JOURNAL PRACTISE
I'm educating myself on 'Journal Practise' as a Reflective Practise and have found that I'm connecting with it so much and wanted to discuss it with you all.
Journalling is essentially a 'reflective tool'. In the Module 1 Handbook it describes it as a way to develop and continue to learn whilst in a professional field. I've started reading Moon, J.A (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practise and Professional Development' this book has been so valuable and has added so much depth to my learning.
"Many of the tools for personal development planning are in effect, highly structured journals" Moon, J.A (2006)
How important is journalling within my practise?
Throughout my professional training we were always advised to take notes. At my college we were trained with disciple and taught professional etiquette* from day one and had to implement this in the studio from day one too. Being taught by such renown, experienced teachers in the industry, we honoured them with the respect they deserve. Etiquette in the studio was crucial, from entering to leaving the space; punctuality, uniform, thanking both the teacher and pianist at the end of each class with a curtsey and bringing a note book. In first year, whilst being stripped back and going back to learning the basics of dance technique we were prompted to note our corrections immediately. The repetition of note taking and critically analysing your correction was the concrete experience to then be implemented into our professional careers, Kolbs learning cycle. Throughout all my contracts I have always made sure to carry a note book in my bag, to note down changes, corrections and important things during the rehearsal process and performances, John Deweys theory of learning from experience. Yet noticed others in note taking digesting this information mentally rather than journalling it.
Does this make them less professional?
By not journalling your corrections are you encouraging repeated mistakes?
or is this integral to my practise as it is concrete knowledge whereas others may have been trained to retain information differently and I am making assumptions of their professionalism?
(Rainer, 1978:303 cited in Moon, J.A 2006 pg.6.)
Rainer develops the ideas of a 'new diary' introducing seven techniques of journalling ie lists, imagery, dialogue. She re- reads her journal and it "becomes a source of new reflection and writing in itself".
Where could your re reading and reflecting on your journal lead you?
"One mans diary began as a punching bag for his anger and became a heaven where he opened up the poet and the songwriter in himself." (Rainer, 1978:303)
The theory of having several techniques of journalling really resonates with me. (Rainer, 1978:303)
As Dance Captain (DC), journalling in the format of a note book, video footage and drawing diagrams was integral for completing my task of installing a new cast into the shows.
- I used my journal of show footage to plan re blocks, to watch my cast mates and praise/ critique
- I referred to my note book on old formations from my previous DC (as observations and reflections, Kolbs theory) referring back to my track to visualise where the other performers were around me when the formations changed
- Re read my notes to re-familiarise myself with the changes/ feedback and apply them to my next performance
Another very insightful blog! Everything you've brought up is very interesting. It really made me think when you mentioned about people not writing down their notes. I've always thought it very unprofessional not to do that but as you said it could be that these individuals learn differently. I've never been one for journaling but I've found that writing the thoughts down that come into my head not only allows me to remember but also to think deeper about my practice x
ReplyDeleteThanks Niamh!
DeleteYes, now I'm thinking perhaps I am quick to judge just because someone isn't implementing an etiquette that I was taught to do? I agree, I love to schedule and have an organised 'planner' yet journalling my feelings and day to day experiences isn't something I would actively do, until now. During this BA PP we are journalling past experiences in our practise and reflecting on these however I think moving forward I may try to journal an experiences straight afterwards as my emotions are raw and it will be as authentic as possible.
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI have been journaling since as long as I can remember! I find it a great release to write down your thoughts and feelings. I love going back and reading about past experiences knowing how it made me feel and turning that into learning and growth. On a personal note as well it can show how far you have come. Journaling like you isn't necessarily keeping a diary of your inner most secrets, it can be used to write down notes from classes, choreography changes the list is endless. I love it! It is such a good way to keep on top of things in our practice.
I find it interesting that you are going to start voice noting as well. This already has been paramount to me in my learning on this course. I could be out for a walk and a thought comes to me which I don't want to forget, I can't write it down and so I voice note it. I go through my phone and piece all of my fragmented thoughts together. It is interesting what comes to you when you allow yourself to speak your thoughts out loud.
Another thing I do to explore a thought in depth is to ‘free write’. I write about a topic non stop for 5-10 minutes.
I have learnt that journaling, mind-mapping and free writing is ‘Divergent’ thinking which appears on the ‘Kolbs Learning cycle’.
Always love your blogs! Again you have raised some really interesting points but I don’t want to make my comment too much longer!! Thank you for a great read and relfection on your journey so far.
Abi x
Hi Abigail,
DeleteYour comments on my blogs always spark so much thought, thank you I really enjoy reading them!
Exactly! From the work 'journal' I would automatically imagine a diary not the note books that we use in our practise! I found it really interesting to research and understand more, and also realising how often I journal.
I don't know why I haven't tried voice noting my research before. when messaging my family and friends I find voice noting so easy and use this feature regularly so it isn't alien to me. I will definitely try implementing this way of journalling during the BA PP.
Your idea of 'free writing' sounds really interesting and think that this would benefit me when perhaps trying to explore an area of learning for the essay.
Ellie x
Hi Ellie, amazing blog I really enjoyed reading this! Journaling can be useful in so many ways for both mental and practical purposes and it was interesting reading how you use different types in your practice. I would agree that everyone learns in different ways and so even if they use the same learning 'tool' they will use it in a way that best suits them.
ReplyDeleteFor some people words on paper aren't always helpful and for things like corrections they are better to go about it with immediate practically - eg doing a 'Fred Astaire' and doing something over and over until it's perfect and internalised rather than actively thinking on it, and this can maybe go back to distinctions between reflection-on- and reflection-in- action. Again it's however you learn best! I'm a definite note-taker though, I have more notebooks than space to keep them in!
Great post x
Hi Roanne,
DeleteThank you! Your example of 'Fred Astaire' and his repition is great and is something I never thought about yet makes so much sense. This is a great example of reflection in action and also perhaps of tacit knowledge with muscle memory. He continues to repeat the same movement over and over again until it is concrete in his body and perfected. Then when he comes back to it, it will just be a case of his tacit knowledge firing.
Me too- Notes on top of notes!
Ellie x
Hi Ellie, What an insightful blog! I really enjoyed how you have put your personal experience into this reflection and it really opened up more thoughts in my mind and how I can relate it with my personal experience as an artist. I really related to your reflection on how different people approach situations and learning. It is so interesting that Kolb introduced the idea of a learning cycle and how different people enter the cycle at different points and yet they are still learning. I have always thought that there was a "set" way of learning as sometimes at school the teachers are not able to accommodate to everyone's unique way. Learning about this has answered some questions and confusions I had in the past about why some people were not actively trying to correct themselves when they did something wrong, or why some took a more "intellectual" way of understanding steps. Eg; how some people were able to understand how to do a step after reading about it and others needed visual and kinaesthetic guidance.
ReplyDeletePhysical note-taking in the context of dance is something that I am familiar with however I have to say I have not been the most active-participant with it. I sometimes I get lost in it and I forget where I even started in the first place. Throughout my training at school I liked filming myself because I was able to then see myself from another perspective as sometimes when whilst dancing I feel like everything as in place and I look great, however we know that it is not always the case.So I see it as "video reflections" as throughout time I am able to see my progress through the series of videos.
However, ever since starting BAPP, I have been introduced to different ways of reflecting and journalling, eg; "morning pages" and it has helped me put my learning and thoughts to pen and paper. It hasn't been easy I have to say but seeing how it has been such a helpful tool in learning has kept me going!
Melissa x