Review of the workshop including processes, outputs and outcomes:
The techniques of working through the body followed with one to one dialogue, created a good sense of trust and cohesion within the group, enabling individuals to explore issues and experiences as teacher-practitioners at a deeper level than may normally have been expressed in a short time. The space created through the workshop meant that participants could express their thoughts and feelings in a responsive and creative format [such as performance pieces] where the meaning could be further interpreted and explored by the other partcipants.
Facilitator:
In general workshop participants focussed on the key issue of the relationship between teaching and practice. There were a high proportion of skilled, motivated and experienced people attending who all had a position on the subject and a lot to contribute. We could have spent the whole day. As I always employ intuition and some improvisation in facilitating, which brings the situation to life, the processes became focussed more on the individual and the quest for insight and balance, than I was anticipating.
One of the key outputs was the quality of engagement and discussion, both as a whole group and in smaller groupings. Other outputs included a relationship to the physical space we were in and beyond the room; performed/presented vignettes - in pairs - about the practitioner/teacher relationship; performances/presentations in groups of 3 or 4, which focussed on the impact of teaching on practice.
Any improvements or adjustments to the technique/approach adopted in the workshop:
This workshop functioned better as a ‘development space’ rather than as a focused ‘research’ exercise. It may have helped to focus on some of the issues and directly address them in greater depth, as a whole group, following on from the small group performances and conversations, to try and capture the responses of the group more effectively.
Facilitator:
Having completed one session I would learn from this experience and build on it. The changes would be:
- Try to engage people in a deeper discussion/analysis of the dynamic between teaching and practice and try to document this more methodically.
- Try to see the process more as research, which they are engaged with at a higher level.
- Fewer activities.
- Get someone else to do the filming.
- The performative approach is a strong framework to build upon and could have gone even further
Any comments on the effectiveness of the workshop in engaging teacher-practitioners with exploring the issues:
The performances were often powerful in their representation of quite simple concepts, which enabled participants to possibly work more intuitively. Given that teaching and creative practice are often personally [and wholly] demanding roles, this workshop enable individuals to approach the relationship and role of the teacher-practitioner fairly directly, as an experiential one.
Facilitator:
The workshop was very effective in engaging teacher-practitioners in exploring the issues. Participants welcomed being given the space to articulate and share their feelings, attitudes, prejudices, preconceptions, assumptions, achievements, commitments and so on.
Several people also commented on the importance of being able to express the dynamic visually and performatively, not just through discussion.
Participant feedback
Managed to create a real sense of group in a very short period of time. This encouraged a kind of openness and directness amongst participants.
A great opportunity to be word free and action full.
As a series, very effective - need to build relationships over time to be bale to explore in depth.
Very friendly, nice pace, interesting discussing in groups.
Could have been longer - all day to be more in depth
Great to have support/time to think about the issues.
It is good to meet and discuss personal experiences and this was well facilitated. Could be more frank discussion of incentives and motives.
It is extremely interesting and important to be asked to manifest our thoughts through embodies means. This honours practice and feels refreshing.
Very effective activities which were blissfully not based specifically on head work and definitions but on more expansive methods of reflecting on the theme
I enjoyed meeting the people in the workshop.
Varied and kept interesting. Opportunities for sharing.
Embody Evaluation: Project leader: Antonia Clews and facilitator: Richard Layzell 6/2009