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Artefact

Image
As we are fast approaching the deadline for the final submission my attention is drawn to the production of my artefact. I am planning on creating a picture that charts my journey from the start of my inquiry process to the end of it. I have chosen a visual for two reasons. The main reason is that visual tools are a staple in our institute for highlighting trainings and experiences. Crucial trainings are often drawn by an artist who comes into our school to enhance our experience of it and to recap the key points of the meeting. For example... This is hanging on the wall of our school as a reminder that we are always thinking about our students on a personal level, an important part of our school ethos.  Secondly a drawn artefact is visually attractive to the students in the school and can be appreciated by staff and students alike. However, another large key factor for doing a visual is due to the fact I am eight month pregnant and clearly not as agile as I used to be so ...
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Skype Session 02nd April 2019

Tonight we had a Skype session focusing on module three where we talked in depth about creating our artefact. The main points that came out of the Skype were: To be clear about what story you are going to tell, People just tend to focus on the end product and not about the process as a whole, Think of the process having a beginning, a middle and an end, Talk about what you planned and how you got there, The artefact doesn't need to be explicit but it does need to incorporate the whole story. I found it really useful to think of the process as a story.  You need to imagine you are telling your inquiry process to someone.  Adesola told us to practice telling our process to people, treating it as a story so you can refine your process before you decide what you would like to do for your artefact. You need to ensure that you talk about what you planned and how you got there as a lot of people, when we were discussing our 'stories', neglected to do this.  We nee...
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Analysis

Having joined in the Skype session regarding analysis on the 12th March and the campus day on the 20th I now feel that I can comment more effectively on analysis and what it is. Initially I was under the impression that the analysis was mathematical and was preparing to organise my analysis through a series of charts and graphs.  Adesola explained during the Skype session that this was not the case.  Yes they can be included but it is not the central focus.  I think it is easy to forget as you get swept away with your inquiry and research that you are the central focus.  Ultimately the analysis should be creating meaning around what you have been doing and finding meaning in it.  Think about the things that have surprised you and what we have thought about it. Analysis is effectively playing around with ideas and looking at what keeps coming up and what further could you explore?  Adesola told us to think of it as chasing down a path and seeing what hap...
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One to One Skype - 03rd March

So, on the third of March I had a one to one Skype session with Maria to discuss my progress with module three so far. I found this session incredibly insightful and useful.  It allowed me to evaluate where I had gone wrong in module two and some progression was made in how to move forward.  I thought I would share the things that came out the discussion that I have found most useful. Firstly, we discussed my research and my forthcoming literature review.  Unfortunately, in module two I had not included that extensive a review due to thinking that all my research was to be done in module three.  We discussed the fact that this needed to be extended.  I have already read a wealth of books in preparation for this time but it is proving time consuming.  Maria suggested using the index and Google Books to ensure that I was only focusing on the elements that are required for my line of inquiry.  Stupidly, this was not something that I had considered bef...
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Reading for Research

So I am back with a bang for module three, and although I haven't been present on the blog as much, I have been spending every evening researching, reading and note taking various literature in order to formulate my data ready for collection after the half-term. I have found that in my line of inquiry (teaching in secondary education) that there are a wide range of educational theorists that all have conflicting opinions on my specific area of development.  Having taught in a private dance school for years, the move to secondary education was an eye-opener.  I was suddenly teaching students that misbehaved, were unmotivated and who failed to share my passion as well as failing to see the positive merits of dance.  Having researched a range of  theories I have found it useful to chart the key elements of each theory to see what overlaps and can therefore short list the theories I want to turn my attention to first. However, upon receiving my feedback I realised th...
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Module Two Complete

All Finished!! Yay!! I hope like me you are now all feeling a sense of accomplishment? Yet again this has been a busy term for me, particularly with work, my beautiful three year old and contending with the early stages of pregnancy.  Despite all of this though, I feel that I have learnt a lot during this module and have fully embraced the university life. I was fortunate enough to not have any administrative difficulties starting this module and therefore was active from week one.  I was able to attend all of the Skype sessions available to me and feel that these really "opened my eyes" to options and ideas beyond my usual realm of thinking.  I have never been particularly adept at thinking "out of the box" and had my eyes metaphorically opened by the wealth of knowledge that I was privy too.  I have found the discussions between the tutors and my peers so insightful and varied that I have been able to explore options that would not have normally been in the ...
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Basing an Inquiry on Education (main focus learning styles)

Having take part in the Skype session on the 15th November I discovered that there were a few of us approaching our inquiries from within an educational institute.  I am basing my inquiry on researching a variety of educational theories.  I have already begun to discover how to formulate my inquiry.  I was initially going to base it on interviewing students to discover which learning theories correspond with various types of learning styles.  However, having talked to Adesola I now realise that interviewing is only a small part of what an inquiry should be based on.  It is not the most fundamental part of the inquiry. As a result my focus has changed and I am now looking at a range of literature rather than solely relying on the interview method of gathering data.  I have found a couple of useful books that may be of use to people who are working in education and would like to reference or read up on different learning styles.  They are as follows: ...
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