New module; New job; New challenge

Since submitting Module One's assignment, waiting patiently (or not so) for the results, I experienced some tough situations at work, which resulted in me finding a new job. If you can remember from my previous posts, I was going through an emotional rollercoaster. For a time, I thought it was my inability to cope with the job, however, after seeking advice I was told I was being put in situations I hadn't been trained to deal with. After reflecting on my time in the job, I decided that if I wanted to further my progression in my career I needed to leave. Life is too short to come home miserable everyday.

So, this time next week I will be in a new job, in a new role! As you can imagine I am overcome with a mixture of excitement and nerves, which can only be expected. On my interview day, when I first walked in, I immediately felt at ease and all of the staff seemed to be in high spirits with good working relationships. This was what made me really want a change, as I realised what a toxic environment I was currently in. Due to this, I feel positive about this new start and am going to make the most out of every opportunity I have to develop and grow.

Useful website for Critical Reflection

If you are like me and always use the same sentence starters this website could help mix things up a bit. I find it helps tow rite the essay then go back through and look where you can change them.

http://www2.eit.ac.nz/library/ls_guides_sentencestarters.html

My current state

I have plans upon plans of what I want to include in my Critical Reflection but I can't seem to get going!!!! Wish me luck....

Essay Writing

I know there are a few people feeling anxious about writing an essay simply because it has been a long time since we had to write one. I found this website just as little helper for some tips on how to structure it.

https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/essay-writing.html

Critical Reflection - Initial Plan

After the initial panic of starting an essay passed, I knew I just needed to get some ideas down in front of me then figure out the formality afterwards. One thing I have learnt, from this course, is I waste a lot of time wondering how to start the tasks instead of just getting on with them. So, here it is, my initial brain explosion of ideas to include in my critical reflection.

As if we are nearing the end of Module 1!!!!!!! Madness!!!

Really would like to see more peoples ideas on how to go about the Critical Reflection, learning through observation really is my go to way to spark ideas.
Please also leave comments on any advice!

Task 3c

Thinking about the most important sources of information I use in my professional practice, I have found I use a variety of Web 2.0 and face to face interaction.

Twinkl, as a teaching assistant I am very lucky in my school that we have a twinkl account. To those not in the education sector this is a most wondrous website with an endless stash of resources to use. You simply click on the year group you require and there are level appropriate worksheets, lesson plans, fun activities and much more. There are a lot of time saving resources as well such as: display headings; visual timetables; lined paper with borders - this may sound trivial but cast your mind back to school and remember receiving the special paper to do an important piece of work on. For children with Special Educational Needs there is a whole section on developing the understanding of emotions and social interactions.

I use this source day to day mainly for back up exercises for those children who have completed the set tasks and need a challenge or for those children who are struggling I can give them an easier format to master first.

Pintrest, I use this source for many aspects in my life not just for my professional practice. This is a network that relies heavily on cooperation as there needs to be many people supplying information to keep it running. As I run the Breakfast Club at school I am always looking for interesting ways to start the day, there are lot of unique ideas on this Web 2.0 site to spark inspiration. The easy format of the mobile app helps me to increase my resource stash and idea bank whilst on the move.

Working in a school, the main way of interacting is face to face, I very rarely receive emails unless it is something important and official that needs to be kept in writing. I value this source of information tremendously as I feel I can delve as deep as I need to with requiring further explanations to gain a full understanding. I can also get feedback to see if I am utilising their advice effectively, which is something I would not get from any Web 2.0 source. I could ask for further advice via forums and comments but I would not got the feedback I need to develop my practice.

Youtube has been a valuable source for me for many years: I have learnt to cook; learnt the piano; listened to talks; watched trailers; been inspired for choreography; used it as a self-promoting tool. My most recent jobs as a performer were achieved by my showreel being posted on youtube, the ability to send a link to employers around the world is fantastic. Now, in my new practice as an educator, I use it to find educational clips to support their learning and for useful exercises in mindfulness and children's yoga and meditation.

