Campus Session

On Monday’s campus session the group focused on Professional ethics and ethical issues regarding Professional Practice.

The group led by R.McGuinness began to first brainstorm upon what they thought was the definition of ethics. The words and phrases that emerged were “Rules, Morels, fair, just, good and bad, virtues and code of conduct

Ethical practice refers to the morels and principles of an individual and their code of conduct in their practice.

We discovered that the Greek translation of ethics was the word “ethos” which means character.

Rosemary highlighted the conflicting nature that a person can have between their work Ethos and their personal Ethos. Example, Pulitzer award winner Kevin Carter and his controversial photograph. His primary ethos as photojournalist was to capture and document an image not interfering with the subject. The subject was a malnourished child with a vulture lingered in the background.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981431,00.html

What are good character traits?

 As a group we listed the individual values that we thought represented ourselves in our personal life, example “fair, kind and loyal”.  We then listed the values that we thought would be good in our Professional Practice, example “empathy, reliability, time management and confidence.

Theories about ethics.

 The group discussed various theories about ethics, which can be found in more detail in the course reader.

• Consequentialism- Outcome justifies the means.

• Deontology- A rational duty, moral obligation with no grey middle ground.

• Virtue ethics- Character of a person rather than the action they carry out.

Types of ethics

There are different types of ethics that apply to various professional practices. Some that were mentioned are

• -Legal ethics- Legislative.

• -Comparative ethics- Subject to change over time and geographical proximity.

A Professional Arts managing group was formed for the purpose of the session consisting of Joanna, Adeyinka-Burford, Nicole Geddes and I. The task we were given was to collaborate and produce some ideas developing a code of practice that would be ethical and present it to the other two groups.

Code of Practice for Performing Arts Management

• To insure equality for all employees. (Days off, Religious Holidays)
• To adhere to the legal requirements and policies (CRB, Data protection, safe guarding Minimum wage)
• To provide and create a safe environment to work and learn
• To provide and sustain opportunities
• Maintaining a professional operation
• Training (Health and safety
• Risk assessment
• To Maintain interpersonal skills
• To be responsible- development of the company ensuring guide lines are clearly outlines for company
• To maintain company ethos

From this task it became apparent that in a managerial role there is not only responsibility for self, but a large responsibility for the liability of other employees.

I came across this Sunday Times article on ethical types which proved interesting to read:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article4902555.ece

Inquiry Questions

This task required me to read the course reader on Professional Inquiry and formulate questions to develop my professional practice.

I undertook a BA (Hons) Professional practice to develop learning tools and provide adequate qualifications that would allow me to reinvent myself. This will assist me to compete in the current financial climate.

Currently I work in the Arts sector as a Dance teacher and Professional performer. By pursuing a job in Arts Management would enable me more creative freedom and input in the Arts industry. I hope to eventually manage large events for established companies and productions that incorporate performers. The roles that I will be aiming towards are Artistic Director, Production manager, Arts Board Executive and Casting Director.

Recently I discovered that the inquiry questions I had previously developed into my professional practice for investigation were too broad for the purpose of my course. However, from these questions I identified the objective of what I would like my inquiry to achieve. To achieve this objective I would need to work on more specific questions that could later be researched.

I would like my inquiry to provide me with the knowledge of  “how to gain employment and functioning productively in an Arts Management role.” I believe this inquiry will benefit me by providing the information I need to transfer into this position.

Teaching choreography in schools provides a creative outlet and allows me to manage large groups of youth performers. My current job as a dance teacher involves various tasks that have managerial skills. By identifying the tasks that I perform at work will allow me examine and identify the skills that I will need to obtain from my inquiry.

Skills from Current Job.

- Creating a budget for the purchase of costumes

-Time management

-Organising transport for students to the performance venues.

-Group supervision

- Complying with mandatory legislation

-Communicative 

While supervising students performing in borough events, festivals and various dance shows I hope to use the opportunity to converse with other teachers and other individuals responsible for managing the events, gaining information to further my investigation. I will also seek to gain information and advice from other individuals who work in similar roles that I intending to work in and research authors who have published data on Arts Management.

