https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848 A chronological reflective experience (10575253) en-us 2022-02-21 03:39:27 UTC 2025-05-19 04:26:05 UTC hello@padlet.com jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058045046 The first class was very nerve-racking, I am not typically an outgoing, expressive and attention-oriented person so it felt very intimidating to me. As the class progressed though I started to relax and actually enjoy myself. 

I really enjoyed the collaborative group-work element of the workshop, it feels more safe and comfortable for me to perform as part of a group. My most uncomfortable moment was probably when we had to all individually move and become part of a scene- our theme was beach. I honestly felt myself tense up and freeze because it feels like a spotlight has shone on you but eventually I was able to join the scene and it was ok. 

I am hoping to see an increase in my overall comfortability with performing and being 'seen' by the group in various activities and exercises. 

I found it very interesting to learn about effectively using voice and space to engage your audience whilst performing, particularly the points the tutor discussed on opening your body up to the audience so they can better absorb what you are doing. I had not realised previously within the Arts just how essential purposeful body movement and positioning can be. 

I went to a primary school that was mainly music-based so there was a lot of pressure and expectation surrounding that and seeing as how I was not that musically gifted it felt quite intimidating and stressful for me. I regret that my experience of the Arts was not as enjoyable in primary school, but I hope I can take that experience and what I learn from these Arts units to create more accessible, safe and welcoming Arts lessons for my future students. Within these future lessons I would love to employ strategies and resources such as collaborative group work, interactive environments, hands-on exploration and positive space utilisation to enable students to more authentically and effectively learn in drama.


]]> 2022-02-21 04:27:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058045046 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058046108 2022-02-21 04:28:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058046108 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058055572 I read an extract from a webpage on the importance of drama that really resonated with me, where CEO of Fitzroy Learning Network Jane Tonkin talks about the benefits of drama and its less-obvious ones, "...that was around how the students had worked with each other, and connected socially, and drawn on social and emotional maturity,". This point was something I had not really ever considered but it makes sense, where the requirements from drama and performing enable students to develop skills and abilities in these areas of essential human growth and development. For children in their formative years, having safe and supportive spaces to work on these skills is immensely important as they are skills that they will always use in their immediate and future lives.
https://www.artshub.com.au/news/career-advice/why-drama-is-the-most-important-school-subject-2527005/ ]]> 2022-02-21 04:37:41 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2058055572 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2072941307 The second class was still a bit intimidating, especially since I was a little late and had to jump into a name pairing activity straightaway. I always experience this initial fight or flight moment and stepping into the circle and partaking in the activity was a bit much but once I had paired my name with a food item (Jalapeño Jacob) I was fine and it was fun seeing everyone else's responses. 

I engaged well with the 'a prop for what it is not' exercise, where my group used a balloon as a watermelon in a post-apocalyptic world where watermelons were thought to be extinct. It felt like such a ridiculous storyline but it was really fun planning it out and I could definitely see myself using a similar activity with my future students. The use of an object as a prop/prompt and then letting students create a story/scene is a great way of engaging their creative and imaginative thought processes. 

I struggled with the mime exercise where Nathan and I had to create a mime scene based around the theme of 'escape'. It was enjoyable to plan but then when it came to presenting, it was that same fight or flight response and I could feel myself getting tense and we had planned out our mime sequence but I became very nervous and rushed through it. I want to work on being able to live in the moment and commit myself to the performance piece and be able to block out the audience and focus on what I have to do. This has probably been my most important lesson this week, the need to commit to your performance and the ability to block everything else out whether it be the nerves, pressures or the audience.

Focusing on miming and prop utilisation this week was very informative as it demonstrated to me different ways educators can engage students to construct creative and imaginative performances, but also how some students can struggle with committing themselves to these acts or conceiving an idea and then presenting it to an audience. A theme that has been continuously covered in this class that I will be adamant to continue in my own teaching practice is the necessity to create a safe and respectful environment for the students. In Arts education, especially in an area like drama, you will be asking students to show some vulnerability by sharing and performing their ideas so it is paramount that they feel same and as comfortable as possible to do so. 






]]> 2022-03-02 05:52:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2072941307 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2072955176 (I could not export the whole video as the file was too big) 

In Week 2 as part of the puppetry component of the lesson, we were given balloon garbage bag puppets and had to manipulate and use them to convey a story. The premise of our story was a mother and child losing each other in a grocery store and then finding each other and embracing. It was quite tricky keeping in mind how to position and block yourself whilst moving so as to not face away from the audience and also keep the flow of the performance going. I felt less nervous partaking in this activity as I was part of a larger group and it was also interesting to see the different ways groups manipulated their puppets and the themes and stories they tried to present. Puppetry can be quite tricky but it can also be a useful tool within the Arts to demonstrate to students how to utilise an object as an extension of their body, collaborating with others and conveying an idea through objects. ]]> 2022-03-02 06:04:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2072955176 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2073057019 Wk 2
This video is fantastic not only because of the brilliant mime artist, but more so his ability to get an audience member to be an active participant in his mime and to achieve the 'suspension of disbelief' with the audience member. The child is hesitant at first, thinks it is silly and so on but as the mime progresses and the artist continues to encourage him to participate, we can see the child commit to the act. It was great to see the suspension of disbelief in practice and it is something paramount to effective drama performances within the Arts. ]]> 2022-03-02 07:29:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2073057019 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092205037 This week's focus was on voice and story in drama. It was really interesting to explore vocal and story activities we can use with students. I really resonated with the section on readers' theatre. I love the concept of it. I think it is a fantastic way to engage learners in literacy development in a context where they can still work on other skills like vocal projection, movement and communication. 

