Task 4a - Inquiry Questions

Since completing Module 1, my career in teaching has developed quite significantly. Having previously worked as a freelance dance teacher mainly for extra-curricular, after school, or dance classes in local specialised academies; I am now taking a new route of teaching curricular dance and dance in PE also.

I feel a lot more prepared and confident in my teaching since embarking on courses over the summer holidays. I now have my First Aid Certificate, Child Protection & Safeguarding Certificate, attended a 'Good to Outstanding' course with Premier Performing Arts to aid me in delivering an OFSTED accredited 'outstanding' dance lesson and will soon be enrolled onto the IDTA.

This development in my career has aided me with questions of inquiry which will help me to evaluate my new working environment and inspire my practice.

The topic of Inquiry which I have based my questions upon is, in a broad description,  'Teaching Dance'. At this early stage I hope my questioning and initial structuring  of my Inquiry will develop by the feedback and self analysis of my Inquiry questions. I endeavour to plan an inquiry which will not only benefit or be meaningful to myself as a practitioner/teacher but that it will also support others working in a similar field or teaching post.


1. How can I adapt my classes to develop students at a rate appropriate for the individual?

i. Is the student participating for a fun/recreational purpose?
ii. Is the student training towards a professional career in the Arts?
iii.  Is the student voluntarily attending class or being pushed to do so?
iiii. Is the class curricular or not? Assessed?

2. What factors effect students non-cooperation/unwillingness to participate in class?

i. Gender? (Stigmas attached to Gender)
ii. No Engagement - Is it the teachers fault? Are the students bored or struggling? Is the class to easy or too hard?
iii. School/Home life? Bullying?  

3. Some students who struggle academically can excel in creative subjects. Why is this? Can Dance/Performing Arts benefit the student across education and other subjects?

i. What skills are learnt that are transferable?
ii. Different types of learners?

4. Does Dance & Performing Arts continue to be relevant in today's curriculum?

5. As a teacher, what impact do we have on a child's development?

A Professional Inquiry is a tool for self discovery whilst obtaining practice based knowledge which can also be used as a framework to aid others learning and exploring practice. As I began noting questions important to my practice and finding inspiration through fellow Bapp students, I discovered that although the inquiry may be based around Dance/Performing Arts, my approach to the professional inquiry could be considered 'inter-disciplinary', as Pip Spalton had also mentioned in her blog. I hope that this will enable me to view practice in a new way and provide solutions to problems, investigations and barriers which I may face as a teacher of Dance, PE and curricular based lesssons. WHY?... I have become to realise as a teacher of young children that, despite the subject, you are a huge influence of the progression of the child and their development as a human being! You should be a role model, teaching them how to behave correctly, listening skills, right from wrong, kindness and respect... the list is endless of essential life skills. Through this my role illustrates teaching skills that are 'inter-disciplinary' which is why I  think it is important for me to take this approach or at least be aware of it. This also why I find significance in the question of transferable skills (Question 3).

Through examining, analysing and discussing with others I hope to identify issues from my professional context that are meaningful to me, and I'm sure other people, to extend my professional outlook, knowledge and skill. I hope that my fellow bloggers and Bapp students will find time to comment and share their thoughts throughout my Inquiry and I hope to be of assistance to their own inquiries. Thank you!