Potential Inquires Questions to follow up:

-How important is Networking in Arts Management?

-In order to advance a career in arts Management is it important to belong to a special interest group?

-Who works in an Arts Management job and what was their previous job?

-What identifiable decisions enabled the subject to be employed for their current role?

-What is their job description and specifications?

-What qualifications and experience are needed to effectively operate in the role?

-Where can I gain the relevant qualifications and experience?

-What advise do they have to enable me to fast track into a similar position?

-Where would I find an Arts Management job advertised?

-Is there a registered society for Arts Managers?

-How to devise a concept for an event?

-How to plan an event successfully?

-The legal and financial aspects of running an event?

-Where to obtain funding?

Please feel free to answer or give your opinion on any of the above questions. Thanking you in advance.

Initial thoughts of module WBS3835

This module focuses on the planning of my professional inquiry. I will develop questions to peruse and propose an award title. I would like my award title to represent the type of jobs that I would like to transition into.
I found the campus session beneficial last term and will try and make all secessions this term. I look forward to joining SIG’s as I think some really useful information can emerge, which I will be able to use towards my inquiry.  The SIG's also provides an opportunity to connect with other professionals who are not on the course.
I am interested to discover who on the course is pursuing a similar professional practice to me and hear about their experiences to date. I also want to find out from other students on the course the types of professions that they would consider after working as a performer.

Summary of WBS3002 Blogs

The aim of the tasks in module WBS3002 were to establish and further develop the understanding of my Professional practice through exploring various theories and performed tasks like blogging.

There are three course readers within the module.

-Professional communications technology

-Reflective Practices

-The Networked Professional.  By using my blogs to illiterate thoughts.

Professional Communications Technology

• CV
• Web 2.0 Tools
• You Tube Video
• Wiki's
• Picasa Image Bank

By rewriting my current CV and commenting on others, developed my critical skills It was also the beginning stages of familiarising myself with other individuals on the BAPP course. You can find my CV is currently posted on my Profile

(PROFILE CONDENSED)

Blog examining if web based technologies advance professional practice

(The point of power.)

I read the course reader on Professional communications technology commenting on a range of Ideas and theories that were provided in the course reader.

Tim O’reilly defines web 2.0 by developing a meme. I blog about the theory of three competencies that are applicable to the positioning of web 2.0 within professional practice Architectures of Participation, Remixable Data and transformations and "Harnessing collective data.

(PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COURSE READER)

I set up you tube channel and created a forty-five second a video clip about starting out on BAPP.

(Starting out on BAPP)

My blog was set up on bogspot.com domain. I enjoyed this task as I got to be creative when creating my profile page. I used prior knowledge from when I set up my personal myspace.com profile page. I attempted to make m profile look attractive so people would be encouraged to read my blog. I learnt how to use Wiki's, which I later needed when producing my end of semester assignment.

I posted images to an online web site. I realised that google have a lot of functions other than e-mail, like Reader, Docs and Sites. Through out the semester we were given the option to use various web domains to produce tasks. I chose to use the domains that were affiliated/linked to Google so I did not have to create various user names and passwords. I developed my use of power point when a class member gave me some pointers.

I discovered the dependency I have of Web 2.0 tools as they facilitate global communication; I also became aware that it would be detrimental for me not to safeguard my information by backing it up on a data storage unit.

Reflective Practices

• Journal
• Reflective writing Task
• Reflective Theory Task
• Inquiry Task

Reflective and analytical skills were developed when writing my thoughts and experiences down in the journal task. This task proved to be productive as I was able evaluate myself on a weekly basis

Blog disusing various theories from Dewey, Schon, Kottcamp, Kolb and Gardner… and Critical reflection

Highlighting the benefits of reflection. Discussing various theories by H.Gardner about the different types of intelligence and learning

(I'm doing a whole lot of reflecting)

Post review task where I had to write a blog critically reflecting on a specific day. I chose to write it on an evening showcase, which I attended and wrote a post review on the activities that surrounded the day. I appreciated this task as U was able to focus on the events management aspects.

