have learned as well as establishing positive relationships with children and promoting inclusion.

 I am also inspired by notable teachers such as Erin Gruwell who made her classroom a home for her students and fiercely believed in her class of having a freedom of being themselves. In Year 9 at my Secondary School my drama teacher, Mrs Norgrove, had just started teaching at the school and before she had arrived I didn’t have any interest in performing arts, however she changed my perception and gave me the courage and confidence to express myself through use of drama. Having spent some time to reflect upon her unique teaching style I discovered that while she taught with passion, her main focus was to build confidence in her pupils in and outside of the classroom.

• Question 2 – Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?

Mary Ward and Jo Collins as having worked with them for nearly five years their philosophy on inclusive teaching and learning is something I am deeply passionate about. Having co-founded Chickenshed Theatre Company in 1974 together they have ensured that there is an unshakeable foundation of acceptance for anyone with a love and passion to perform. I feel they have pioneered the ideal of inclusive theatre regardless of age, gender, race, backgrounds, sexual orientation or disability.

• Question 3 -What gets you angry or makes you sad?

Negativity, in all forms (Bullying, Discrimination, narrow minds, selfishness, racism, ageism and sexism). I find it quite sad and upsetting seeing someone making someone else feel bad because they have achieved a good mark in their work or vice versa. I rarely get angry as I feel a cool head will always prevail so whenever a negative situation occurs I merely question the motives of the individual or group rather than get angry. 

• Question 4 - What do you love about what you do?

I love establishing rapport and trusting and respectful relationships with children through theatre and in a classroom. I also love going through the motions of seeing how a child uses their imagination to tell a story through an action or simply by their facial expression.

As part of my involvement with Chickenshed Theatre Company I have been working as part of the support team in Children’s Theatre, "Tales from the Shed", and their Christmas production – "Cinderella". The following questions have been raised during my reflective journal writing:

1. How do children develop their self-confidence through use of their imagination in an inclusive theatrical environment?
2. How do children identify themselves within a primary school environment?
3. Will bullying at school ever stop?

Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Fifteen: Task 3A – Current Networks

• Question 1 - What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have, or do, engage your professional network?

The current tools I use for engaging my professional network is generally through use of email, phone calls, video calling or simply through meeting. I also use LinkedIn to connect with other people who are also interested or are already part of teaching in some degree. I think it's important to have tools such as LinkedIn  because it's another method of sharing each other's experiences and potentially learning new things.

• Question 2 - What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practitioners that you admire?  

I admire the way Chickenshed Theatre Company have expanded their network through use of web 2.0 tools such as YouTube allowing them to create mini trailers about upcoming shows. I also admire my close friends, who have decided to follow their own dreams along the performing arts path, for always believing in themselves and staying positive for when they go to auditions that they have been invited to from their respective casting agencies. This is a clip from Chickenshed Theatre Company's 2010 show called "Crime of the Century".

• Question 3 – Are there methods, approaches and technologies that you use socially that might apply and help you develop your professional networking?

As I use Facebook primarily for social reasons I feel I could expand my professional network even more by connecting with people who like myself are interested in teaching in a school. I feel that this can develop my network because of the exposure Facebook would bring . I have also recently debated about whether to join Twitter for social and professional reasons.

• Question 4- When you reflect upon current networks, can you think about the motives of others to be in the network and what values and purpose they have in mind?

Upon reflection I feel the motives of others are quite simply to have one’s achievements recognised and to professionally expose themselves in their chosen field of work. I feel the value of part of a network is that you are accepted and respected for choosing to be part of the network but more importantly you are "known" and potentially leading to an experienced practitioner taking a keen interested. Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Fourteen: Task 2B – Reflective Writing / ‘Journal Writing Experience’

                    Thursday 10th November 2011

I have picked this day to critically reflect and expand my journal writing experience because I learned new things about myself despite it being an emotional day for me at my local junior school where I have been doing some work as a teaching assistant with Thursday being my last day there. I spent my last day working with Year 3 in Literacy and Numeracy.

