Summary

This assignment has been very worthwhile, I have learnt a lot about new practitioners and I have developed the idea that I have wanted to pursue for many years. I now feel confident in going into my FMP with a very strong idea of what is expected of me and how to do it. The planning throughout this assignment will be key to keep my photography at a high standard and the time management table will insure I keep to the deadline that I set myself. I look forward to the upcoming module and hope I will be able to put across my feelings through my final practical work.

Contact

Having spoke to the owner of Risley Forge again, about other forges near by that I could photograph, he told me that one of the forges that I have researched would be ideal. Bartington Forge has a man who works there who is extremely talented when it comes to metal work, he is apparently a very sociable man and apparently would be more than obliged to let me talk and photograph him. This is the place that I will start to find forges that I can photograph at. I am not worried about not being able to find forges to work with because I am almost positive that a handful of them at least will be helpful and give me some of their time to let me talk and photograph them.

Teacher Traning

Through speaking to a graduate at a party that I attended over christmas, the idea of doing a further education year after I graduate came into my mind. The guy told me that it was a great learning curve and their is a possible job at the end of it. It was never really something that appealed to me however the more I think about doing a course such as a PGCE course, the more I am interested in it. I decided to research into this is more detail, below is some information that I found. 

PGCE – Teacher Training Courses

Teaching is increasingly a career for the most able graduates, and to achieve

qualified teacher status (QTS) you need to complete an initial teacher training

(ITT) course. There are a number of options available so you can choose the

one which most suits your needs.

All ITT courses include the opportunity to spend time in school to help develop

your teaching skills and they are designed to build your confidence as you

learn about key teaching methods. We offer a comprehensive programme of

support to guide you all the way through the application process.

If you’d like to teach a subject to an advanced level, for example, you could be

more interested in secondary teaching, rather than primary.

You can complete your ITT alongside a degree, straight after a degree, as a

part-time course alongside work, or as a full-time course, including

employment-based routes. The option that is right for you will depend on your

circumstances.

If you already have a degree, consider a postgraduate certificate in education

(PGCE). A PGCE course mainly focuses on developing your teaching skills,

rather than the subject you intend to teach.

If you do not currently have an undergraduate degree, you can complete a

Bachelor of Education (BEd) or Bachelor of Arts (BA)/Bachelor of Science

(BSc) with qualified teacher status (QTS) course. These courses enable you

to study for a degree and complete your initial teacher training (ITT) at the

same time. Both postgraduate and undergraduate courses are available at

universities and colleges throughout the UK.

Courses generally last for one year full-time or up to two years part-time.

You may be eligible to receive funding while you train for your PGCE. PGCE

applications are made through a system administered by the Universities and

Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The UCAS Teacher Training website is

the portal through which you can search for a provider and make your

application. It provides useful guidance for applicants and step-by-step help

on the application process.

Generally speaking, UCAS Teacher Training accepts applications from

November to June for courses starting the following September or October.

However, be aware that courses in primary teaching, physical education (PE)

and history are very popular and there is considerable competition for places.

To guarantee that your first choice of course provider will consider you, you

need to apply as early as possible.

http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options

Presentation Slides

As this module came to an end, we were asked to make a short presentation for the rest of our peers which outlined the work that we had done so far. I was eager to show the rest of my class my idea and get feedback from them, this was a great opportunity. Below are the slides that I showed them and at the bottom of this post is a brief summary of the feedback.

The feedback from my peers and the tutors was that of a positive one, right from the start I knew what I wanted to achieve and the tutors picked up on that. Their feedback in the group sessions were of great value to me and helped me to put the project on. When I showed the group my presentation they all said that I am ready to start producing the final pieces, I was happy with this because I know that this is how I feel, ready for the next assignment. This assignment was a great way to start the ball rolling, to enable me to research and experiment before the start of the FMP. 

Idea

I had a possible idea for the space in which I will exhibit my final photographs, I am unsure as to whether it will be feasible or not though. My idea is that I could exhibit my final photographs in the forge at where I have worked for over 7 years. This idea may not be feasible though and I will need to speak to tutors before I go any further with it. 

Time Management

Time management is a very important tool for my up and coming FMP, I will have to be careful with my time so that I end up producing the strongest piece of work that I can. In order to make sure that I don't go off the plan for the FMP, I have produced a detailed plan of the 12 (or 14) week module, see below.

My time management planner is fairly self explanatory, the beginning stages include, visiting the chosen exhibition space to see how many/ how big the final prints will be, contacting and visiting the forges of my choice and start to build a rapport with them, research (set minimum amount of time each week), blogging my research and findings whilst starting to photograph from the very start!

The middle of the table involves more in depth research, building a further rapport/ relationship with the forges, continuing blogging and continuing to photograph!

The latter part of the table involves getting involved with the chosen printing company (to find the best final print set up), then editing the final chosen photographs and then finishing off the blogging of the experimentation. 

I tried to split the table up into 5 manageable headings, these are the ones that I thought could cover all of the work that needs to be done.

The plan will be a rough guideline and I am sure it will be changed along the way, it is just a useful tool to keep me on track. A great idea!

Connection Between The Subject And Myself

Throughout this research project so far, I have mentioned again and again the importance of the connection between myself and the subject. This post is to really show the importance of this. It is through my upbringing that makes me want to really get to know each of the forges before I photograph them, as I have said before whilst researching other photographers, this is what makes their photographs great, that connection! I really want this whole project to be a positive one, looking at the positives of this declining industry. As mentioned, the sooner I start building a rapport with the forges, the better. I have the ability to talk to people that I have not met before and this will stand me in good stead for the up coming module.