Alison Lonsdale BA (Hons) - Professional Practice, Arts & Creative Industries Blog

As we have now handed in our final work, you would think that the hard work has passed..however, there is the oral presentation to prepare for. I think it will be a little different this year as we are doing them over Zoom instead of on campus. It is within everyones best interests that we do them in this way, but I do wish I could meet the people that I have shared this journey with. I think it would be nice to continue a journey together and update fellow students on the map which our new BA PP qualifications and lessons have taken us and I will be checking in on Blogger and the Facebook page to see how everyone is doing. It is still uncertain if we will have a graduation and a change to wear a cap and gown, but I am sure we will be able to make it happen in the future.  The oral presentation is a chance to share our journey, findings and artefacts with our community and a chance for questions as well. I don't think the presentation part is the scariest for me, it is the question...

At the close of each module I have found it hard to stop editing and re-reading my work as I always find something that could be added or changed. I have found it easier to trust myself throughout this course, but there is always something telling me that I can do more. I have a full time 9-5 job, part time job (2 nights a week), completing this BA PP course, and training to be a Level 4 sports massage therapist. Am I crazy? What was I thinking by taking on all of these things? But, I cannot stop!!! This course has definitely made me realise how crazy my life is, and it has taught me to stop and reflect, which has opened up a new way of learning for me. I think everyone has slowed down a little this year as it has been one strange year with Covid-19. Having to stay in my house after work and at weekends has really made me appreciate what I have immediately around me.  Tonight is the night that I am submitting my Module 3 Professional Practice Inquiry, Artefact and feedback form, an...

During any learning experience we are able to take away pockets of useful information which we can apply to our own practice. I realised during my research project that I underestimated data analysis and longevity of this, as there is so much information to take onboard! Processing all of this information in detail and drawing out meaningful data is demanding to say the least. We need to immerse ourselves in the data to review and scrutinise multiple times to give the themes depth and importance as we only have enough time to focus on a few. This 12-week research project only analyses a snap shot of what is, so we have to be precise. When writing, thinking and talking I can often drift off topic, as thoughts come into my head I go off on a different tangent to which I started. This can be said for my everyday life as well, as sometimes days seem to come at me at 100 miles per hour. I read John Dewey's 'Art as experience' (2005), and reflected back to module 1 on how I comme...