During Literacy, the learning objective for the class was “To make my writing come alive”. I found it interesting that the teacher channelled the the learning objective through use of the children’s creative input of role play from the story of Captain Nemo of the Nautilus. Immediately I could see the whole class was engaged in this task and thoroughly enjoyed showing each other their perception of Captain Nemo of how he would greet a passenger. Throughout the lesson I was tasked with helping a child with behavioural disability to help promote positive behaviour and support them with their literacy skills. At the end of the lesson I evaluated with the teacher about how we could engage the child more with the rest of the class. Having had more time to reflect on my own performance during the lesson, I feel I could have contributed to that aspect even more despite the child thoroughly enjoying it. I discovered that while the child was at times disruptive that it was because they enjoyed having an “audience” with their full attention on him. With their upcoming Christmas Panto, I suggested to the teacher that the child had a role that would enable the child to show their love to perform albeit in a positive way.

During numeracy, the learning objective was “To be able to collect and organise data”. The teacher had previously taught the class about how to collect and organise data through use of a tally chart. While supporting them, the teacher and I did not show them what tally charts looked like as it was a remembering exercise as well as a creative exercise. Nearly everyone came up with different methods of collecting and organising data. I went around the class asking key questions about how their own method worked. I again found it extremely useful of having my mini notebook with me as I was able to quickly sketch some of the methods they used with their creativity which helped me to critically reflect that day as well as the week, compare previous days and evaluate my work experience in the school. Thanks for reading. 

Log Thirteen: Task 1C – Audio-Visionary (Final Draft)

Having received some positive feedback from my fellow students on my original video (Log Eight: Task 1C - Audio-Visual) I have taken their helpful comments on board and edited my video to improve the audio aspects of it. If you have any ideas of how I can further enhance the quality of my video please let me know. Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Twelve: Task 1A – Professional Profile (Second Draft)

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Practice at Middlesex University. During my time at Chickenshed Theatre Company I have gained valuable experience of being patient and flexible when working with a diverse group of children, teenagers and young adults, adults and the elderly of different abilities in an inclusive manner, including medical, speech and communication, emotional, psychological and behavioural and some physical disabilities.

Having studied the Chickenshed Theatre Company’s unique and embracing philosophy in theatre I am able to use my experience and education to engage my team members and perform in an liberal manner by taking an open and professional approach to my work. My attitude towards work is of a positive nature as I have a willingness to learn and develop new skills by retaining a “can do” attitude. I have been involved in a number of projects with children in an educational and social setting. During these educational and social outreach projects I have taken on different roles of working with children such as; one to one support worker, group support leader, and session leader.

As well as my practical responsibilities during the workshops I have also planned the workshops adjusting them to meet every child’s needs and keeping our options open so that we can adapt effortlessly if need be. I believe my strengths are being able to work in a team in a professional manner, multicultural sensitivity as I have wide range of friends of different ethnic backgrounds, and goal-setting so that I complete tasks within an allotted timeframe. My dream is to use my experience I have gained from working in different educational and social environments to help me to continue my training to becoming an inclusive primary teacher.

Log Eleven: Task 2A - Reflective Practice

Having just started week three of my journal I am quite stunned about how I have enjoyed this task because initially I was apprehensive about having a journal because while I love reading I usually struggle to creatively write about my day.

I have found that having a mini notepad to have come in handy as I have been able to write quick notes (In a bullet points and spider gram format) while I am working in a lesson at my local primary school as I have found it’s important in understanding the learning objective a teacher sets to their class and how they plan on teaching the material and how the students respond to their teaching style as well as the material. Also, I have found it easier to keep my journal day notes in my phone via text applications or the built in voice recorder when I am at Chickenshed Theatre Company, which I have used the most when storing information. Afterwards I would wait until the second week day of the journal to type up both days and reflect on each. This method has allowed me to to actively compare two days before reflection phase.

Finally I have found it to be useful to review the week as a whole at the weekend to enable me to critically reflect upon my own thoughts and how I can develop my “active thinking”. Thanks for reading.

Log Ten: About Chickenshed Theatre Company

Our inclusive creative process values all our members as equals. It’s the way we run our theatre company, our youth workshops, our outreach projects and our education programmes. And, one day, it will be the way the world works. That is our vision.

Our values guide us and help us achieve our vision. 

• No compromise on our quality 
• No compromise on our principles 
• No compromise on our people

'We deeply believe that every person has a contribution to make and it is the sum of those contributions that creates each piece of theatre. The best feeling is watching people begin to believe in themselves.

'There is no failure at Chickenshed because as long as you do your best you are a success. That lack of failure is liberating and we watch people’s self worth grow and it is almost as though they open like a flower and blossom before our eyes.' - Mary Ward, Artistic Director

This is a video about the history of Chickenshed Theatre Company while also detailing their vision on inclusive theatre. I will be enquiring about their philosophy and identifying their core values as part of my project. Thanks for reading and watching.

