Practice based Learning and Student as Producer

One of the defining characteristics of being a contemporary Performance, Live Artist is the constant requirement to integrate the theoretical knowledge base and artistic methodologies of Live Art with sound practical competences within a professional framework. To help students grapple with this challenge we have designed the learning experience to be practice based from the very start. On-going strategic mission of the MA/MFA:CLA is the development and expansion of the notion of Student as Producer to give the opportunity to students to become independent artist-researchers.

The Student as Producer agenda addresses the following key features in an exemplary and unique approach to teaching the performance based disciplines:

Discovery: As a typical delivery strategy students are asked to manage, organize and facilitate their own rehearsal process in the studio and theatre and are supported and encouraged to find solutions of their own using a range of tools and resources. Students are encouraged to work in collaborative and collective processes and to take responsibility for their group and learning process with the support of their tutors and mentors. Scenarios are devised which test the students ability to select the best approaches and organise themselves to devise the most appropriate and effective strategies within that context. The program is focused on promoting research-based learning. The Practice as Research module offers methodological approaches to research practices and all the student performances and artefacts will be showcased to the public in order to engage the wider community with their research.
Technology in Teaching: A significant amount of the learning undertaken will be carried out using the latest technologies. The mode of learning will also be increasingly electronic in nature as student move through the programme. Skill developed at the early stages in using the University’s Virtual Learning Environment will be developed allowing students to take increasing control of their learning. Through the latter stages communication with tutors and peers will become increasingly driven by electronic means allowing students to combine work and study as they develop their projects.
Space and Spatiality: Learning Landscapes in Higher Education: Students of this course will have the opportunity to work at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre which caters professional and student performances and invites an audience from the wider community. The Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) is a £6 million purpose-built arts centre which runs its own unique programme of public arts events throughout the year ranging from professional touring theatre and dance companies to weekly free live jazz in its bar and café. The Centre includes a 450-seat theatre and three large studio spaces for performance and rehearsal. Facilities also include rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms and a full workshop for the building of sets and props. Students will also have the possibility to work in other buildings of the College of Arts, including the Lincoln School of Architecture (offering a quality, dynamic, multidisciplinary, 3-D design environment, founded on the research and consultancy interests of its staff) and the Lincoln School of Media (with HD TV Video Editing and Recording Studio and a brand new Sound Theatre). This will assist the students to blend work-based and academic focussed learning by utilising different learning spaces to contextualise the various activities.
Assessment: Active Learners in Communities of Practice: In line with the school’s existing philosophy, students will be encouraged to focus on the constructive alignment that creates a seamless link between programme, module and assessment outcomes. Using the well-established notion of criterion-reference grids students will be fully aware and in many cases active in creating the content of the assessment grids and thereby shaping the learning and assessment process. Students will receive oral and/or written formative feedback throughout the course of study. Frameworks for constructive peer-feedback will also be developed.
Research and Evaluation: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: The Lincoln School of Performing Arts focuses on pedagogy and research by participation at the regular activities of the LPAC (theatre venue with established program and audience) and the introduction of the Critical Encounters. Critical Encounters is an innovative series of lectures, workshops, presentations aiming at leading Performance and Choreography to new areas of practice and discussion. Our goal is to establish Lincoln as a Centre of New Performance Development of international reputation and attention. Invited speakers/workshop facilitators are internationally acclaimed performance makers and performance theoreticians, postgraduate students or sometimes even excellent, critical and reflective work by some of our BA students that pushes the boundaries. Common denominator of this wide variety of guest speakers is our alternative vision to performance and our desire to develop an active research culture that transcends, engages and involves different levels of students and staff. Staff and students on this programme will be encouraged to reflect on the process of studying through the normal feedback opportunities to improve the experience of the current and future cohorts.
Student Voice: Diversity, Difference and Dissensus: It is planned that students will present the findings of their study through a range of dissemination opportunities. These could be amongst peer-groups or to wider external audiences of the LPAC and Critical Encounters. Modules on Curation, Dissemination and Documentation will support students to find their individual voice to express their artistic practices, concepts and methodologies.
Support for research based learning through expert engagement with information resources: Students will engage with a range of specific technical resources and more generic curatorial and managerial based material. The services of the subject academic librarian and the LPAC’s technicians will be available to assist students locate appropriate material.
Creating the Future: Employability, Enterprise, Beyond Employability, Postgraduate: The programme is a highly vocationally driven course that equips students with skills for further development of their artistic practices. The development of master’s level skills of critical evaluation, synthesis of new ideas, management of people and resources in challenging and technologically complex situations, curation and dissemination of artistic practices, distance working and project working will provide a solid support for the enhancement of future careers.