When I first started reading the 'Reader 1 Professional communication technologies' handbook I got to around page 3 and started to think it was going to take a lot of effort to understand it all!! I didn't really know what it was talking about....I had never even heard of Web 2.0! But as I continued to read I became more and more interested. I then realises that I obviously am a part of it all! I've had Facebook for around 10 years! I was at college at the time down in London and everyone had MySpace. I am originally from the north of England and lots of my friends were at Manchester or Leeds university. I remember them calling me saying I had to get this thing called Facebook. Purely because I was in London and they were up north I got it as it seemed like a good way to keep in touch. Many people at college still didn't have it but obviously slowly but surely, friendship group by friendship group, it took over all other sites and revolutionised Social Media. I say revolutionised as I feel Facebook it exactly what Web 2.0 advocates....it's free, easy and quick. It is also for everyone. It allows more generations to collaborate, share and interact. When it first started my mum wanted nothing to do with it. She didn't like the idea of having information about herself online I guess. And also she is obviously from a generation that makes more of an effort to actually speak in person to their friends! She didn't think there was any reason to get it. Fast forward 10 years and she and all her friends have a Facebook. Even grandparents now have Facebook! I personally go on Facebook every day. It's the only Social Media site I go on....I've never really understood my purpose for having Twitter!? I love that on Facebook I can stay connected with all my friends and family all over the world so easily. I can share pictures of my travels where 100s can upload in seconds compared to attaching a photo one by one to an email....it got me thinking about how much as a society we expect things to work instantly nowadays. I'll hold my hands up and say that most of the time, if I click on a link on Facebook or go to watch a video and it isn't uploading straight away or I have to wait I usually just leave it. How terrible is that! How impatient have we become! For me that is just the difference between watching a video or not....for businesses a link that doesn't work properly is a crucial error!
Social media nowadays often has people uploading videos before even the police or other authorities see them! Such an occurrence happened just last week with regards to the Rugby World Cup. A fan recorded this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ffU-ANaVads
This was not picked up by the referee or the commentators but by a fan watching the television at home! The player was awarded man of the match! The video then emerged and the player was banded for the following match! This got me thinking how much control the public has with regards to social media and online power. Anyone can post anything!
There is also many apps and sites out there that allow you to be extremely creative. Personalising your pictures is especially popular with sites like Instagram and InstaCollage. It gives the user the power to create. To personalise. No longer do we take a picture and share....we now take a picture, change the effects, photoshop it, filter it, add a boarder, add text, add other images....I could go on! The saying I LOVED from the handbook was 'The consumer is also the producer'....so true. You can reuse and rearrange information and images to make them your own. Which is very appealing to a user. Another sentence that stuck me was 'In Web 2.0 the user can collaborate, connect, critique, share and remix information and communication'. Critique is an interesting one. People are so honest online with their criticism. Maybe it's because they can't be seen so they feel more confident to say how they feel. This leads to the topic of cyber bullying which, having worked in schools with teenagers, is becoming a big problem. The downside of Web 2.0 and also a very dangerous side in my opinion.
A fantastic aspect on Web 2.0 is how strangers from diverse backgrounds can come together. My thought is that they can do this safely too. They can 'act collectively' and it allows so much freedom
to find others with similar views to yourself. Most charities, campaigns, debates will have a Facebook group that you can join. Connecting with people all over the world! Something that would be impossible without Web 2.0. It can facilitate debate and discussion in a safe environment. Obviously,
as with all things, this can be abused. But my opinion is that there is a sense of freedom and confidence to speak your mind, join forces and take action for what you believe in. Often you may not have your full name either or any contact details so people from completing different backgrounds, religions, beliefs can come together and unite without fear.
I found it very interesting reading about all the different processes particularly Gruber's. Google for example generates self service problem solving. I'd never thought of it like that! It finds popular articles with similar queries and leads to discussions of interest relevant to you online. It then states that 'intelligent users can formulate their problems in queries that the search engine matches to online answers'....it sounds so complicated when you put it like that and we all do it daily without any effort! Incredible when you think about it. The fact that you can Google absolutely anything and something would come up....even if you just out one letter in the search engine....blows my MIND! Again, it didn't blow my mind until I actually read this handbook and actually thought about it! Gruber's process states that Web 2.0 will continue to evolve and grow if it:
- Facilitate communication through software
- Allow people to search and find info
- Add feedback themselves
Again, things we take for granted!
Having just moved to Singapore Web 2.0 is key for me. Your phone picks up your location so when you are on Facebook groups are recommended to you based on where you are. This is great for events, networking and meeting people. Also the 'recommended mutual friends' aspect is amazing.
As a teacher I am very aware of never sharing my Web 2.0 details. It's not that I have anything to hide, I just find it very inappropriate to be Facebook friends with students or parents. My new job has an absolute no Facebook policy where you can't communicate with any students or parents. I think it's more difficult when your freelance though as it's an easy way to communicate. I had an
experience myself where a teenage boy I taught during a project some how found out my full name. He was then able to go on Facebook and view all my photos....some I had up were of me on holiday obviously just in bikinis and swim suits. I thought my Facebook was set at private but after this
incident realised it can only be fully private if you change your privacy settings on a laptop, not a phone. Since then I have obviously been very aware of my Facebook profile....the privacy settings of it and also what I post. I never share any of my political views, religious views etc as I think there is always someone out there who will be offended by what you say. I just have my Facebook as a way to message friends and post pictures. Having read the handbook is has got me thinking again about how safe our online profiles are. I decided to Google it and found a great little article '10 tips for staying safe on Facebook'....many of which I don't do. Here is the link:
http://now.avg.com/top-10-tips-stay-safe-facebook-avg/
Netiquette is very important to me. Social media is not the place to rant or be rude. Again, you will always just end up offending someone. Also, from an employers perspective, your online profile is going to say a lot about the kind of person you are. Not having good netiquette could end up ruining your chances. And also be a reason for your job to end! We've all seen articles of people being fired because of videos or images they posted online. Also, it got me thinking back to an earlier blog I did questioning if you can delete things about you once they are on the World Wide Web....