                             

Log Nine: Task 1B - Professional Communication Technologies

Having read Reader 1 a few times and browsed through some interesting blog posts about people's perception on Web 2.0, I thought I would add my own personal and professional opinion on Web 2.0. My opening thoughts on web 2.0 tools were about identifying the primary purpose of their existence in our world. I believe there are many purposes of web 2.0 but from my experience with web 2.0 they are two key "ingredients" a user would find an attractive aspect, which are the following in no particular order:

1. "Global Connections"
2. "Social Interactive Education"

"Globally Connecting" people is a key function for a web 2.0 tool to have because 10 years ago we didn't have Facebook or Skype, so say a "Homer Simpson" went on a business trip to India while a "Marge Simpson" was at home and telephone calling service was unavailable like the recent Blackberry service then they wouldn't feel connected. However through usage of a web 2.0 tool such as Facebook or Skype the user now has an additional and/or alternative option of connecting with another user through messaging, calling or even video calling regardless of the location from both users.

"Social Interactive Education" is another key function I believe a potential user of a web 2.0 tool would find attractive because as well as expanding one's social network they would also be accessing information they wouldn't have even considered to learn. As well as social connection and educational purposes, web 2.0 can also raise the awareness of one's professional achievements through web 2.0 tools such as LinkedIn.

I believe I have mentioned above the positive aspects of web 2.0, so now for the negatives that web 2.0 can create. Along with creating and expanding one’s social network they can also receive abuse from other web 2.0 users called cyber bullying. While not physical this form of bullying could cause the victim of the abuse to feel insecure and could potentially lead to a tragic decision of action. Also it is now possible for a user to create a social image via online dating websites. While I believe you could find a happy relationship through dating online I believe the negatives vastly outweigh the positives as it’s possible for an underage teenager to join a dating website or possible for someone to steal someone else’s identity. Lastly, I believe that while there are advantages of online shopping, surely going shopping with a friend would be more rewarding than online shopping on River Island and having a “chat” on Facebook.  

"Is Web 2.0 Inclusive And Accessible To All?"

As part of my ongoing project part of my enquiry is look at inclusive teaching and learning in primary education. The usage of interactive learning web 2.0 tools in primary schools got me thinking whether, a child with a minor learning disability is secluded from the rest of their peers in a resource room because their learning development is slower than the average child and not wanting to expose the child is classified as inclusive teaching? This question and many others I have on web 2.0 is a topic I will be relating to throughout my project.   

                            

                

"How Much Influence Does Web 2.0 Have At Chickenshed Theatre Company? And On Primary Education?"

At Chickenshed Theatre Company they have started to promote upcoming events through use of web 2.0 tools such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and encourage students to do the same.

At my local junior school where I am working as a teaching assistant I was amazed to find that in the resource room the amount of Apple iMacs available for children aged 8-11 years old. Part of the Key Stage 2 national curriculum is to introduce the children to a wider range of ICT tools, with many of these being web 2.0 learning interactive resources. 

Comparing the two working environments, it's evident of the influence web 2.0 has at Chickenshed Theatre Company is channelled towards advertisement, where as in education web 2.0 tools primary function is to help with the learning development  of the next generation of children. This is another question that I will be looking at in depth as part of my project.  

While I use some non-Web 2.0 websites for basic information, I generally use the internet browsing Web 2.0 websites for a greater depth of information and expanding my social network. In one of my previous posts (Log Six: Social Networking) I theorised about the notion that web 2.0 in the form of social networking could change how we interact with people thus potentially taking over the way we think we have to socially behave in different working environments. Having reviewed my own usage of Web 2.0 tools, I feel I could expand my network even more for professional reasons. Social media web 2.0 tools I have used to expand my network for professional and personal reasons are:

• Facebook
• Amazon
• Forums
• YouTube
• MySpace
• e-buddy
• Flickr
• Skype
• LinkedIn
• Blogger
• Windows Live Hotmail
• Windows Live Messenger
• Wikipedia

              "...living on the internet..." - The Social Network

Also I would recommend watching "The Social Network" which is a 2010 award winning film about the founding of Facebook. The concept is to introduce the idea of what it's like creating a web 2.0 website designed to create an "online social experience" and the struggles that come with it. I found the film changed my perception on Facebook and many other similar web 2.0 tools from general socialising with friends and expanding my current networks to questioning the privacy protection used on web 2.0 tools.

