Oral Presentation Day

So today is the day of my Oral presentation, after successfully submitting my professional inquiry portfolio. Today I am docked in Valletta, Malta, and have hired out the use of a conference room inside a Hotel to conduct my presentation via Skype. I am fortunate to have the use of the Hotel's high speed Wifi connection. (Something that I haven't experienced for some considerable time now).
I wish you all the very best with your presentations and well done for those that presented yesterday!

Submission Date Imminent!

With only one week left, I'm working as hard as ever to complete my critical review of my professional inquiry along with my artefact.

Having received my feedback from Paula, I've learned that there still is a lot more that I must do prior to submitting my work. It is always good to receive guidance and advice, especially during this time, which I can only describe as one of the most challenging times of this course. 

I am continuing to persevere and I am making a conscious effort to make sure I do the best I can in this final week of study.

Perseverance....

Now we're into the 10th week and almost at the end of this module! I think I have managed to interview all the people I can and source all the literature before I start to run out of time. It's now time to present all of my analysis of the findings of my professional inquiry on paper and in my artifact. I'm working very hard to get the majority of this completed, ready to send off to my adviser.

I'm currently struggling to fit with the word count. I'm focusing on getting all my points down first and making sure I don't miss anything off. With my experience of the previous modules, I know I shall tidy and tighten everything up prior to submitting my work.

My artifact is slowly coming together. Using my little Sony notebook (laptop) to create it is proving to be very challenging. Nevertheless, I must persevere...

It's Arrived!

Update - April

The start of April saw the Introduction of a new Internet plan on board. This means that I no longer have to purchase Internet Cards but Data Packages instead. No longer do I have to keep a close watch on the timer on my screen running out whilst I await for a page to load what may or may not have been what I was looking for in the first place! However, from having an unlimited data allowance. I now have a cap of 500mb per package. This means I have lost the ability to conduct lengthy Skype sessions whilst at Sea. I've yet to test how many minutes of Skype video calling I can make use of with the 500mb allowance. But I shall definitely be putting this to the test!

The on-board Internet plan change over cost me a weeks worth of Internet connectivity. (The main source for my literature information and other forms of media whilst at sea). However all is up and working and I am now plowing through, back in the middle of conducting my professional inquiry. 

Although I've not yet finished conducting my inquiry, I have started to piece together the foundations for my artifact. Having already lost one of my laptops due to it breaking down on me. It is down to my secondary, smaller laptop to be up for the challenge of taking on this task. Slowly but surely the inquiry process is coming together. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the following days bring!

Finally, after 5 weeks. A book I  had ordered has finally arrived to the ship (having already succumbed to purchasing a digital copy. But nevertheless, I much prefer reading a real book than a digital version of a publication! 

Conducting my Professional Inquiry - Module 3

Update for March!

March was a busy month for me. Having to acquire all of the literature I deemed necessary to conduct my inquiry whilst at sea was somewhat...difficult! 

Having bought many an Internet card and after laborious attempts and willing the Internet connectivity on, I had managed to source and acquire enough literature material to start conducting my literature reviews. (This was probably the most time consuming part of my inquiry process.) That being said, much of March was taken up by reading, analysis and conducting my literature reviews. Which again a slow, but steady process, using Harts purposes of a review (published in his book 'Doing a Literature Review' -1998) it helped to structure the way that I conducted it. Even still I have a few more pieces of literature reviews to do.

March also saw the beginning of my first few interviews for this inquiry. I was very surprised when approaching my prospective volunteers to see how willing they were to donate their views and opinions. (Especially when they realised it was all anonymous!) This part of the inquiry process was probably one of the most straight forward on board. I've still got enough time to ask for one or two more volunteers! But I shall begin to draw up an analysis on these too.

Module 3!

Last module, the frequency of publications on my BAPP arts blog somewhat suffered due to the lack of internet connectivity I was experiencing. However I am certain that this shan't be an issue this module!

To give you an update where I am with things on the course. At the end of module 2. I had constructed a plan for my Professional Inquiry. This outlined the context of the inquiry, methodology among other elements.