(Journal writing experience)

Inquiry task where I discussed how Oprah Winfrey and Donald trump have inspired me by their entrepreneurship and their ability to re invent themselves. In this blog I also began to develop questions relevant to my own practice in the field of Arts Management.

(Inquiry)

The university group was also encouraged to Create a set of poems and blog them. This was used as a tool of reflection

 

The Networked Professional

• The Value of Current Networks
• Networked Professional course reader
• Five most Important sources of Information

Blog about the value of my current networks and the various tools that I have used for networking. I learned that by Establishing a purpose and intent for my goals identify who can help me achieve them and making contact are productive steps towards the betterment of my career.

(Value of current networks)

The Networked professional reader task where I analyse the usefulness of concepts like Cooperation, Affiliation,

Social construction, Connectivism and Communities of practice. 

Networks and communities of practice

(Critical Reflection on The Networked Professional Reader)

A list of my five most important sources of information.

(Current sources of information)

The theory of participation was what stood out most for me in this module.

Participation is fundamental to the advancement of professional practice and the ability to learn and evolve. Through taking part and creation I gained the ability to effectively reflect, communicate and network which lead to the advancement of my professional practice

Current sources of information

In this task I have identified my five current most important sources of information. I examine their productivity in an effort to advance my professional practice.

Online Web sites

Online sights like face book and twitter provide live feeds with work related information and job opportunities. Youtube.com provides a visual aid when making inquiries and seeking information on tasks. Online search bars like Google and Bing allow information to be quickly accessed and filter, providing data that is more relevant to a search to be obtained.

  Sending and receiving information virtually via the Internet is cost effective and faster facilitating easier communication. The main importance of online web sites is that they provide me with instant global access to employers and information.

Agent

Employers approach the agency I belong to with a brief, asking the agency to submit clients that are suitable for their jobs. Employers approach agencies to filter out unsuitable candidates for posts, which saves them time. From past experience, in my professional practice there is a trend forming where employers are increasingly approaching only agencies when they are recruiting. It has therefore become essential for me to have an agent seeking work on my behalf.

  A large percentage of my employment has emerged from the initial connection that my agent has initially made. I rely on my agent to inform me about the various shows being recruited for, allowing me sufficient preparation time and increasing the possibility of me being successful at obtaining the job.

 A percentage of my pay is paid to my Agent for the duration of a contract. An advantage is agents are able to negotiate with employers for wage increases on behalf of their client. A disadvantage occurs when agent enters their client for a job that is in the public domain, can be accessed by all and wages are non negotiable.

Community of Practice

Maintaining a network with past school friends, work associates and teachers has been important for providing job opportunities. Ross Dunning expressed in his 2010 blog how “word of mouth is one of the fastest ways that information can spread” (R.Dunning, 2010). P. Nottingham also talks about how reputation precedes a person in her 2010 blog. I believe it is therefore important to try and maintain good relationships with members of my community of practice.

My community of practice provides moral support and career guidance. Currently this is my most important and vital source of information.

Newspapers

Newspapers provide data on funding, work opportunities and general information pertaining Performing Arts e.g. The Stage and Dancing Times. A drawback is that these newspapers are not free and there is no guarantee that the information provided would be beneficial to my goal after purchase. Occasionally I purchase the stage newspaper because the information in the recruitment section is released to print prior to being available online, potentially enabling a longer period for audition preparation.

Family

Members of my immediate family work in various fields like childcare, marketing and the voluntary running of an Arts organisation. Through various discussions on topics pertaining to their fields, I have been able to obtain useful information e.g. grant and funding information. This information has been important in aiding me to achieve productivity in my professional practice. Mutual work experiences are shared and information that is learnt from training days and work seminars is relayed.

Reference:

http://rossdunning.blogspot.com/2010/11/sources-of-information.html

http://paulanottingham.blogspot.com/2010/09/reputation-and-professional-practice.html