Critical Reflection Portfolio: Blog Style

Looking back over module 2 while sat on wifi in Norway (Finally connection to the real world), I have realised that my understanding has developed so much more in terms of asking the questions of work and not just working work! I started asking questions that were relevant to me and luckily being in the situation where I literally live in work (on a ship) I was very lucky to be surrounded by a vast wealth of knowledge and people and this inspired me to choose my chosen topic:

What affects the behaviour and relationships between professionals working within the same industry?

It was not always easy though, despite my work place being so advantageous to my research, the fact I was often at sea, cut off from land and also more detrimentally, cut off from internet. Luckily after a comforting e-mail off my tutor, I realised that a work based learning degree is designed to work around work... Therefore it was a case of finding out a method that suited me: Appendix A.

In terms of discovering my research proposal idea, from observing my work place surroundings I soon found out that I wanted to study the behaviour and relationships of people within the industry I am so passionate about. However, I always find that I have too many questions I want to answer and this can cloud my thought and judgement, it was not until I managed to have a Skype session (while sat in a Japanese Ship Terminal) I was calmed by my colleagues and we discussed that we shouldn't panic and that we need to find questions that help us learn, not necessarily ones with a YES or NO answer: Appendix B. It was here I made the realisation that discussion in a group of people, much like a Socratic Circle, really helps develop ideas and helps un-cloud my judgment because I have to stop and consider another perspective without speaking. This was so beneficial as it made me aware of the use of narrative research, and seeing as I am going to be studying people, I decided that I would pilot the use of narrative research with an interview style inquiry with fellow colleagues.

The piloting of my research methods then started to shape my inquiry proposal. Again, as I didn't have access to the internet I did initially struggle but then I had to be resourceful with what I did have. The module handbooks are excellent as they guide you without the need of a tutor or colleague. This allowed me to write a rough draft of my proposal essay (the main chunk of this module) Appendix C. I found this more useful that blogging my ideas bit by bit, as it allowed me to modify my inquiry as a whole in one go and not amalgamate several blog posts. This was obviously more beneficial for me as being at sea meant that more independent work was required.

Overall, I found this module hard at times because I often doubted my ability and work as I was sometimes so detached from everyone else. However with the little bit of contact I did have and the resources given to me, I found that I managed my time well and produced the work to the best of my ability while juggling a full time dance job on board a ship.

Appendix A:

 

Appendix B: http://antgifford.blogspot.no/2015/03/pm-skype-session-write-up-socratic-skype.html

Appendix C: http://antgifford.blogspot.no/2015/05/planning-my-inquiry-wifi-less-world-is.html