This week we did not have our SEM class because of the public holiday so i have been engaging with the assessment task. Already, i have been able to engage with some helpful tips from the lecture on recognising our voices as our most valuable tool and how we can effectively utilise it. I have been practicing employing dramatic and purposeful pauses in my speech, my pacing, vocal projection, eye-contact (tested on my parents!), and tone. I am not the most confident public speaker, and it is always a source of anxiety and stress for me, but these tips have helped give me some confidence. 

I think the readers' theatre and speech tips were the most important aspects of this week's learning content for me. This is primarily because I could definitely see myself utilising readers' theatre in the classroom and the tips will help me develop my skills and abilities in communicating with students and publicly speaking (which I will have to do as a teacher). ]]> 2022-03-13 10:26:26 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092205037 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092207984
This was just fantastic. It is amazing to see just how easily reader's theatre can be utilised. It does not require many resources, nor does it require much space. As an educator, budget constraints or space availability would not serve as hindrances to the use of this activity. I honestly think it is brilliant. It is such a fantastic way for students to develop reading skills, speaking skills and public speaking confidence (in a low-stakes environment). ]]> 2022-03-13 10:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092207984 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092209934 This simple guide has been fairly helpful and has acted as a point of reference for me when trying to improve my speech presentation]]> 2022-03-13 10:34:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2092209934 jacobguidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2102006978 Before doing my speech I watched this video on warming up your voice before speaking and it was a little bit silly but it was also interesting and insightful. The techniques the associate professor provides were somewhat helpful in my speech preparation. My vocal projection felt better than it has in the past with previous speeches and I felt like I was able to get in a nice vocal flow. ]]> 2022-03-18 14:15:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2102006978 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2117315933 Obviously i did not attend class this week because of COVID isolation protocols and I found this funny. I did find it interesting learning about the different elements of dance and how we can apply them in primary school settings. I really love the idea of promoting the celebration, exploration and appreciation of cultural diversity through dance. I think dance and exposing students to different cultural dances is a fantastic way to expand their worldview and their understanding of different cultures and ethnicities. 

I enjoy casually dancing but the thought of teaching it has always been very stressful for me. I can however appreciate the importance of it and just how beneficial it can be as a tool to support students in unlocking their creative and expressive potential. I would like to understand more dance theory and hope this will lead to an increase in dance proficiency where I can instruct and assist students on learning dance. ]]> 2022-03-28 14:38:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2117315933 jacob_guidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144733544 I am by no means a dance expert but I was very fascinated by this week's topic of simple choreography. I think choreography is a great tool to utilise in not only getting students engaged in dance movements, sequences and performances, but also in the other skills it promotes: such as collaborative communication, memorisation, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership and following instructions. 

I really liked learning about Laban's 8 Effort Actions and it was amazing to see how- without even realising it, during the individual and group choreographic exercises we engaged with during class, we utilised and incorporated some of these actions in our choreographed dance. 

I also loved the use of movement maps in transcribing dances. I benefit immensely from visual cues and resources in helping strengthen my learning and I know many students benefit from this too. I think it will be such a beneficial tool to utilise in the classroom to better ensure students can comprehend and follow the types of movement they need to do within a choreographed dance. 

Dancing remains very much an uncomfortable process for me, but I can really appreciate how for many people it can be such an important and necessary medium of creative expression and outlet. Students need to be able to engage with this type of creativity, so it is my job to help facilitate this type of learning and learning engagement within the classroom. I do not have to be an expert on choreography, but I must possess foundational knowledge on the elements of choreography, effort actions, design concepts and devices that can be utilised and experimented with. 

*I am also unable to edit past published entries, but my Wk 6 Isolation entry was my 4th entry. ]]> 2022-04-15 07:20:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144733544 jacob_guidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144741495 https://bangarra-knowledgeground.com.au/productions/i-b-i-s/watch-excerpts-from-i-b-i-s 

I thought the dance was incredible and it was really powerful to see their exploration and depiction of the themes of identity and sustainability. It also gives a very intimate and personal portrayal of some of the present-day issues facing the Torres Strait Islands, and how groups like the I.B.I.S are so important in the assistance and services they provide to communities throughout the islands. 

It was also nice to see notions of hope and promise for the future being communicated, and how they remain hopeful for the future. They masterfully demonstrated a balance between exploring the issues and realities of the present, with optimism and hope for the future. 

Their use of different choreographic devices was stunning. I especially enjoyed how they utilised unison and repetition to emphasise certain dance segments and concepts and drive home ideas.