One person I feel has helped me immensely, not only on this course but in helping me develop my practice is Lauren Harper. After every skype session, we have had our own skype session to help each other understand anything we weren't brave enough to query and to share our sparks of inspiration derived from the group chat. Reading through Lauren's blog I have had many a lightbulb moment where a concept has clicked and I have then been able to go and look for more information and inspiration elsewhere. As you can see, I have stolen her format of this task by adding icons to indicate each different source! Even though TED is new to Lauren from this course she is the one who enlightened me to its uses, from which I have then noticed when other people have posted links for videos which I have then gone on to watch and develop further. Thank you, lovely!

Task 3b

As I was reading through Reader 3 it became very clear that there were certain concepts that I felt more connected to and understood. When I saw that networking was part of the module I really thought I would struggle as I have always been uncomfortable in situations where I have actively tried to gain contacts and make professional connections. However, as I have gone through the tasks, it has become apparent that I automatically network through my communities of practice in a more sub-conscious way. Which I prefer as nothing is forced or fake, if somebody requires information or advice from me, I can offer it. Additionally, if I require help then I can simply ask for it (Cooperation).

Everyone has a choice to or not to cooperate (game theory) in every aspect of life. I believe in terms of networking, if you get this right, can be really beneficial to your network development. On the same note, if you get this wrong it could have a negative impact on your network. The question is, how long do you cooperate for? When is the right time to take advantage of the connection for your own benefit? Can you not make sure there is a benefit for both parties so no one is 'taken advantage of'?

In my practice cooperation isn't entirely necessary but it is most definitely helpful. The phrase 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' springs to mind. People are always more willing to help if they know that at some point it will be reciprocated, the exchange does not necessarily have to be at the same time, there just needs to be an understanding that one party isn't always taking from the other.

The need for affiliation will be affected by 'psychological determinants and individual and cultural differences between individuals' (Reader 3). As affiliation is defined as a social process that provides us 'with a network of support that will help us when we are in need' (Crisp & Turner 2007 p. 266) and the definition for networking is: a deliberate activity to build, reinforce and maintain relationships of trust with other people to further your goals. It isn't surprising that Affiliation is a key concept for professional networking as without an affiliation there is no network to develop.

'Through social interaction, humans construct meanings of the world and their experience of it.' (Reader 3)

How do we 'know' anything? A lot of things we claim to know are from someone telling us it. How do we know that piece of information to be correct? Where did they find that piece of information? Do we trust the source?

Pupils gain knowledge by listening to their teacher and simply accepting that knowledge to be true. We have been taught to respect figures of authority and we go to school, partake in courses to learn new things. No one goes to school and questions what the teacher tells us in class. Should we accept what we are told to be correct? This is where propaganda can leak in, whether it be a teacher a politician or news reader. They could choose to tell us whatever they want us to believe and if said convincingly enough we will believe it and take on those thoughts and beliefs ourselves. So many catastrophes have happened through our interactions constructing meanings of the world and the people in it.

If there are two conflicting pieces of information, which do you believe to be true? Both parties (blog, individual...) believe themselves to be correct because they 'know' their information to be accurate. They have both chosen to trust the source they received it from. I always ask people 'How do you know that?' not from any suspicions but from my need for verification and clarity. If I am researching on the internet, my first port of call is usually Google, but I won't except the answer I receive from the first website I will check a few until I satisfied with the validity.

Having entered a new professional practice switching from performer to educator. I am constantly interacting and constructing my own ideas through various channels interaction. As a lot of the information I am given is advice, I have tried to gather this from multiple sources whether that be fellow teaching assistants, teachers, senior staff or Web 2.0. From this I can evaluate and reflect on all of the material, piecing together the parts I would like to help in developing my practice and in my internal filing cabinet, store the information accordingly.

Connectivism is highly used due to the expanse of Web 2.0 and how accessible it is. Learning is no longer restricted to the teacher student format. For example, blogs, the reader can feedback thoughts through comments. This may involve an exchange of knowledge or simply provide an opinion on the matter.

In conclusion, I feel all of these concepts are valuable and that they compliment each other. One isn't successful without an element of the other. A network cannot begin without affiliation, without some form of compromise the network cannot develop, without social constructionism we cannot form meanings and without connectivism there will be no knowledge to gain.

I have found an interesting post including tips on how to grow your network.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-long/8-tips-to-help-grow-your-_b_7562332.html





https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-definition-of-professional-networking