  

As a conclusion I feel the influence and power web 2.0 has in a workplace is potentially unlimited because everyday there are new methods of social interaction. Facebook is a prime example of this because in it's original form (Facemash) had 22,000 hits in two hours despite being created in a night by a drunken though admittedly intellectual teenager (Mark Zuckerberg) and thus when it expanded it became a global socially internet phenomenon. Thanks for reading.

Log Eight: Task 1C - Audio-Visual

My initial thoughts and aspirations for the BA Honours Professional Practice (Arts) course at Middlesex University. Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Seven: BAPP Smartphone Apps Guide

I have downloaded a few applications (apps) for my smartphone from the Android Market which I feel have been very useful and thought I would share them with everyone via this guide. I have added the official description of each app so you know what they can do. 

Hope this helps anyone with a smartphone who like me likes to work while on the move. Thanks for reading.

1. Middlesex Uni App

You'll also be able to find staff contacts, use the maps feature to get to our campuses, as well as browse projects and papers in the Research Repository. There are facebook and twitter feeds bringing you the latest news at Middlesex. You can search the entire library catalogue on your mobile. Just type the first couple of letters of words and see the search in action as you type. You can check whether the books you want are available and place reservations if they're on loan, as well as renewing the books you have already borrowed. Use the app to find a library computer at any of our campuses that is free for you to use. Our Ask a Librarian feature lets you send a question to our librarians about books, journals or any other library resources for your course and you can even check if your question has already been answered before.

Android Users:

 https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bredir.boopsie.mdx&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Available via iTunes Store.

Blackberry Users: 

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/50787?lang=en

Windows Phone:

Unavailable on operating system.

2. Blogger App

Start blogging on the go with the official Blogger app! Experience the official version of the Blogger app. Blogging on the go is made easy with the Blogger app. You can easily publish posts with pictures, labels and location information. Also, you can view the list of posts and if you have multiple accounts or blogs, you can easily switch between them.

Android Users:

 https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.blogger&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Available Via iTunes Store. 

Blackberry Users:

Unavailable on operating system.

Windows Phone Users:

Unavailable on operating system.

3. Google Reader App

Follow all your favorite sites, blogs, and more, all in one place. See what your friends are sharing, and easily share any interesting articles you read. The Google Reader app syncs with the web version, so all your reading lists are always up to date.

Android Users:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.reader&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via iTunes store.

Blackberry Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via Blackberry App World @

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/search/Google%20reader?lang=en

Windows Phone Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via Windows Marketplace @

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/search?q=google+reader

4. Flickr App

The best way to share your life in photos – now available on Android! Take beautiful photos with our in-app camera, enhance with filters, then share on Facebook, Twitter and more. Capture and enhance with one of our custom filters. High resolution photos that look good everywhere (on your PC, tablet or internet fridge). Upload straight to Flickr and share to your friends on Facebook, Twitter, via email and more. Stay up to date with latest comments and activity on your photos too. When you upload to Flickr you also get access to powerful online organizational tools, groups, fun photo apps, and a community of over 60 million members. That’s a whole lotta photo sharing unleashed in one app!

Android Users:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.flickr&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Available via iTunes Store.

Blackberry Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via Blackberry App World @

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/search/Flickr?lang=en

Windows Phone Users:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/apps/2e49fb07-592b-e011-854c-00237de2db9e

5. LinkedIn App

For Professionals Going Places

Get on-the-go access to your professional network with LinkedIn for Android. Find and connect with more than 120M members worldwide, read the latest industry news, keep up-to-date with your groups, and share content with your network from anywhere.

Android Users:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.linkedin.android&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Available via iTunes store.

Blackberry Users:

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/7605?lang=en

Windows Phone Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via Windows Marketplace @

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/search?q=linkedin




7. Google Docs App
Create, edit, upload and share your documents with the Google Docs app.

* Designed for Android to save you time finding your docs
* Edits to your documents appear to collaborators in seconds
* Make quick changes to spreadsheets
* View your documents, PDFs, presentations and more
* Upload and convert files to the Google Docs format
* Take a photo of printed text and convert it to a Google document
* Share docs with your device’s contacts

Android Users:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs&feature=search_result

Apple Users:

Unavailable but similar apps are available via iTunes store.


Blackberry Users:
Unavailable but similar apps are available via Blackberry App World @
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/search/Google%20docs?lang=en


Windows Phone Users:
Unavailable but similar apps are available via Windows Marketplace @
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/search?q=google+docs