It was interesting to read and relate to online marketing and how many campaigns now target you through social media. It's also crazy to think that computers can save your searches on things like Google and then suddenly ads for these things you are interested in pop up on your Facebook at the side! Scary! I'm always quite wary too of how many emails I get from companies I've never heard of let alone signed up to. How did they get my details? A question many of us ask I think.
So from page 3 where I was switching off and wondering what on earth I was reading and panicking how I was going to find anything to say about Web 2.0 you can see I have found A LOT to say! It has
been so interesting to stop and question the things we take for granted. But also for me as a teacher, to again revisit my online profile and make sure that I am happy with how I am coming across
professionally. It was crazy to read that Kuehn's article 'Getting into Trouble on Facebook' discusses the dilemmas that teachers face using Facebook stating 'Teachers are the most vulnerable group from violations of boundary crossing between ones personal and professional lives'. Definitely something to think about.
Oh and one more thing....the Reader 1 states that Wikipedia is apparently frowned upon by academics as it is an un-authored source?!?! I had no idea! That is always my go to site for what I thought was definite fact!! Mind. Blown.
Sunday 18 October 2015
Saturday 17 October 2015
1st group Skype
It was great to connect with some fellow students on Skype a few days ago. This is the first time I've spoken to other people on my course and I found it incredibly helpful. We were meant to join a group chat via an app called 'Connect' but this didn't seem to work. Instead we just had a group Skype conversation. Unfortunately a few days before the session I found out I wouldn't be available at the time we had set. Hating time difference at the minute! But I really wanted to take the opportunity and make the effort to meet other people on the course so managed to make it work. However, the internet signal I had was terrible! The call kept disconnecting and then reconnecting which was highly frustrating. It was so good to hear from other students though and really it put my mind at rest knowing that they were going through the same struggles as me. I thought I was the only one who spent HOURS trying to set up my blog! It was great to have Paula there to guide the call and help with any questions that we had. But it was also an open forum for everyone to chip in if they had anything to say. However, quite often we didn't know who was speaking though and had to ask "Sorry, who is this talking now?"....I think it would work a lot better next time for it to be a video session as then you can easily see who is talking and you feel more connected if you can actually see the person. Or maybe that's just me. I have used a great group video link before called 'Zoom Cloud Meetings' which is always super successful and very clear and easy to use. You can download it onto your phone via the App Store and I highly recommend it.
We discussed during the session any issues we were facing with our blogs or any comments we had so far on the course. We talked about the importance to connect with others which I feel is essential! I already feel so much better and more confident knowing I am now connected to a few other students. I also think that because I live in Singapore and there's a time difference it's great to be connected to a couple of the girls in other countries as if we have a question we can just ask the group. It just gives more options for a quicker response this way as quite often I'm doing my blog when it's the early hours of the morning in the UK. We also talked about current problems with technology in our work places and we all came up with issues we had. Paula mentioned to look for solutions and also look for things that are going right too! I think too often we just look at the failing things and comment about those. She also recommended that we read blogs of students in module 3. I think it would be really helpful and I'm definitely going to do this. We talked about the next section of our learning being the Reflection part. I am SO EXCITED for this!! I wrote a diary during my childhood up until my late teens. I always write about travelling experiences too but haven't done one of ages. I'm looking forward to starting again. I'm also really enjoying doing my blog and it's inspired me to start a separate travel blog.
Another topic that came up was how you come across online and how many potential employers now Google candidates and even check their Facebook and Twitter. We all know that these sites can say so much about a person. We questioned whether or not you can delete items off Google....for example if you've worked for a company or campaign years ago that you didn't want a potential employer to see. I don't think anyone knew the actual answer but I think we came to the conclusion that the only person that can take the article down is the person that posted it. Which is a scary thought!
All in all although the Skype session was cut short due to the wifi connection I feel like it was successful. I learnt that I need to make more of an effort to comment on other peoples blogs. I learnt that I am not the only one who isn't tech savvy, which is SO reassuring! I also realised that my reason for not doing this degree years ago, which was 'I don't have time' was just an excuse. You really can do this degree anywhere in the world and with a crazy work schedule. I struggled to see before how I could fit this degree in to my busy life. I'm such a perfectionist and would always want to be sat at a desk with a notepad and pen in silence to do a Skype call! I now realise I can make this work where ever I am and that there are others on the course also having to deal with living in a different continent. I feel so much more confident now that I made the right decision to do this. And that it is totally doable!
Friday 16 October 2015
First impressions
I've been looking at everyone's blogs and I find it interesting that we immediately have a first impression and opinion about what a person is like just by the layout, background, colours they have used. Even before we read anything they have written! It got me thinking about the importance of how you present yourself online. I thought back to the layout of my CV and how it would present to a stranger. What would their opinion be of my personality? Would they be correct? I also googled 'What a colour says about your personality' and found some very interesting reads, mainly written by psychologists. Forbes magazine states you have just 7 seconds and then someone will have formed an opinion of you. So that's probably about 3 sentences on your cover letter. It's interesting when you think of it like that. And it's interesting to think about what impression you are giving off from your CV and profile. Is it the image you want? Here is the link for the Forbes article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/02/13/seven-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression/
This is a quote my favourite drama teacher would drill into us at college....
What does your online profile say about you? Definitely something to think about.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/02/13/seven-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression/
This is a quote my favourite drama teacher would drill into us at college....
What does your online profile say about you? Definitely something to think about.
Thursday 15 October 2015
So I've decided to join LinkedIn. I ALWAYS thought it was just for business men and women who worked in marketing or finance! I never really thought it would benefit me. However having done my research I can see that it is an essential tool for networking in all different types of careers! If I'd known about this whilst looking for work a couple of months ago it would have made the process so much easier! I now have a page....but still figuring out how to use it and how I can get the most out of it. I am enjoying it though and it seems like a fantastic way to connect with other professionals. I know most people reading this probably find it hilarious that I've never used LinkedIn before but for me this is something totally new! (Like I said in my first blog....I'm not tech savvy at all!) Here is the link....still getting my head around it. Would be interested to know who else has a LinkedIn profile and if you find it a useful tool?
