Task 3C Sources of Information

As a performer and teacher, I regularly spend time each day gathering useful information. I use a variety of different sources which provide me with an abundance of valuable information to increase my knowledge and assist me in my professional development. Before choosing my top 5 I created a diagram of information sources I use regularly.

As I stated above I use all of these sources regularly and therefore found it difficult to pick out my top 5; especially regarding my use of the Internet.

Google
Without Google I would be lost!
Google is a fast and efficient Internet service which provides an array of information on absolutely anything you could possibly think of. When gathering information Google is always my first point of call. I simply type a question are topic into the search engine and is more than often spoilt for choice with the links Google provides me; for example, if I have been offered a job or audition with a company I have never heard of I would simply 'Google' the company name. This will lead me to many links such as:

• Company website
• Company reviews
• Castings for that specific company
• Social media pages related to the company
• Blogs
• Past and present employees of the company
• YouTube links of their productions

The list is endless!

Google also gives me the option to narrow my searches. If I wanted to specifically see images from a company rather than videos or any other information, I would search 'Google images'. I also am a big fan of 'Google maps'. I have downloaded this to my phone as an App and find it really useful when I attend auditions and castings in places I have never been.

YouTube

I spend endless hours on YouTube. As I discussed in Task 2C, I find I learn a lot and reflect on my own work much better when observing and reflecting on how other professionals approach their work. If I am given a script or song to learn I often search YouTube and watch a variety of videos of professionals performing these pieces to see how others chose to convey the character. I also enjoy watching musicals and plays which people have uploaded. It is extremely helpful to have seen a piece of theatre of which you are auditioning for beforehand and YouTube is a quick, cost efficient way of doing so. I also rely on YouTube for searching new audition materials such as songs and monologues and even backing tracks to upload to my I Phone and CD's too take along with me. 
I have recently became a teacher and also enjoy searching choreography to stimulate new ideas and keep my classes fun and up to date for my class.

 

 Work Colleagues

With Internet playing a  large role in everyday life, it is easy to overlook important offline networks and information sources. As I previously discussed I have recently began teaching dance and drama to children of all ages. I rely on conversations with more experienced colleagues to improve my teaching skills. I also rely on feedback from cast members when performing as well  as sharing information about different companies, auditions and agents. I am fortunate enough to have worked with many professionals who are willing to share information and assist me on furthering my career. I began performing when I was 16 which is fairly late on considering many professionals have been performing since they were children. I have learnt a lot from people who have been in the business a lot longer than myself and have taught me the 'tricks of the trade'

 Blogs

Since beginning my studies for BA Hons in Professional Practice Blogs have became an essential information source. I often look through other BAPP blogs (past and present) to compare how others have approached different tasks and to clarify my understand of topics of which I find difficult. I also rely on Course tutor blogs to keep me updated with deadline dates and online sessions.


Facebook

I didn't realise how reliant I was on Facebook until I began this course. I find myself talking about Facebook in many of my blog posts as it is an extremely useful tool in assisting my career. Facebook is an easily accessible information tool of which professionals can post information about upcoming auditions and castings. Ones which I may not have heard about through friends or my agent. In a way Facebook is similar to 'word of mouth'. People are passing valuable information on too vast numbers of Facebook users with one simple post. As it is web 2:0 based, users are able to comment on posts and ask questions to clarify their understanding. 


Nowadays learning goes way beyond the traditional method of teacher/student learning. A new learning theory 'Connectivism' has been introduced

 'Connectivism a learning theory for the digital age. Learning has changed over the last several decades. The theories of behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism provide an effect view of learning in many environments. They fall short, however, when learning moves into informal, networked, technology-enabled arena.  http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html

 This is apparent in our BAPP course. Paula provides us with the information we need. It is then down to us to seek  information from other sources to further increase our knowledge on the given subjects. Decision making is also an important aspect of our BAPP course and a key principle of the 'Connectivism' theory. We are lucky enough to be able to access endless information with the lick of a button and it is therefore down to the learner to decide which information is considered 'important' or 'un' important.
Over time, I have gathered lots of information on all areas of my professional practice from screen shots on my phone to paper lesson plans and endless emails. To utilise this information properly I could organise it better. I have gathered some ideas from other BAPP blogs and will begin to put this into practice.

Ways in which I will organise my information:

• Sort emails into separate files, for example, 'agent emails' in one file, 'teaching emails' in another. This way I will be able to check for important emails faster rather than scanning through unimportant emails from Wowcher!
• Keep all my lesson plans in a folder (organised into date order)
• I will write my daily 'to do' list in my journal each evening instead of writing it on scraps of paper which I can never find!
• Create a photo album on my I phone for all professional related screenshots.