Module 3 - getting connected with SIGs and work colleagues

This blog is especially for those in Module 3.

As you may have noted I am using some of my blogs this first week for my own PGCHE work, and I will hopefully be following the conversations with several individuals in more depth. The point of my 'tutor' blogs is to help others do a great job this study period. 

One of the things that I would like to point out to everyone in Module 3 is the importance of using your peers in the BAPP Arts network and at work as way to discuss and perhaps clarify your thinking about your chosen topics. There are a number of learning outcomes that relate to doing this:

CS2 - Indicate how your reflection on the inquiry work is being used in your various communities of practice and how it has developed the thinking about your own practice.

PS2 - Actively participate in and be able to evidence your effective use of blogs and SIG(s) as well as using the interaction with external professionals, peers and academic networks to influence your inquiry.

PES1 - Evaluate your learning progression through your public blogs and private learning journals, including how your learning has been used in your professional role(s) and workplace (Middlesex University, 2011 – Module 3 Handbook, p. 3).

Right some advice on doing this...

1. Reinitiate any helpful connections you made in Module 2 if you have not been using these in the summer months to inform your topic. Now is the time to put updates on your blogs and use Facebook and LinkedIn groups (or direct contact with others through Skype or email etc.) to see where your inquires have taken you and to get together with others to rehearse your 'arguments' for telling others about your inquiry in your Critical Review. Remember to do screenshots or copy and past conversations that are helpful to you.

It is also interesting that a number of BAPP Arts learners have talked about others (Alumni) who have taken the course and can be used as mentors for your current work - any good examples to share with others? 

2. Have some conversations with colleagues in your workplace - think about these in your journal - and add these discussions publicly through your blog (anonymised perhaps?) or privately through your journal extracts - to discuss your thinking and analysis. Critical Thinking is also when you allow experts from your literature to challenge or support your points of view, you should put this consideration of expertise in the drafts you might have already started for your critical review.

3. Reflect upon your own practice - much or this programme is about using the cycle of learning (e.g. Kolb) to consider things, make things happen and then improve your professional practice through reflection. So reflect about feedback from last term and the way in which you have added to or changed what you are doing to evidence this reflection. Your reflection will be a part of what is assessed at the end of Module 3.

The twelve week period can go very quickly - so starting now to think through difficult questions is appropriate. I am there to help. Also remember there is a self-deferral system working in our course, so please get together with you academic adviser to discuss changes to your circumstances.

The topics that people choose can make a difference and are therefore extremely interesting to be a part of for tutors! What you say about your work comes from your experience and is a part of your working life. Use your peers as a way of thinking through Module 3 now and in a few weeks time when you have completed more of the activity. Finally, past learners have left up some good examples of inquiries to share with you, so you can also go these past blogs for inspiration and sources of knowledge and understanding!