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lucy-calvert/106/ba3/52b
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lucy-calvert/106/ba3/52b
CV and profile conclusion
I feel happy with the changes I have made to my CV. I've learnt that I need to keep it simple! And I definitely see the importance of taking the time to look at others. I feel my CV represents me in the sense that I have now tailored it to make it more specific for the areas I want to work in the future. I have cut out the work experience I've done that has nothing to do with my future career. I used to think that including it would show how many different types of jobs I've done and how hard I've worked! I'm actually laughing at the fact I had this mentality beforehand! I now know I want my CV to look professional, precise and to the point. I feel my CV is a good stepping stone to my next job as it shows the different areas of the arts I have worked in and also the different age groups I have experience working with. I definitely struggled to keep my profile short! Believe it or not it was so much longer to start with and I really whittled it down! I have learnt that I tend to waffle a lot! However, I am now pleased with the final draft of my profile as I feel like if I had my own website I would be happy with this as my 'About Me' section. Your CV is such an important tool. It's someone's first impression of you. Your personal branding. Therefore it's essential that it's something you feel confident with.
Blog profile
Hi! My name is Lucy Calvert and I am 27 years old. I am originally from the north of England and that's where my love of performing and the arts began. I have danced since the age of 3, starting competing aged 4 and made my professional debut aged 8. Dance was a major part of my life as a child, constantly competing, rehearsing, performing! Around the age of 11 I decided I wanted to do more singing and acting as well. I fell in love with musical theatre! At 16 I moved down to London to attend Laine Theatre Arts for 3 years. I had the time of my life! I graduated in 2007 and spent the next 5 years working professionally in Theatre, TV and Film. I then decided to go back packing around the world on my own. This experience changed my life.
I came back knowing that there were so many other things I wanted to explore. I wasn't done with performing but I wanted to take a break from it all. I'd left school so young and felt that all I'd ever know was the performing world. There were so many other things I was interested in! I've always been passionate about education as my mum was a primary school head teacher and my dad was a PE teacher. I've always loved teaching and was fortunate enough when travelling to visit schools in both India and Cambodia. I love sharing the arts with children who wouldn't always have the opportunities to access it. I've also always been very interested in child's psychology.
I started to work as a team leader for the Princes Trust on their NCS programme. This project gives young people amazing opportunities in their local communities. It was extremely rewarding. I then worked for a charity that educated teenagers who had been excluded from mainstream education. The students were incredibly vulnerable young people with extreme behavioural problems. It was a very creative environment as they were not suited to the usual academic set up. Again, it was beyond rewarding. Throughout I have also always taught dance and musical theatre to various stage schools.
I now teach in Singapore at a performing arts school. I teach musical theatre to the super keen young performers and creative drama to the children who have come more for confidence boosting/social skills. I also teach speech and drama at Marlborough College in Malaysia and teach creative drama at a special needs school once a week too. I love my job. My dreams change daily but I think I would like my own school. I want it to be a place where any child can come and be creative no matter what their background or experience. Also with a drama therapist aspect to it for children who are finding certain skills challenging. I believe the arts give children so many key life skills and I'm passionate about giving every child the self confidence and belief to succeed in whatever they want to do.
I came back knowing that there were so many other things I wanted to explore. I wasn't done with performing but I wanted to take a break from it all. I'd left school so young and felt that all I'd ever know was the performing world. There were so many other things I was interested in! I've always been passionate about education as my mum was a primary school head teacher and my dad was a PE teacher. I've always loved teaching and was fortunate enough when travelling to visit schools in both India and Cambodia. I love sharing the arts with children who wouldn't always have the opportunities to access it. I've also always been very interested in child's psychology.
I started to work as a team leader for the Princes Trust on their NCS programme. This project gives young people amazing opportunities in their local communities. It was extremely rewarding. I then worked for a charity that educated teenagers who had been excluded from mainstream education. The students were incredibly vulnerable young people with extreme behavioural problems. It was a very creative environment as they were not suited to the usual academic set up. Again, it was beyond rewarding. Throughout I have also always taught dance and musical theatre to various stage schools.
I now teach in Singapore at a performing arts school. I teach musical theatre to the super keen young performers and creative drama to the children who have come more for confidence boosting/social skills. I also teach speech and drama at Marlborough College in Malaysia and teach creative drama at a special needs school once a week too. I love my job. My dreams change daily but I think I would like my own school. I want it to be a place where any child can come and be creative no matter what their background or experience. Also with a drama therapist aspect to it for children who are finding certain skills challenging. I believe the arts give children so many key life skills and I'm passionate about giving every child the self confidence and belief to succeed in whatever they want to do.
Monday 12 October 2015
CV (updated)
Here is my updated CV with many changes made! I have learnt so much by picking apart my CV and also comparing my own to others online. I understand a lot comes down to personal opinion but there are lots of small changes that can be made which will make a huge difference when trying to impress potential employers.
LUCY CALVERT
Personal details
(I have deleted these for the purpose of the blog as it is personal information)
Employment
2004 – 2014: Worked professionally as an actress and dancer.
Performed in West End theatres and toured the UK and America in various shows. Worked in film and TV. Professional acting CV can be emailed if needed.
August 2015 - Present: Teacher at 'Centre Stage School Of The Arts' Singapore
Centre Stage is a Performing Arts school for children aged 6 months to 18 years. It is an international school catering mainly for the expat community of Singapore. The role entails:
Teaching Musical Theatre to high potential 8-13 year olds.
Creating scripts and directing productions for public performance.
Teaching weekly Acting classes to 13-15 year olds.
Trinity speech and drama teacher for Marlborough College in Malaysia. Preparing children for exams.
Creative drama teacher for a local international special needs school.
Creating weekly lesson plans.
Regular progress reports for parents and individual development plans.
October 2014 - July 2015: Teacher at ‘The Complete Works school'
TCW is an independent school, which caters for challenging teenagers that have been excluded from mainstream education. The role entails:
GCSE English Language teacher.
