Out of all the modules I have done since starting this course, I am finding in this last one that everything I have been taught is finally coming together. As much as I knew whilst I was learning all the new tools that they would be useful I don’t think I really realized the full potential and utility they would have at a later date. Everything I learnt in the previous modules: the cycle of Kolb, writing styles, motivations, inspirations, resources, critical analysis... has been used and has been extremely useful during this module.
When I first started this Degree my analytical and critical thinking was extremely rusty, I had just graduated from a three-year musical theatre course in which any theoretical thinking was spoon-fed to me and everything concentrated on the practical part of the course. We definitely weren’t expected to analyze our daily situation in a critical form relating to our future and present work.
When choosing the topic for my research project at the beginning I was completely lost, I had never found myself in a situation quite like it, I had so many ideas in my head and didn’t know where to begin to clarify them. However through trial and error, looking for inspiration and analyzing the situation again and again the ideas started to become clearer in my mind until eventually and finally I reached the “eureka moment”
During this module I was taught about the basic tools that would help me and which ones I should use when starting out on a new research idea. I have also come to realise that whilst choosing this topic of research I embarked down a journey of various different ideas and this was one of the most fun parts of the course. I never realised how many possibilities and facts I didn’t know about the work environment I am surrounded by on a day-to-day basis, it was hard choosing just one thing I wanted to research further!
I have learnt about and finally understand how to utilise the different research methods not just for this module but also for the rest of my life, being a person who believes that there is always something more worth learning about. I now posses the tools to advance in subjects as I wish in the future to constantly upgrade my data of knowledge and understanding using the same structure of research I have learnt during this module.
One of the most important things I think I have learnt is the true meaning and importance of Ethics. Now and in the past, ethics are a constant part of my life, working with children and other performers on a regular basis but I never quite understood in-depth what it stood for and the importance it truly has.
One of the skills in which these improvements noticeably stand out is my capacity to explain ideas and theories in an academic manner, especially to people who are unfamiliar with the topic of discussion. In the past this was something I considered almost an impossible task!
I see now that when embarking on a project much patience is needed: creating a project outline, getting new ideas, trying them, changing them, going back to previous ideas and finally developing it fully using and keeping in mind all the useful parts I have discovered along the path.
One of the main things I have come to truly understand, learning from my own errors, is the importance of always keeping in mind the feasibility of a project before and while working on it, there is no point in embarking on a project you know you do not have the resources or time to complete.
When I read back over my learning diary I can see the improvements. In the past when I started a situation I experienced as part of a normal day it didn’t mean anything to me, now, I am able to view day-to-day discussions and experiences as a permanent learning experience, analyse them and use the knowledge I obtain for future situations. This is when I realise just how useful the circle of Kolb truly is!
The transaction into a Degree and further more a Work based Degree was quite difficult for me as previously I had been told exactly what was needed from me, what I needed to learn and what I needed to write. When entering this course I found myself with no one telling me what I should do, just a list of guidelines and help with the guidelines but no information at all directly linked with my choice of work, that was completely in my own hands.
As a work based learning course and having been working most of the course the Internet and blogs have become a crucial part of my learning. I have been checking other students and tutors blogs day to day for updates on campus sessions I have missed, getting inspiration from some of the wonderful ideas other students are coming up with and generally creating a network of people. We are learning together to create a deeper understanding of what we are doing rather than just reading the handbook.
I think on a personal basis I would have benefited with more concrete feedback. I found that the feedback I got was quite general and coming from a background in which everything was explained extremely clearly and laid out for me I then found it difficult to understand exactly what it was that was expected of me, or what needed changing.
All in all this has been an immense learning process for me. Although I have been through various stages of difficulty, I now know that I have come out of it feeling more like a capable professional being able to view things and learn from them in new ways and I haven’t even done my dissertation yet!
I am now embarking on doing my research project, the final part of this degree, also the scariest, however, I am looking forward to it, excited at the prospect of what more I shall learn along the path.
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