Task 3d: Critical Questions and Issues That Emerge

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate? Limited? Focused? Planned? Unplanned?

My engagement before this module to networking did not seem appropriate at all. Before studying this module, my use of online networks was very limited. I was not aware on my existing forms of ‘real life’ networking (as opposed to online networking) so this was unplanned networking. Conversely, my sources of information were much more abundant, but this was mainly unplanned also. The tasks involved in this part of the module have been a ‘wake up call’ for me. I am making a deliberate effort to use professional networks. I still think there is room for improvement in my networking, so I endeavour to continue working on this aspect of my own professional practice.

Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?

My concerns surrounding the ethical considerations of online networking as a teacher in Education, are shared by many of my colleagues in my place of work. When working with students I truly never stop considering the implications my networking has on their safety. By looking through other BAPP student’s blogs who are also teachers, this seems to be a common theme among teachers outside of my place of work. I am aware from the online sessions that my peers that are working in the arts industry also find that ethical considerations are highly important in their professional networks, but I do not believe this is very different from the level of privacy you are expected to maintain as a teacher.

Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking, planning or practice?

Through reading the other BAPP student’s blogs, I believe this has shifted my thinking. I have made a conscious effort to comment on the blogs where they are more experienced practitioners that use networking regularly and ask for their advice. I have recognised that there was improvement to be made in my use of networks, therefore, I used the BAPP blogs (a network tool in itself) to find the answers to my questions. As a result, this opened my eyes to the potential of harnessing the collective intelligence on networking sites, further encouraging me to find and join new networks – like Ilona Molnar’s Creative Women Google+ community.

Does critical reflection help you decide what really matters and the actions to take?

By practicing and developing my skills in critical reflection, I am now able to really anaylse the significance of the information I am given, and I no longer accept theories without challenging them through my thought and research process. As an example, I did not necessarily agree with some theories presented in the Reader relating to Connectivism and Communities of Practice, so I ensured that I challenged these theories with my own thinking and literature to support this. I believe that only by evaluating a balanced argument surrounding a theory (opposing and supporting) can a truly form my own opinion. I can then decide how I use this information to support and evaluate my learning in my own professional practices to date.

(See Task 3b for more in depth explanation of contrasting theories)

To what extent do concepts and theories assist you in thinking about your professional networking in different ways? And do these different ways of thinking have some purpose for you?

As a fairly inexperienced networker, concepts and theories I have studied have made me carefully consider why we network as professional more consciously; as a result, this has had a significant impact on my networking practices because I can now recognise how some of the theories presented affect me when networking. For example, the theories Crisp & Turner (2007) present regarding Affiliation with a differentiating level of desired contact impacting our choices, made me consider whether my personality type was the reason why I did not previously enjoy online networking (See Task 3b for more detail). For me, this provided a deeper psychological reason why I did not enjoy networking; if I am aware of the reasons behind this lack of networking desire, then I believe I am more equipped overcome this and continue my networking developments.

I do not believe that I have come to any ‘final conclusions’ about the literature I have studied, neither have I stopped researching this and questioning the implication this has on my own networking practices. I still question if any network is a Community of Practice from the theories presented by Axelrod (1984) and Hughes, Jewson & Urwin (1991) surrounding the argument that the desire of humans to only cooperate until the maximum benefit has been reached (See Task 3b for more detail)

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? And if so, how?

My thinking has definitely been changed. From reading others blogs on Networking and critically analysing the theories presented in the reader, I now realise just how important networking is for my future career. This may sounds like an ignorant thing to say, but for me this has been a huge part of my learning experience.

I think from studying this part of the module, I have found ways to network that are appropriate for my own professional practices. For example, I now understand that I may not want to become a member of certain networking sites because I do not believe that this would meet the ethical considerations in my role as a teacher. This is mainly because I cannot keep my place of work private so I risk putting the students, staff and myself at risk. I do, however, realise the importance of networking to enhance my practices, particularly by collaborating with other drama teachers from local schools.

Upon reflection, I now realise that found this part of the module most challenging due to my own incorrect pre-conceptions of networking in teaching. I previously thought online networking was not acceptable for teachers. From the learning process I have undergone, I now understand that each profession if different so each networking style should be adapted to this. I believe I am good at gathering and finding information and networking, but I needed to find a way to use these tools to help me develop as a professional. I am now finding a way to utilise online networking in my profession by joining appropriate networking websites and continuing to research to find new networking possibilities online. I hope to enhance my skills as a practitioner, through broadening my own horizons with this type of networking.