Creating the English Language curriculum for the school.
Developing lesson plans on a weekly basis to ensure we are covering curriculum.
Teach One-to-One lessons in Religious Studies and History.
Facilitating group sessions and One-to-One lessons for 13-16 year olds.
Leading meetings for students with social services and child psychologists.
Host parents meetings to review children’s development.
Provide career advice for student’s futures.
Supporting and mentoring a number of students One-to-One.
Provide extra support for students with ADHD and Autism.
September 2014 - April 2015: Teacher at ‘Stagecoach Performing Arts School’
I trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts and am a qualified drama and dance teacher. My Stagecoach role involves:
Teaching singing and drama lessons.
Producing and directing school shows in local theatres.
Creating development plans for the children.
Submit and coach children for exams.
June 2014 – October 2014: Team Leader with The Princes Trust and CXK
Lead groups of up to 15 teenagers for projects which take place during school holidays.
Attend residential activity programmes with the teenagers to help build team work.
Work One-to-One on setting goals and giving career advice.
Create projects in local communities to raise money for chosen charities.
Organise events with no funding, obtaining support from local businesses in the area.
September 2013 - October 2014: Teaching Assistant at Fossdene Primary School
Full time position teaching year 2 and year 4.
Planned lessons.
Led P.E and drama lessons.
Worked One-to-One with Autistic children and children with ADHD.
Taught small group sessions in phonics.
Created an after school dance club teaching 5-7 year olds. Planned and produced performances for parents.
2012 - 2013: Teaching assistant for Protocol teaching agency
Worked in various schools across London.
Assisted the teacher with lessons and worked One-to-One with children in English and Maths.
Worked One-to-One with children with special needs.
2010 – 2012: Sales and Promo Executive at Ann Savva Promotions
Worked in promotions and sales team for Ann Savva Promotions at the O2 Arena, London.
Work involved a brand ambassador role in the VIP areas promoting upgrades and marketing upcoming events.
2010 – 2012: Sales & Marketing Executive at Sense Marketing and Ngage Marketing
Activated sales and marketing campaigns across various brands within the portfolio.
Planned events promoting and selling key products.
Led team of promotional staff and was key point of contact with the client.
Major campaigns include Vitamin Water for the London Olympics.
Planned and implemented free events for the public at the Duke Of York square in Chelsea.
I also constantly take workshops and summer schools at various dance schools across the UK. I run a week of classes in all disciplines usually resulting in a performance for parents.
Education/Professional training
2004 – 2007: Laine Theatre Arts, London
National Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre
National Diploma in Drama
FDI teaching qualifications in Drama and Dance
Head Girl
Valerie King Drama Award
1999 – 2004: Westholme Upper School, Lancashire, England
GCSEs - 10 A*-B
Victor Ludorum physical education award
Interests & Other Skills
I have a passion for sports and from a young age have competed at a high level in netball, hockey and athletics. I have also coached primary school netball teams. I am an active member of the gym. Health and wellness are very important to me.
I am a keen traveller having back packed around the world on my own.
I am emergency first aid trained.
Estill voice training levels 1&2.
I have completed a TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments.
LUCY CALVERT
Personal details
(I have deleted these for the purpose of the blog as it is personal information)
Employment
2004 – 2014: Worked professionally as an actress and dancer.
Performed in West End theatres and toured the UK and America in various shows. Worked in film and TV. Professional acting CV can be emailed if needed.
August 2015 - Present: Teacher at 'Centre Stage School Of The Arts' Singapore
Centre Stage is a Performing Arts school for children aged 6 months to 18 years. It is an international school catering mainly for the expat community of Singapore. The role entails:
Teaching Musical Theatre to high potential 8-13 year olds.
Creating scripts and directing productions for public performance.
Teaching weekly Acting classes to 13-15 year olds.
Trinity speech and drama teacher for Marlborough College in Malaysia. Preparing children for exams.
Creative drama teacher for a local international special needs school.
Creating weekly lesson plans.
Regular progress reports for parents and individual development plans.
October 2014 - July 2015: Teacher at ‘The Complete Works school'
TCW is an independent school, which caters for challenging teenagers that have been excluded from mainstream education. The role entails:
GCSE English Language teacher.
Creating the English Language curriculum for the school.
Developing lesson plans on a weekly basis to ensure we are covering curriculum.
Teach One-to-One lessons in Religious Studies and History.
Facilitating group sessions and One-to-One lessons for 13-16 year olds.
Leading meetings for students with social services and child psychologists.
Host parents meetings to review children’s development.
Provide career advice for student’s futures.
Supporting and mentoring a number of students One-to-One.
Provide extra support for students with ADHD and Autism.
September 2014 - April 2015: Teacher at ‘Stagecoach Performing Arts School’
I trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts and am a qualified drama and dance teacher. My Stagecoach role involves:
Teaching singing and drama lessons.
Producing and directing school shows in local theatres.
Creating development plans for the children.
Submit and coach children for exams.
June 2014 – October 2014: Team Leader with The Princes Trust and CXK
Lead groups of up to 15 teenagers for projects which take place during school holidays.
Attend residential activity programmes with the teenagers to help build team work.
Work One-to-One on setting goals and giving career advice.
Create projects in local communities to raise money for chosen charities.
Organise events with no funding, obtaining support from local businesses in the area.
September 2013 - October 2014: Teaching Assistant at Fossdene Primary School
Full time position teaching year 2 and year 4.
Planned lessons.
Led P.E and drama lessons.
Worked One-to-One with Autistic children and children with ADHD.
Taught small group sessions in phonics.
Created an after school dance club teaching 5-7 year olds. Planned and produced performances for parents.
2012 - 2013: Teaching assistant for Protocol teaching agency
Worked in various schools across London.
Assisted the teacher with lessons and worked One-to-One with children in English and Maths.
Worked One-to-One with children with special needs.
2010 – 2012: Sales and Promo Executive at Ann Savva Promotions
Worked in promotions and sales team for Ann Savva Promotions at the O2 Arena, London.
