Monday 12 January 2015

Unit 1 - 2.2 Critically compare the use of visual language, across a range of contexts, to influence appearance and meaning in A&D


Unit 1 - 2.2  Critically compare the use of visual language, across a range of contexts, to influence appearance and meaning in A&D

Unit 2 – 1:1 Critically compare a range of research tools, methods and skills.

Unit 2 – 1:1  Critically compare a range of research tools, methods and skills.

Research Tools

Blimey! If you check this out on the internet e.g. search what are research tools, you'll find a series of explanations from Universities, mainly in the field of pharmaceuticals that are not that helpful. So I'm going to stick my neck out here and try and make some sense of it in the context of a Level 3 photography course.

The general consensus in academic scenarios is that research tools can include things such as...
  • Questionnaires
  • Check lists
  • Search Engines
  • Libraries
  • Databases
  • Reflective Practice
If you then pre-fix the definition with the work 'Physical' you then start to get definitions and descriptions that include equipment .

So, in the context of your course, the physical equipment that you use to gather your research might include...
  • Cameras
  • Phone cameras
  • Scanners
  • Dictaphones
  • Photo-copiers
So if you combine the academic options and some of the physical options, you're going to be able to identify a range of research tools. So in response to this criteria you should produce an explanation of the tools accompanied by images (Shot by you) of some of the physical equipment that is listed here, along with any other examples you can think of.

You also need to compare some of the tools and explain why you or others think that one tool may be better or preferential to another.

Research Methods

From - http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/research-method
A particular way of ​studying something in ​order to discover new ​information about it or understand it better:

From - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Research+methods
1. systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject
2. Careful study of a given subject, field, or problem, undertaken to discover facts or principles.

An adapted definition from this website would define Research Methods as...

The process used to collect information and data for the purpose of making informed decisions about your subject area (Photography). The methodology may include publication research, interviews, surveys and other research techniques, and could include both present and historical information.

One of the key words in the definitions above is 'Systematic' and in your session you would have been advised explicitly as to the way we recommend you conduct your research throughout the duration of this course using a number of specific research methods.

Publication research -

The British Journal of Photography.
Hotshoe magazine.

Photography The whole Story - David Campany & Juliet Hacking (Thames and Hudson)
Photography (Portfolio) - John Ingledew (Lawrence King)
Starting Photography  - Michael Langford (Focal Press)

Your response to this criteria will be to use your camera/image making skills to photograph books/publications or scan them and then discuss the pro's and cons of the research methods highlighted and talked about in the session..

Secondary Research
Films/TV/Video/Youtube/Vimeo/Dailymotion
Books
Journals
Newspapers

Primary Research
Interviews
Surveys
Galleries/Museums/Exhibitions
Work release/assisting

You also need to compare some of the methods and explain why you or others think that one method may be better or preferential to another.

Research Skills

Research skills are the basic things you have to do and implement when conducting research. They include the following.

  • Making the right choices about your sources (BJP).
  • Using Journals and books first and foremost to discover photographers and their work.
  • Allocating time to do research on a regular basis - an hour a week looking and making notes.
  • 2-3 hours a week making sense of your research and writing up your findings, collating your information and images.
  • Producing your research in response to assignments within the first 2-3 days.
  • Producing your bibliography in a systematic way as you produce the work.
  • Photo-copying/scanning the text/images from books and keeping in 'Research folder' for reference.
  • Reading and making sense of written content, making notes somewhere where you're able to do so and take in the information.
  • Systematically check that the websites and the authors of web-based sources are reliable and 'Sound'.
  • Learn to only select websites from National Publications/newspapers, municipal galleries and museums and websites you're directed to by lecturers/library staff.

This is a good link from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/extra/module2/1.shtml

In your work write about some of the key points raised here and in the BBC link above along with the main things that you have learned and compare your new knowledge with your old approach to research.

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Unit 2 – 2:1 Critically compare a range of primary and secondary research sources.


Unit 2 – 2:1  Critically compare a range of primary and secondary research sources.



List three secondary sources that you used/might use in your research e.g.

(1).  http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/series/sean-o-hagan-on-photography

(2).  The British Journal of Photography.

(3).  One of the books that we recommend ‘Portfolio’ – ‘Photography the Whole Story’ or ‘Photography as contemporary Art’. Or a book of your choice.

Describe three separate secondary resources you choose and then compare ‘Critically’, you could do this by applying the what if approach, what if you were to choose one as being better than all of the others, what one is the best and why?

List three primary methods/sources…

(1). Working with a photographer (assisting, work release).

(2). Going to a Gallery and seeing photography exhibited.

(3). Conducting a survey.

Again describe the three methods and then compare them critically, e.g. what one do you think would be the best method of researching photography/photographers?

*Note; You may have already done this within your Gibbs with the previous assessment objective (Unit 2 – 1:1). Don’t repeat the information; perhaps add to it though if these prompts inspire a different more complex response.

