Task 1G: Critical Reflection On Reflective Practice.
With working in such a competitive industry, self reflection and evaluation is always something I've done and be very aware of...having said that starting the course and reading through the mateial has opened my eyes to far more ways of evaluation and theories behind it, which to be honest I had never really considered them before now!
I fully agree with the reader, defining reflection as a tool for understanding what has happened and growing and learning from the experience. BUT had no idea there are so many ways to do so. Having looked at Kolb's Learning Cycle it's clear to me that I am a Active Experimentation Learner. Which I believe most Actors would be? There is no point me sitting there and planning a character, rehearsing to myself how I'm going to say something or planning a reaction to how I 'assume' the actor will deliver me the line. It has to be organic and natural. Which is done for me through DOING.
Although out of a rehearsal room I have a different approach. If I have just come out of an audition for example the way in which I would reflect on how it went would not be initially through the same method. Kolb may best describe my reflection in the rehearsal stage, although after the event I would say I use different techniques. This shows me that for many years I've been using Donald Schon's concept of reflection-in (and on)-action very frequently without being aware of the theory behind it. The way in which I would conceptualise an audition would be by reflecting as an
'informal and personal activity for it's own sake'. I do this by '
taking the unprocessed, raw material of experience and engaging with it in a way that makes sense' as described by Boud. I digest what went well, what didn't and WHY?. Then HOW can I improve next time? I then get left with what I have learnt from the experience. Dewy believed that education (i.e- learning) runs parallel with consciousness and engagement. I fully support this thinking as throughout my training in acting, being an acting teacher myself and having been lucky enough to have the chance to showcase my talents in the form of professional work I have seen first hand the effect FULL engagement and interest can have on a learner, making a huge difference to the development of the subject as well as the ability to fully reflect on events within, in comparison to someone non engaged as the passion, drive and interest isn't there - as Einstein famously said "
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." The same works with talent within the arts, or any other matter. Reading up on theories about reflection and different ways of learning really made me understand the quote so much more!
To conclude my thoughts, as with acting techniques from various practitioners with different things to add to my 'tool box' of how I approach work, Reflection works the same. After carefully reading thought works by various authors I'm now aware how I mix pieces of many of their techniques to make a way that works for me. Which is, in my opinion, the best way. Use the knowledge you gather to find your own way of learning and growing from what you've learnt.
Using journal writing to enhance reflective practice, 2001, David Boud, Jossey-Bass, San Fransisco
No comments:
Post a Comment