Work involved a brand ambassador role in the VIP areas promoting upgrades and marketing upcoming events.
2010 – 2012: Sales & Marketing Executive at Sense Marketing and Ngage Marketing
Activated sales and marketing campaigns across various brands within the portfolio.
Planned events promoting and selling key products.
Led team of promotional staff and was key point of contact with the client.
Major campaigns include Vitamin Water for the London Olympics.
Planned and implemented free events for the public at the Duke Of York square in Chelsea.
I also constantly take workshops and summer schools at various dance schools across the UK. I run a week of classes in all disciplines usually resulting in a performance for parents.
Education/Professional training
2004 – 2007: Laine Theatre Arts, London
National Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre
National Diploma in Drama
FDI teaching qualifications in Drama and Dance
Head Girl
Valerie King Drama Award
1999 – 2004: Westholme Upper School, Lancashire, England
GCSEs - 10 A*-B
Victor Ludorum physical education award
Interests & Other Skills
I have a passion for sports and from a young age have competed at a high level in netball, hockey and athletics. I have also coached primary school netball teams. I am an active member of the gym. Health and wellness are very important to me.
I am a keen traveller having back packed around the world on my own.
I am emergency first aid trained.
Estill voice training levels 1&2.
I have completed a TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments.
The importance of a CV (interview)
I decided to ask a friend of mine his thoughts and opinions on the importance of a CV. He works in international marketing for a big company and regularly gets sent CVs....from people applying for jobs he has advertised but also from people just wanting help with their CV as they feel something is not working for them.
I know he doesn't work in the arts but I found what he said definitely applies to any career.
Here was his response:
"You can learn at lot about someone's characteristics just by looking at their CV. For me it needs to be well organised and formatted. The layout needs to be good. This tells me that they take pride in what they do. The language needs to be concise. Waffling is not good! It says a lot about how they would present themselves and how they would interact with clients. There needs to be clear examples of their work. You don't want to be too vague. I always have a big interest in the extra curricular section. Things the candidate likes to do in their spare time says a lot about them. For example, if someone plays for a rugby team out of work that tells me they are a team player, they are committed, they can work with other people under pressure and that they might have leadership skills. A lot of the time it comes down to the interests and hobbies section if I need to whittle it down. If there are grammatical errors I usually don't even finish reading it. Visuals are very in nowadays....logos, colour etc. I also always look at the courses people have taken as well. This shows how committed they are to their personal development. I would always encourage someone to have their cover letter/personal statement as a separate document."
I know he doesn't work in the arts but I found what he said definitely applies to any career.
Here was his response:
"You can learn at lot about someone's characteristics just by looking at their CV. For me it needs to be well organised and formatted. The layout needs to be good. This tells me that they take pride in what they do. The language needs to be concise. Waffling is not good! It says a lot about how they would present themselves and how they would interact with clients. There needs to be clear examples of their work. You don't want to be too vague. I always have a big interest in the extra curricular section. Things the candidate likes to do in their spare time says a lot about them. For example, if someone plays for a rugby team out of work that tells me they are a team player, they are committed, they can work with other people under pressure and that they might have leadership skills. A lot of the time it comes down to the interests and hobbies section if I need to whittle it down. If there are grammatical errors I usually don't even finish reading it. Visuals are very in nowadays....logos, colour etc. I also always look at the courses people have taken as well. This shows how committed they are to their personal development. I would always encourage someone to have their cover letter/personal statement as a separate document."
CV (Analysis)
I found it very interesting looking through my CV as, if I'm honest, it's something that I only get out when I need to send it to someone. It's been good to edit it and know that if I quickly needed to send it to someone it is now totally up to date. A few things I questioned....
- I have always struggled to know what jobs to include on my CV as I've done such varied work. Should you put it all down? (to show how experienced and hard working you are) or should you just put the jobs relevant to the position you are applying for? (As the rest is pointless information for the job you are going for) I also have a whole different CV for my professional theatre work. I have always just said 'Additional CV on request' but maybe this is wrong? I'd appreciate peoples opinions.
- Is there too much detail? I updated the layout of my CV about 6 months ago as I used to just list the jobs and the years. A very successful friend of mine said I should be detailing what the role entails so it shows my skills. I remember looking on LinkedIn and he was right....everyone was detailing their experience. I do wonder whether it's too much though.
- I think I need to be more specific with my dates. Saying you worked somewhere 2014-2015 could mean you worked there for 1 month or 12 months. There's a big difference. But some jobs I only did for a few months as it was only part time and other opportunities come up. It might make me look unreliable?
- I need to add current training that I have done to my extra skills section. This is not up to date.
- I need to add my current job and what the role entails.
- Do I need the long paragraph at then end? My argument is that it is a little bit of a profile and gives the reader a bit more of a feel for the kind of person I am. Plus it includes experiences like 'back packed around the world on my own' which is information that isn't work but says a lot about your personality. In my opinion. I wonder if other people do that though? Maybe I should get rid of it. But it's my chance at the end to sell myself. And I think it is incredibly important to get your personality across, especially when applying for a job in the Arts.
Hmmmmm....definitely something to think about.
I always just have a template CV as I find I chop and change it depending on what job I am going for or who I am sending it to. Some past work experiences aren't relevant for some jobs but are very relevant for others. I have learnt that it's about being able to adapt. Be clever and make sure you sell yourself to the best of your ability.
- I have always struggled to know what jobs to include on my CV as I've done such varied work. Should you put it all down? (to show how experienced and hard working you are) or should you just put the jobs relevant to the position you are applying for? (As the rest is pointless information for the job you are going for) I also have a whole different CV for my professional theatre work. I have always just said 'Additional CV on request' but maybe this is wrong? I'd appreciate peoples opinions.
- Is there too much detail? I updated the layout of my CV about 6 months ago as I used to just list the jobs and the years. A very successful friend of mine said I should be detailing what the role entails so it shows my skills. I remember looking on LinkedIn and he was right....everyone was detailing their experience. I do wonder whether it's too much though.