One relatively simple example you could critically compare would be...
Youtube video interviews v Face to Face interviews
Why are Youtube videos useful and valid for your studies, what are the pros and cons of using such videos versus conducting a face to face interview with an artist/photographer?



 

Unit 2 - 3:1 Apply research tools, methods and skills to record & interpret information & develop ideas for creative activities.


Unit 2 - 3:1  Apply research tools, methods and skills to record & interpret information & develop ideas for creative activities.

Unit 2 - 3:2 Evaluate the effectiveness of research tools, methods and skills to develop ideas for creative activities.


Unit 2 - 3:2  Evaluate the effectiveness of research tools, methods and skills to develop ideas for creative activities.

This is relatively simple but, essential to complete. If you've not done this yet within your project work at any stage you need to make it a priority as you come to the final stages.

Follow these guidelines...

1. At the top of the page where you produce this work write up the assessment criteria along the top of the page...

This helps you and us establish that you have done the work and makes it far easier to assess. Underneath this heading write a paragraph or two...
 
2. You've basically got to explain whether you feel that the research methods, tools and skills you've used and learned about during these projects have helped you bring the ideas together, enabling you to come up with some good work/images.
 
3. Use the wording in the criteria "I have been able to develop creative ideas in conjunction with my work" because... Then discuss and evaluate (Good and bad) aspects of what you've learned about research tools, methods and skills.
 
4. Write the work up in sections where you write about (a). Research Tools - look back at your work, were you aware before this course, that the things we identified and discussed were resource tools? How useful were these research tools in putting your projects together? (b). Research Methods - This relates to the learning you did around identifying and using Primary, Secondary and Empirical methods. Was this information and learning new, are you clearer as to why they are different from each other and which ones have advantages over the other? How useful was this learning in putting together your projects? (c). Research skills - This relates to differentiating between good research methods and tools, your abilities in skim reading, listening and note taking. Are you more aware of these skills now and how useful were they in producing your projects. 

 

Unit 3 - 1:1 Critically compare a range of critical perspectives that influence the analysis of Art & Design.


Unit 3 - 1:1 Critically compare a range of critical perspectives that influence the analysis of Art & Design.


“Critically compare”: In essence this means you have to question and not take at face value individual opinions, you need to collect a range of opinions and viewpoints and make sense of these. This process of comparing a range of opinions allows you to "critically compare".

Within each project, as a minimum, we expect you to research, explore and critically compare 6 different viewpoints.

  • You’re directed to research a minimum of 2 photographers per project. This stage of the work should be done within your blog using the Unit number and the word 'Research' in the title of the new post.
  • Find the 2 x photographers/work that your work is going to be influenced by and upload a selection of their work (Images). Keep these two sections of the work separate.
  • You then have to offer your own viewpoint on each of these in your ‘Initial response’ to them. This is a form of empirical research . What you're doing here is demonstrating your analytical skills in deconstructing the images using the knowledge you already have. Use this series of prompts here to generate your initial response. This serves as a basic critical perspective, but is uniformed.
  • You then have to find two pieces of written research per photographer using the guidelines and conventions as taught previously and use that material to compile the main body of your research. At this stage you're looking to learn as much about the photographer and their images as possible. Again if you're struggling with what you should write - use the prompts here to generate your written content.


“Critical perspectives”:
The viewpoints expressed in your own initial response and then those expressed via your research, are ‘Critical perspectives’. Your own initial response is an un-informed critical perspective based on limited knowledge. The research you use, if gleaned from sound sources should be high quality ‘Critical perspectives’ written by experts in the “Analysis of Art & Design”, (Academics, professional writers, curators, critics or the photographers themselves). Within the main body of your summary of both the critics/photographers viewpoints, you need to discuss the work in terms of ‘What if’ in conjunction with your own idea, make sure you make reference to your own idea and the brief.
Consolidation
Once you've completed these keys aspects of the work, you must then reflect on your research using the Gibbs method. Focus the majority of your attention on section (4)"Analysis; in this section reiterate the main learning points that you're going carry forwards into your own project, use a questioning approach to this discussing what if's. The other section that is important is section (6) "Action Plan". In this section you need to discuss in detail how you're going to move forwards with the project - dates, names, places, times, equipment, lighting, approaches; plan your first key practical move in relation to what you've learned through your research.
Top Tip
There is a really easy way of doing this that will enable you to meet all of the assessment criteria readily - Use the books that were recommended on day one of the course and the British Journal of Photography for your secondary research.
 

Unit 3 - 1:2 Apply knowledge of critical perspectives to the analysis of a range of art and design activities.


http://www.listofphotographers.blogspot.co.uk/

 Unit 3 - 1:2   Apply knowledge of critical perspectives to the analysis of a range of art and design activities.

This simply means that you need to show that you are aware that you must be critical of your own work and processes and that you go through a process of analysis when making decisions about the quality and validity of your work.

How have you applied the knowledge that you've learned and have you done so in a manner that is coherent. This is usually evidenced through making connections with your research - explaining how you've used the research to influence and construct your own practical work. What aspects of your research have you 'Borrowed' that have been carried through into your practical work.