Sources of Information - Task 3C

I use a wide selection of sources to support and enhance my professional practise. I have decided to list these in order of personal importance.

1) The first source is Friends and Colleagues.

These are the people who are in my close social network and who I share, discuss and reflect ideas. I value my friends and colleagues a great deal. They, in some way, have influenced who I am, how I manage my professional demure and inspire me in my current teacching profession. For example my work colleague Jeni is a drama teacher and teaches a few dance classes. I am a dance teacher who teaches some drama classes. We share schemes of work and ideas for lessons. We talk on a daily basis at work, often reflecting on our own experiences of that day.  I feel I rely upon this source to inspire me.

2) Websites

I use websites as a source of retriving information. This is my most effective research tool. From using Google I can increase my own knowledge. This search engine enables you to search the web for almost anything, about any topic. You Tube is also very valuable to support my current teaching practise as it allows me to research current dance styles and trends and to gain inspiration for new choreography. Facebook is another valuable website. This links to my first source of information, giving me easy access to friends and colleagues who I perhaps would otherwise not have time to speak to (due to work and family life). Facebook is becoming more important as a method in which to expand my social network. Also from reading Simone Grandjean's post I have discovered that you can also use Facebook to view audition and job advertisements. I also thank Ahmet Ahmet for his insight into the importance of using the TES website for support with my drama teaching. I plan to explore ideas for warm up activities and to read other peoples lesson plans.

3) BTEC

Dance is an expressive form of Art that has many styles and genres. It is therefore highly important that you plan the content of lessons to suit the requirements of the syllabus which you are teaching. I need to ensure that my students can meet the criteria to achieve their highest possible grade. The content of my lessons needs to match the syllabus. When teaching my BTEC sixth form students I I read the BTEC level 3 syllabus before planning my lessons. This outlines the grading criteria and also gives ideas for schemes of work to follow. I make sure that my students are familiar with the grading criteria and use this to assess my students on a regular basis.

4) ISTD

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is the awarding body where i recieved my specialist teaching qualifications, of which I have been a member for the past ten years. All of my training from a young child was in dance genres (modern, tap, ballet, jazz) which used the ISTD syllabus. These grades and vocational grades train a person both technique and artistry. Technique is important to ensure a healthy body, to prevent injury and to increase individual strength and flexibility. Artistry is important to demonstrate style and personality in your performance, helping you to stand out from the crowd and to be successful gaining work. The ISTD update their syllabus's regularly. Through attending courses and seminars I can ensure that I maintain my own dance abilities and keep up to date with current dance trends. The ISTD also supply insurance and are the awarding body who linked me to Middlesex University for this BAPP course.

5) Teaching Union

I am a member of the NASUWT teaching Union. This is important as a source of information on a wider network. The Union supply me with up to date information on Government policies and regulations. It enables me to check my work requirements with those of others internationally to make sure that the requests of my work place remain fair. The Union can also be used as a tool to support personal issues within the work place. We have a Union Rep at my school who meets with all members once a month. These discussions are valuable to reflect on my current teaching experiences, so even though this source is used less frequently it remains an important part of my continual professional development.