- I think I need to be more specific with my dates. Saying you worked somewhere 2014-2015 could mean you worked there for 1 month or 12 months. There's a big difference. But some jobs I only did for a few months as it was only part time and other opportunities come up. It might make me look unreliable?
- I need to add current training that I have done to my extra skills section. This is not up to date.
- I need to add my current job and what the role entails.
- Do I need the long paragraph at then end? My argument is that it is a little bit of a profile and gives the reader a bit more of a feel for the kind of person I am. Plus it includes experiences like 'back packed around the world on my own' which is information that isn't work but says a lot about your personality. In my opinion. I wonder if other people do that though? Maybe I should get rid of it. But it's my chance at the end to sell myself. And I think it is incredibly important to get your personality across, especially when applying for a job in the Arts.
Hmmmmm....definitely something to think about.
I always just have a template CV as I find I chop and change it depending on what job I am going for or who I am sending it to. Some past work experiences aren't relevant for some jobs but are very relevant for others. I have learnt that it's about being able to adapt. Be clever and make sure you sell yourself to the best of your ability.
CV (untouched)
Below is the CV I have saved on my iPad. It is the CV that I submitted for the job I just started in September. So it is not up to date as it doesn't have my current job on. I have purposely not even touched it!
LUCY CALVERT
Personal details
(I have deleted this section from my blog as it includes my personal email, phone number, age and nationality)
Employment
2004 – 2014: Worked professionally as an actress and dancer.
Performed in West End theatres and toured the UK and America in various shows. Worked in film and TV. Professional acting CV can be emailed if needed.
2014 - Present: Teacher at ‘The Complete Works school'
TCW is an independent school, which caters for challenging teenagers that have been excluded from mainstream education. The role entails:
GCSE English Language teacher.
Creating the English Language curriculum for the school.
Developing lesson plans on a weekly basis to ensure we are covering curriculum.
Teach One-to-One lessons in Religious Studies and History.
Facilitating group sessions and One-to-One lessons for 13-16 year olds.
Leading meetings for students with social services and child psychologists.
Host parents meetings to review children’s development.
Provide career advice for student’s futures.
Supporting and mentoring a number of students One-to-One.
Provide extra support for students with ADHD and Autism.
2014 - Present: Teacher at ‘Stagecoach Performing Arts School’
I trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts and am a qualified drama and dance teacher. My Stagecoach role involves:
Teaching singing and drama lessons.
Producing and directing school shows in local theatres.
Creating development plans for the children.
Submit and coach children for exams.
2014 – present: Team Leader with The Princes Trust and CXK
Lead groups of up to 15 teenagers for projects which take place during school holidays.
Attend residential activity programmes with the teenagers to help build team work.
Work One-to-One on setting goals and giving career advice.
Create projects in local communities to raise money for chosen charities.
Organise events with no funding, obtaining support from local businesses in the area.
2013 - 2014: Teaching Assistant at Fossdene Primary School
Full time position teaching year 2 and year 4.
Planned lessons.
Led P.E and drama lessons.
Worked One-to-One with Autistic children and children with ADHD.
Taught small group sessions in phonics.
Created an after school dance club teaching 5-7 year olds. Planned and produced performances for parents.
2012 - 2013: Teaching assistant for Protocol teaching agency
Worked in various schools across London.
Assisted the teacher with lessons and worked One-to-One with children in English and Maths.
Worked One-to-One with children with special needs.
2011 – 2012: Sales and Promo Executive at Ann Savva Promotions
Worked in promotions and sales team for Ann Savva Promotions at the O2 Arena, London.
Work involved a brand ambassador role in the VIP areas promoting upgrades and marketing upcoming events.
2011 – 2012: Sales & Marketing Executive at Sense Marketing and Ngage Marketing
Activated sales and marketing campaigns across various brands within the portfolio.
Planned events promoting and selling key products.
Led team of promotional staff and was key point of contact with the client.
Major campaigns include Vitamin Water for the London Olympics.
Planned and implemented free events for the public at the Duke Of York square in Chelsea.
I also constantly take workshops and summer schools at various dance schools across the UK. I run a week of classes in all disciplines usually resulting in a performance for parents.
Education/Professional training
2004 – 2007: Laine Theatre Arts, London
National Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre
National Diploma in Drama
FDI teaching qualifications in Drama and Dance
Head Girl
Valerie King Drama Award
1999 – 2004: Westholme Upper School, Lancashire, England
GCSEs - 10 A*-B
Victor Ludorum physical education award
Interests & Other Skills
I have a passion for sports and from a young age have competed at a high level in netball, hockey and athletics. I have also coached primary school netball teams. I am an active member of the gym. Health and wellness are very important to me.
I am emergency first aid trained.
I have completed a TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments.
My love for teaching came at a young age as my mother was head mistress of a primary school. As we had different school holidays I would always go and be a teaching assistant for the early years from as young as 11. I definitely share my mother's passion for education. I worked professionally in theatre from a very young age, touring with ballet companies from the age of 8. I then came to London aged 16 on a scholarship to a top drama school to study Musical Theatre. I have worked in
many West End theatres and have travelled the world performing. I have also back packed around the world on my own, visiting schools and orphanages in India, Vietnam and Cambodia. I have held my
own summer schools teaching drama and dance to 3-16 year olds. I've also chaperoned children
in professional theatre.
I have worked for The Princes Trust on their NCS programme, giving young people amazing opportunities in their communities. I currently work for a charity in London, teaching and mentoring children who have been excluded from mainstream education. They have extreme behavioural problems and most are also autistic and have ADHD. The curriculum is extremely creative which matches the ethos of the charity. I teach drama, singing and dance at Stagecoach performing arts school at weekends for children aged 6-16. I have just completed the first part of my TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments. I also have my own network marketing business in the health and wellness industry.
Overall I am a very hard working, confident and out going individual who strives for the best in every child. I believe every child has their own specific needs and it's my job to help them reach their full potential and excel. I love a challenge and bring a young, fresh and ambitious quality to the classroom. In all the schools I have worked at so far I have been praised for my energy and enthusiasm, and with all my life experiences I feel have a lot to offer.
