What Do I Know?

What Do I Actually Know? What Have I Learnt Over The Many Years Of Training? How Has That Changed Me And Is It For The Better? 

After participating in my first discussion group, other Module 1 members wanted advice on where to start when choosing our three areas of learning. Instant panic started in my mind as I had been so focused on the three Lenses I hadn't yet thought about my areas of learning, I was planning on writing my next blog about my research into Web 2.0 however, this felt more pressing after the discussion. To be honest I have found the handbook overwhelming and struggling to know where to start with different aspects of the course.

I am so thankful for the advise from Module 2 and 3 students on finding inspiration for the areas of study. The main tips were:

• Write a list about what your practice has taught you 
• Think about transferable skills 
• Highlight significant feelings or events within your practice 
• Use the tasks in the hand book

I have found that my main focus throughout my training had been 'am I good enough'. I know that I have achieved my level 6 diploma and obviously I had to develop new skills to achieve this, however I have never really reflected on what I have actually gained. 

I decided to complete one of the tasks in the handbook and describe my practice, lessons and skills that I have by using a spider diagram. I used my CV to help me find my main topics of dance, musical theatre, singing, fitness and teaching along side what I have gained from learning about the industry and generalised skills from my full-time training. 

I was quite amazed about how much I was able to write and actually realised that many are linked, making me think that most lessons aren't learnt in isolation (this thought is one I want to come back to interns of learning theories). My experiences throughout my practice have taught me so much it actually made me feel proud rather than my usual fear of failure mode of "what if I'm not good enough". 

I then began the task of thinking about significant moments throughout my practice that have made an impact on me. Followed by trying to determine what lesson was actually learnt. Pin pointing a generalised area of learning is actually the hardest part. I can think about events that have been significant, for example getting injured outside of my practice resulting in a dislocated collar bone. This event could fall under injury prevention however it didn't happen while participating in my practice, or  it could identify the importance of recovery or even how I looked after my mental health while unable to do what I love for 6 weeks and the pain of accepting it would take time to be back where I was. 

Although I still don't feel 100% confident with my areas of study,  I have at least made a start. Having trust in myself to continue to work through the handbook without fully knowing if it is the right thing to do which is still a new process for me. Despite this the support of the other students via the discussion groups, blogs and the facebook group gives me reassurance that I will eventually be able to do this, I just have to keep going. 

My aim for next week is to hone in on what I have actually learnt from significant events in my practice along side journaling my day to day life and find correlations with my spider diagram, to source transferable skills that I can identify from my training.  Continued research into the lenses will help as well as the first Module 1 focus group on Monday - hopefully see you there!!