1. What skills have you developed through this module
and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
The main skill I have developed throughout this module is my ability to research in depth to inform my understanding. I feel I have learnt to use a variety of sources to such an extent, more so than I have in the past, that this has caused me to become somewhat of an expert in my chosen subject, and helped me to deliver a strong submission in all areas overall. I also feel that my essay writing skills have improved dramatically since submitting my first draft earlier on in the module. Having not had to write academic essays since sixth form, I found the task incredibly challenging, but through focus and hard work I feel I have been able to dramatically improve my essay and do my chosen subject a little justice. Through this academic writing, I have been introduced to knew ways of referencing and critical analysis of artworks, which I feel will now help me and strengthen my overall essay writing skills for the future.
2. What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they
informed your practical outcomes?
When I first chose my subject theme of technology at the beginning of this module, I was really daunted and struggled to specify an area within this subject for my essay, understanding and visual response to develop from. It was through over all, in depth research that I was able to find my specific visual subject, making great use of the library, and finding resources that I could form an argument/opinion from. Researching and developing a response to this understanding was definitely strengthened by how we were able to analyse relevant imagery as well as texts. These visual aids helped me to form a deeper understanding of my subject, and helped to visually inform my practical work later on in the module. Without these aids, I wouldn't have been able to find a way to start visually communicating the vast breadth of information I had discovered in my sketchbook and later on in my visual diagram, as my chosen subject was a little difficult to conceptually visualise.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise
on these?
I feel that my organisation of facts and information within my research is a major strength in this module. After receiving feedback for my first essay submission, it was clear that I needed to specify my chosen subject a lot further and get to know it a lot more, in order to pass this module. Despite the struggles and new areas of development, I really took it upon myself to research in as much depth as I possibly could, to further understand my subject. Because of this, I had a vast array of information that would have been easy to get lost in if I had not chosen to use document layouts and structures to organise all of the relevant information that I wished to use appropriately. From this, I was able to re-write my essay to a much better standard and quality than my first draft, knowing what quotes and information to use where throughout. This considered and organised way of working is an approach I would like to carry across to other modules. Having an idea of what is to come, using time effectively and self directing learning little and often will help me to become less stressed throughout the course of the module, and help me to produce work to a higher standard of which I am proud.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in
the future?
Due to the issues I had surrounding narrowing down my chosen subject early on in the module, I feel I was a little behind and didn't give myself the correct amount of time to dedicate to each task that was to come later. It is because of this I feel that my essay has suffered, as I was not able to get a helpful amount of feedback to improve upon it. There is a large amount of information to discover about my subject, and despite feeling that I researched it in great depth, I would have liked to become even more of an expert in it, informing my essay and visual diagram even further. Addressing this issue in the future will be easy, as I have felt this module has increased my confidence in academic areas greatly and I know now what to expect next year. I will not spend so much of my time trying to decide upon a subject and just go for it, as when an area of interest is researched into enough, it is likely to generate a strong body of work and understanding no matter what direction it leads in.
I would have also liked to spend more time on my final visual diagram. Despite being pleased with the overall result, I would have liked to explore alternative ways at communicating the information I have found and my understanding of it as I feel it could be a lot more direct in its message and aesthetic.
5. Identify five things that you feel will benefit you during next years Context
of Practice module?
- Make visual responses to my chosen subject from the start to inform my continued understanding, as I feel this will help to show development of my practical skills throughout the module and produce a stronger body of work.
- Stick with an idea early on, despite it's concerns. This will help with overall commitment and time management throughout the module, and help to focus my research so as to develop a greater understanding over a longer period of time.
- Overall time management. This module has so far ran alongside (often in the background) to other modules, and through effective organisation (further diaries, calendars, to-do lists, etc), I will be able to dedicate my time appropriately, producing the necessary amount of work and focus required.
- Keep up to date with current affairs to help inform my decisions and understand/form opinions and arguments not only in my academic writing, but also in the tone of voice developing in my own illustrative work.
- Reading of academic sources and essay papers. Having not written essays for a long while, I feel reading others academic texts will help me to develop my essay skills and further build my confidence in communicating my understanding of the information I have found.