LUCY CALVERT
Personal details
(I have deleted this section from my blog as it includes my personal email, phone number, age and nationality)
Employment
2004 – 2014: Worked professionally as an actress and dancer.
Performed in West End theatres and toured the UK and America in various shows. Worked in film and TV. Professional acting CV can be emailed if needed.
2014 - Present: Teacher at ‘The Complete Works school'
TCW is an independent school, which caters for challenging teenagers that have been excluded from mainstream education. The role entails:
GCSE English Language teacher.
Creating the English Language curriculum for the school.
Developing lesson plans on a weekly basis to ensure we are covering curriculum.
Teach One-to-One lessons in Religious Studies and History.
Facilitating group sessions and One-to-One lessons for 13-16 year olds.
Leading meetings for students with social services and child psychologists.
Host parents meetings to review children’s development.
Provide career advice for student’s futures.
Supporting and mentoring a number of students One-to-One.
Provide extra support for students with ADHD and Autism.
2014 - Present: Teacher at ‘Stagecoach Performing Arts School’
I trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts and am a qualified drama and dance teacher. My Stagecoach role involves:
Teaching singing and drama lessons.
Producing and directing school shows in local theatres.
Creating development plans for the children.
Submit and coach children for exams.
2014 – present: Team Leader with The Princes Trust and CXK
Lead groups of up to 15 teenagers for projects which take place during school holidays.
Attend residential activity programmes with the teenagers to help build team work.
Work One-to-One on setting goals and giving career advice.
Create projects in local communities to raise money for chosen charities.
Organise events with no funding, obtaining support from local businesses in the area.
2013 - 2014: Teaching Assistant at Fossdene Primary School
Full time position teaching year 2 and year 4.
Planned lessons.
Led P.E and drama lessons.
Worked One-to-One with Autistic children and children with ADHD.
Taught small group sessions in phonics.
Created an after school dance club teaching 5-7 year olds. Planned and produced performances for parents.
2012 - 2013: Teaching assistant for Protocol teaching agency
Worked in various schools across London.
Assisted the teacher with lessons and worked One-to-One with children in English and Maths.
Worked One-to-One with children with special needs.
2011 – 2012: Sales and Promo Executive at Ann Savva Promotions
Worked in promotions and sales team for Ann Savva Promotions at the O2 Arena, London.
Work involved a brand ambassador role in the VIP areas promoting upgrades and marketing upcoming events.
2011 – 2012: Sales & Marketing Executive at Sense Marketing and Ngage Marketing
Activated sales and marketing campaigns across various brands within the portfolio.
Planned events promoting and selling key products.
Led team of promotional staff and was key point of contact with the client.
Major campaigns include Vitamin Water for the London Olympics.
Planned and implemented free events for the public at the Duke Of York square in Chelsea.
I also constantly take workshops and summer schools at various dance schools across the UK. I run a week of classes in all disciplines usually resulting in a performance for parents.
Education/Professional training
2004 – 2007: Laine Theatre Arts, London
National Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre
National Diploma in Drama
FDI teaching qualifications in Drama and Dance
Head Girl
Valerie King Drama Award
1999 – 2004: Westholme Upper School, Lancashire, England
GCSEs - 10 A*-B
Victor Ludorum physical education award
Interests & Other Skills
I have a passion for sports and from a young age have competed at a high level in netball, hockey and athletics. I have also coached primary school netball teams. I am an active member of the gym. Health and wellness are very important to me.
I am emergency first aid trained.
I have completed a TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments.
My love for teaching came at a young age as my mother was head mistress of a primary school. As we had different school holidays I would always go and be a teaching assistant for the early years from as young as 11. I definitely share my mother's passion for education. I worked professionally in theatre from a very young age, touring with ballet companies from the age of 8. I then came to London aged 16 on a scholarship to a top drama school to study Musical Theatre. I have worked in
many West End theatres and have travelled the world performing. I have also back packed around the world on my own, visiting schools and orphanages in India, Vietnam and Cambodia. I have held my
own summer schools teaching drama and dance to 3-16 year olds. I've also chaperoned children
in professional theatre.
I have worked for The Princes Trust on their NCS programme, giving young people amazing opportunities in their communities. I currently work for a charity in London, teaching and mentoring children who have been excluded from mainstream education. They have extreme behavioural problems and most are also autistic and have ADHD. The curriculum is extremely creative which matches the ethos of the charity. I teach drama, singing and dance at Stagecoach performing arts school at weekends for children aged 6-16. I have just completed the first part of my TEFL course and am currently finishing the online assignments. I also have my own network marketing business in the health and wellness industry.
Overall I am a very hard working, confident and out going individual who strives for the best in every child. I believe every child has their own specific needs and it's my job to help them reach their full potential and excel. I love a challenge and bring a young, fresh and ambitious quality to the classroom. In all the schools I have worked at so far I have been praised for my energy and enthusiasm, and with all my life experiences I feel have a lot to offer.
Sunday 11 October 2015
Technology V Books
I definitely have a fear of technology. I hear myself regularly saying at work how I'm 'not technical at all'....I have a love hate relationship with it! I am constantly encouraging the students I teach to read more books and that reading from a screen isn't the same as a good old paperback! A few days ago I saw the image below floating around my Facebook newsfeed and I couldn't agree with the statement more.
I have always had a love of books and that's probably where my creatively first came from if I think about it. My love of imagination, making up stories, role playing definitely drew me towards the arts at a young age. But I also understand that was many years ago! One of my students came into class just this week showing off her new iPad as she came bouncing through the door. What shocked me though was that they HAD to have one for school. It was actually on the school list along with uniform! I recalled a memory of being 10 and queuing up to 'have a go' on the MASSIVE computer we had in the corner of our classroom! I think the class teacher had to even book it out for the afternoon as there were only a few in the whole school!
Some students I teach struggle with improvisation and playing out stories and I feel this is definitely due to an increase in gadgets. Many no longer just play out! Or make up games on the playground or role play made up stories. And I find this rather sad.