]]> 2022-04-15 07:35:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144741495 jacob_guidetti https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144745377 A very nerve-racking but enjoyable experience. I always feel like my stomach is in knots just before a class performance. It feels like all eyes are on me and everything is going to go horribly wrong. That being said, once I started getting in to the groove of things and started focusing just on the sequence and completing my movements, it was fun. 

When the dance is in-sync with the music it can be a very enjoyable experience. I loved our group's use of unison and contrast to diversify the dance and draw focus to specific components of the sequence. 

The group collaborative exercise was also a great opportunity for everyone to make suggestions and present ideas. In a low-stakes environment such as this one, it felt like a safe space for everyone to share and voice their opinions on what they felt could be part of the choreographed dance. No one felt invalidated or dismissed, everyone got an opportunity to share. I think this it is so vital and critical to provide students with opportunities to safely and equally collaborate and discuss ideas within a group. It helps promote and teaches them negotiation, communication, compromise, problem-solving and active listening. ]]> 2022-04-15 07:43:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2144745377 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156579959 This week's focus was on an introduction to media arts. There were defined knowledge and skills as well as curriculum-oriented concepts to be considered when engaging with media arts in learning settings. I like the idea of aiding students in the creative and critical use of language and technology as a skill, where they can communicate through the media they create and consume. I think the duality of media in creating it and consuming it is important, and students need to develop agency in understanding the different ways they engage with media based on if they are making it or digesting it. 

I am very interested in engaging in professional development to improve my understanding of post-production in the final production stage. I have limited experience with media arts, particularly because my school offered limited media programs. I do however love the idea of being able to provide more meaningful media arts engagements for students. I think media arts also provides a fantastic different medium for students to demonstrate learning, collaborate and work in teams, share ideas, reflect on learning, express themselves, and engage with creativity. 

Finally, I agree with the skepticism and concern on the benefits of app utilisation in the classroom, but I think if sandbox, evergreen and skill-based apps are appropriately selected and utilised, they can help enrich the learning experience for students. This is because they provide another avenue for learning development and engagement, where students are utilising and interacting with digital tools. I also think the use of apps and technological devices and programs is important as it is another means of helping strengthen students' digital fluency and literacy. 


]]> 2022-04-25 13:49:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156579959 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156589630 I absolutely love the idea of using digital storytelling in the classroom! I think it is a fantastic way to help students develop their literacy skills. In primary education, it is essential that educators construct learning environments conducive to literacy development. 

Without the development of their literacy skills, students will struggle to progress throughout their learning journeys and become active and successful lifelong learners. The use of digital storytelling is a fun and engaging way of helping students develop their literacy abilities, in a less typical and archaic way. 

I think it is also a great means of students developing their communication and writing abilities in settings and scenarios that are less stressful, such as typical written assessments. 

]]> 2022-04-25 13:54:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156589630 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156601412 I think this article correctly highlights the significance of media arts and why it must be part of the Australian curriculum. Students are surrounded by media within their daily lives and they consume a vast quantity of it. Giving them tools to meaningfully engage with media via creating and consuming is extremely important in this increasingly digitally and media-oriented world. 

Digital literacy is also becoming an increasingly and ever-important skill and for students to be involved and active citizens, a degree of digital capabilities is required. Media arts helps students develop their digital literacy. For students that may not already be digital natives, or do not have access to digital technologies at home, media arts provides a learning environment where they can develop digital skills. ]]> 2022-04-25 14:00:24 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2156601412 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2195089594 This week we finally got to present our performance to the class and tutor. It has been such a journey getting to this point. It was so fun and enjoyable working on this project with my group members and we all put in so much effort and I feel that it was reflected in our final product. 

I still felt very nervous being on stage and performing in front of my peers, but the nerves were nowhere near as intense as those first few weeks of performing. 

I now feel like I can almost 'flip a switch' and just get into 'performance mode' when I need to present. I do not come from an Arts background at all so I have very much had to be proactive this semester and just go for it with different subject areas and performances. 

I can vividly remember how daunting it felt seeing an Arts unit on my uni timetable and I was so nervous coming into this unit and class. I can now say though that it has helped with my confidence and ability to perform in front of people so much. This will aid me immensely in working with future students and when I have to facilitate learning, present, speak to them, demonstrate things etc. 

Ultimately, I do not think a career as an Arts education specialist specifically is for me. In saying that, the tools this unit has helped give me and the broad content knowledge it has provided me will help me immensely on my journey as a teacher and in future practice. I also plan to go teach rural/remote so there is a high chance I will have to teach my students in the Arts anyways so I do look forward to that idea too!

]]> 2022-05-23 02:46:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2195089594 https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2195098901 Watching the performance now it is very easy to be hyper critical and analyse all the mistakes made but in general I am happy with our performance. 

I had a great time with the group developing this performance and working on it and to finally have completed it feels great. 

We had to make many changes, ad-libs and improvisations but overall I feel it came together nicely. 

I also very much dislike presenting in front of other people (peers and tutors) but it has consistently felt easier to do in this class. I will also say this class has felt like one of the most inclusive, supportive and safe environments to be creative and perform. ]]> 2022-05-23 02:53:20 UTC https://padlet.com/jacobguidetti/j2qcn50fuqr8d848/wish/2195098901