Having commenced Module 3, I have begun writing up a summary of updates to my original inquiry plan. This is to iron out any issues that I have encountered with my original plan prior to commencing the inquiry. I'm looking forward to commencing the conduct of my inquiry. From which I hope will result in many interesting findings that will benefit me further as an industry professional.

I shall continue to interact with my SIGs (special interest groups) ad also my fellow BAPP students and comment on blog posts. Feel free to drop a comment or message etc. I would only be too happy to hear about how your inquiry's are progressing.

Module 2: Task 5b - 'Codes of Practice in the Place of Work'

In my previous post, I touched on the ethics I think apply within my place of work/professional workplace, I managed to acquire a copy of the rules and regulations that I adhere to in relation to my work.

As an employee, I must comply with the company’s non-disclosure agreement of sensitive/exclusive information. So I am afraid I cannot publish the exact documents on here. However, I can still write about them and state how my assumptions differ from these actual documents.

I found that there is in fact an innumerable quantity of rules and regulations that apply within my professional workplace which include codes of conduct and ethics but to name a few. The main reason for this is because my workplace isn't governed by just one organisation. It is rather difficult to break down the complexity of the organisation without causing too much confusion.

Firstly, there are the vast number of international maritime legislation’s and laws that are in place that I legally have to abide by. I also must adhere to the policies and procedures under the Corporation (owners of the company who own the ship), the policies and procedures under the company. At sea, I must also abide by the 'Captain's Standing Orders' (a set of rules set by the current captain of the ship for all crew members, this can differ from captain to captain). Not forgetting the policies and procedures of the production company (agency who provides the production shows for the ship) with whom I am originally contracted by.
To be able to write and reflect upon every point would take the commitment of many hours. So I have decided to write a brief reflection upon my findings.

In retrospect, I believe that I had touched on several key points of ethics that apply to my workplace. However, it is apparent that I have missed off a significant amount in my previous post. Unsurprisingly there is a lot of emphasis on the safety and well-being of not only yourself but also the fellow crew members and the passengers. Conduct, is another key topic stated within the rules and regulations. With the cruise ship industry being almost directly linked within the hotel industry, providing quality service to it's clients (in this case passengers) is a key part of the success of the company. Now I could continue to elaborate and suggest that in my working environment, I am not only representing myself as a professional, but also representing the external company who provide the shows - As well as the company and organisation belonging to the ship.

The main difference between my assumptions in my previous post and the rules and regulations I have to hand is the detail, forethought and consideration. There seems to be no stone left unturned. There is a policy to cover almost any given situation, one way or another.  I wasn't surprised to find that the key element behind the majority of the rules and regulations is conduct, discipline and health and safety. But within this impressive set of rules and regulations was a disciplined attitude to ethics within the workplace and a zero tolerance for unethical practice. I would like to have a similar approach with the preparation for my professional inquiry.

Last but not least there is a key element of ethics in my area of work that I did not mention in previous post in my assumptions. That is the element of ethics in regards to performing. I briefly wrote about this in my post when studying through module one. There is a professional etiquette between the performers on stage together. And this is still relevant in my professional environment today.

Below is an extract from my post in 'Module 1: Task -2d ' Inquiry'.


How do you decide the appropriate ethical response in a given situation? To what extent are disciplinary responses different to that you might expect more generally in society? 

In the performing arts industry, working in physical contact with another professional is considered the norm. As a male dancer, performing sophisticated lifts with a partner is not an uncommon practice. On occasion, in order to execute some of the lifts, I have to place my holds on various different parts of the partners body, some of which can appear to be quite intimate. However there is always a mutual, professional understanding that what is being done is necessary in order to successfully achieve the end result for the benefit of the choreography and eventually the audience. Placing your hold in an intimate location, in a general environment, quite understandably, would not be deemed appropriate and would not be acceptable without prior consent. 


Now that I have a better understanding of the ethics in my workplace, I feel that I could benefit from reviewing task '5a' again. This should help me to understand and identify the key areas of ethics whilst planning my practitioner inquiry. - Just as the 'Module 2 Handbook' advises that “[I] must ensure to adhere to sound ethical practice in carrying out the actions themselves... it is also good to consider the broader ethical implications attached to the research or inquiry.”