I've always been more of a notepad and pen kind of girl over a laptop or tablet. So when I saw that the first set of tasks on this course were all technical skills I'd never used before I did slightly panic! Even setting up this blog took me longer than I expect it took anyone else! However, I do understand the importance in today's society of being tech savvy. In my current job all our communication with parents is via email. We have to upload all photos and videos from class to Facebook and Instagram. We rely on these sites to market the school. Every business now needs a Facebook page. Fact. Social media is the key to the success of many businesses. Which also got me thinking about older generations who run dance schools and theatre companies and how maybe their lack of technical knowledge may be affecting their businesses.
I am excited to learn many new skills on this course that will indeed only help the company I currently work for....and also aid me enormously for when I start my own business.
However, I feel that technology is in some ways ruining the arts. Only last term I took a group of teenagers I taught to see a play in the West end in London. They found it incredibly boring and their main reason was the 'lack of special effects' With so many other forms of entertainment now available at the click of a button many children are missing out on the beauty of the arts.
I read some very interesting articles whilst writing this blog including:
'Death of an artist. How social media is ruining creativity' (link below)
http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/death-artist-social-media-ruining-creativity/907113/
How technology is ruining the arts' (link below)
https://earthblognews.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/how-technology-is-destroying-the-arts/
An article in The Guardian 'Books and technology for children' (link below)
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/23/childrens-books-technology
An article in Harvard magazine 'The future of theatre in a digital age' (link below)
http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/the-future-of-theater
Some students I teach struggle with improvisation and playing out stories and I feel this is definitely due to an increase in gadgets. Many no longer just play out! Or make up games on the playground or role play made up stories. And I find this rather sad.
I've always been more of a notepad and pen kind of girl over a laptop or tablet. So when I saw that the first set of tasks on this course were all technical skills I'd never used before I did slightly panic! Even setting up this blog took me longer than I expect it took anyone else! However, I do understand the importance in today's society of being tech savvy. In my current job all our communication with parents is via email. We have to upload all photos and videos from class to Facebook and Instagram. We rely on these sites to market the school. Every business now needs a Facebook page. Fact. Social media is the key to the success of many businesses. Which also got me thinking about older generations who run dance schools and theatre companies and how maybe their lack of technical knowledge may be affecting their businesses.
I am excited to learn many new skills on this course that will indeed only help the company I currently work for....and also aid me enormously for when I start my own business.
However, I feel that technology is in some ways ruining the arts. Only last term I took a group of teenagers I taught to see a play in the West end in London. They found it incredibly boring and their main reason was the 'lack of special effects' With so many other forms of entertainment now available at the click of a button many children are missing out on the beauty of the arts.
I read some very interesting articles whilst writing this blog including:
'Death of an artist. How social media is ruining creativity' (link below)
http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/death-artist-social-media-ruining-creativity/907113/
How technology is ruining the arts' (link below)
https://earthblognews.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/how-technology-is-destroying-the-arts/
An article in The Guardian 'Books and technology for children' (link below)
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/23/childrens-books-technology
An article in Harvard magazine 'The future of theatre in a digital age' (link below)
http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/the-future-of-theater
Wednesday 7 October 2015
What do I do?!
I must admit I remember feeling pretty overwhelmed when I first received all the information for the course. I wasn't even sure how to get started! I found this frustrating and stressful as I just wanted someone to tell me what to do! I've always been a grafter and I definitely give everything I do 100% effort. But a week in I realise I need to change my mindset. The most important over riding task on this course is going to be figuring it all out for myself and forming my own opinions on subject matters. My last academic qualifications were my GCSEs 10 years ago!! I was a high achieving student at school but all I've ever known when it comes to education is learning information then regurgitating it for an exam or assignment. That isn't knowledge, that's just a skill for memorising words! I knew I was good at that but this new type of learning fills me with fear. The perfectionist in me questions how I will know what to write and what if I get it totally wrong!! This got me thinking about the methods we use to measure intelligence in children at school and why many of my students come to acting class with this fear of failure. Especially in the high achieving students I teach in Singapore. This is definitely something I want to explore more during this course. This has made me dig out a book tonight that I started but never got round to finishing called 'Feel the fear and do it anyway' by Susan Jeffers. Here is the link if you want to check it out:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-The-Fear-And-Anyway/dp/0091907071
I also watched an incredible speech a few months ago given by JK Rowling at Harvard University graduation. The main message she wanted to get across was the importance of failing. If you haven't seen it it's definitely worth a watch! I've put the link to the video below:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c
I'm not afraid of hard work, only the fear of getting it wrong! Instead I realise I need to just embrace the opportunity, stop worrying and trust my gut feeling. After all....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-The-Fear-And-Anyway/dp/0091907071
I also watched an incredible speech a few months ago given by JK Rowling at Harvard University graduation. The main message she wanted to get across was the importance of failing. If you haven't seen it it's definitely worth a watch! I've put the link to the video below:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c
I'm not afraid of hard work, only the fear of getting it wrong! Instead I realise I need to just embrace the opportunity, stop worrying and trust my gut feeling. After all....
Tuesday 6 October 2015
Here we go!
My first ever blog! Up until a few weeks ago I was honestly still debating whether or not to do the course! After numerous pros and cons lists and conversations with my friends and family I decided to commit. I still felt very apprehensive before my skype induction with Paula as I wasn't sure exactly what I was letting myself in for! My main concerns were whether or not I had time to fit it in to my already hectic schedule. Another reservation I had was the fact that I currently live in Singapore....which is a 7 hour time difference to the UK. I questioned whether this was the right time for me to be doing this. I was also worried about paying for it (and the stubborn head on me saying "I've got this far without a degree, do I really need one?") But as soon as I started chatting to Paula about the course I was convinced. My mind was blown with ideas! And as the call ended and I looked down at the ridiculous amount of notes and ideas I had scribbled down I knew this was something I definitely wanted to do. I'd stopped looking at it as just a qualification but as the abundance of knowledge I'd learn which would in turn only help me grow as a teacher. The decision was made. I made my first payment (squirming inside as I saw the money leave my account!) and there was no going back! Lets do this.
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