Taking a more focussed look at my work for Module
3, I am going to try and put into words where I was and where I am, and what I
think I am about to do. No point whatsoever
in trying to imagine where it will end up because I could not possibly predict!
As I mentioned in my last blog, my interest
since day one has been the use of imagery in dance training, sparked by an inspiring
read – Inside Ballet Technique by Valerie Grieg – and my personal journey as a
teacher. Since starting the MAPP I have encountered
much writing about imagery, and have been introduced to a wide range of imagery
related possibilities that I had not previously encountered.
They say that out of small acorns large oaks
may grow, (a tree being my favourite image to use in dance class) and my acorn
has allowed me to embrace, dislike, tussle with and learn from the work of many
new writers and researchers such as Eric Franklin, Drid Williams, Jennifer
Cumming (I find her research very stimulating) along with the Phenomenologists
such as Husserl. There have been several
‘lightbulb’ moments – Psychology of Dance by Jim and Ceci Taylor being one, and
little phrases, quotes, moments, facts in so much of the literature I have come
across that my mind is constantly engaging with new thoughts and ideas and new
ways of finding out more. I started from
a relatively narrow perspective, but we all have to start somewhere and
currently I stand on the precipice – about to leap into the unknown.
Working qualitatively, for example, is relatively
new for me – I am used to logical and factual analysis of figures both in
previous research work and in my current post, so learning to drill down into a
more narrative type of data will be an interesting challenge – and a more human
outcome I guess. That’s why I opted for
Phenomenology – describing the lived experience. I will also try and get some factual data as I
am interested to see how it compares to the more personal narrative data
derived from interview. I have gained
some really useful information from reading both quantitative and qualitative studies
and feel that there is something in comparing both and something to be gained
from having both.
I think in real terms my research is going to
take me more into the realms of psychology:
I am reading about sport psychology at the moment, related to imagery
via the notion of positive imaging, along with my current fascination which is
that of focus. I do bounce around a bit –
something I read sends me off on another trail, and sometimes I cannot see the
wood for the trees but I know somewhere in all of this there is a lot to
discover and that I will find a way through.
My first notion was to research how students
interpret and utilise imagery, how teachers teach imagery, and how teachers
learn to teach imagery within this genre.
It feels at present like a rather huge undertaking and I am currently
refining how to approach researching within all 3 areas. I will be using a profiling system at first, with
the students, which should allow me to establish a manageable number of
participants between 3 year groups (as I wish to look into differences and
similarities as experience evolves), followed by interviews. I have
to work differently with teachers as I am not looking into the same areas as
the students, and am currently preparing how I will do this. I have
had second thoughts about trying to triangulate too much externally to my place
of work, which may seem narrow-minded, but realistically within the given time
frame there simply may not be time to gather enough back from elsewhere – I will
save that for the next study. I will
contact other teachers, just not other students as I am aware of just how hard
it is to get the participation you require. The rest I cannot document..... the truth is out there somewhere!
So – that’s it for now – I am looking forward
to hearing what your topic is, where you are at, what you are discovering!
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