1. Critical reflection is a reasoning process to make meaning of an experience. Critical reflection is descriptive, analytical, and critical, and can be articulated in a number of ways such as in written form, orally, or as an artistic expression. (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
Experience – observation of fact(s) or event(s), practice in doing something; –
(Oxford English Dictionary)
1. Reflective practice is a way of studying your own experiences to improve the way you work. It is very useful for professionals who want to carry on learning throughout their lives. The act of reflection is a great way to increase confidence and become a more proactive and qualified professional. (www.brightknowledge.com)
I think the word 'pro-active' is a key concept here. I've always considered myself very pro-active but never realised that it may be a result of how I reflect upon my experiences. These qualities, i.e. being pro active and reflective, I think link in with the idea of networking and Web 2.0 in reader 1. Communicating with people, often via the mediums of email & social media, is a massive part of being proactive in your professional practise.
Pro-active (Google)
prəʊˈaktɪv/
adjective
1. (of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened.
Proactive (www.vocabulary.com)
The adjective 'proactive' can describe a person who get things done. If you are 'proactive', you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you.
Active means "doing something." The prefix pro- means "before." So if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens. The opposite is being reactive, or waiting for things to unfold before responding.
How do we as performers become pro-active?
In my current professional practice I would consider the following as being pro active:
Looking for auditions via the means of websites, Facebook pages etc.
(The stage, London Dance, talent cast, the hustle)
Applying for work so you can fund yourself between projects and gain other experience.
Writing to casting directors or agents.
Researching companies that you could potentially work for: Royal Caribbean, Qdos, Matthew Bourne.
Attending classes to continue development and put yourself out there.
Inviting influential people to watch any performances you do.
Making sure your pictures, portfolio and CV's are up to date.
You can see above that all the starting words are verbs i.e. DOING words. You must be ACTIVE in your practise and take some control and responsibility for it.
I have a generalised theory:
PROACTIVE person = more successful experiences and practise = positive reflection
REACTIVE person = less successful experiences and practice = negative reflection
E.g. 1) Scheduling a singing lesson to practise your repertoire ---> performing your song better in an audition ---> you hit the notes, get through to the next round, offered a job, feel on top of the world.
E.g. 2) Picking a random song you've done before ---> feel nervous out the audition ---> sing the song a bit shaky, get cut, don't get the job, feel upset.
When is reflection/being proactive too much? Can this result in over analysing and in turn produce a negative effect? When should we let go?
E.g. 3) Scheduling a singing lesson to practise repertoire ---> receive lots of notes to consider, over think the song, worry about getting it right ---> loose the performance element, don't give the best account of yourself, get cut, lose job opportunity, feel frustrated.
E.g. 4) Picking a random song you've done before ---> feel relaxed and don't put too much focus on the outcome ---> exude confidence in yourself, perform the song with ease, go to the next round feeling content.
After further research into Kolb, Honey & Momford, I came across and completed the learning survey on:
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/learn_style_survey.html
It was no surprise that the results showed my learning as 'doing + thinking' i.e. Analysing.
"If you prefer Doing and Thinking then you are in the analysing category:
* Prefers the practical application of ideas, solving problems, feedback, and decision-making (obvious links between the task-on-hand and a problem).
* Prefers technical problems over interpersonal issues.
* Prefers to apply new learnings to actual practice to see if they work.
* Likes laboratories, field work, observations, and coaching."
I'm definitely a very analytical person. I feel this is because I always want the best result from a situation. I am also a massive culprit for over analysing and making things worse by putting unnecessary pressure on them. You could say I've just over analysed my own theory above - what do you think?
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