Contextual practice is important because it enables us to reflect on our work and see what our strengths and weaknesses are. It is important to reflect and write your thoughts down because it is quite telling about how you think, work etc.

In regard to the use it has, it enables us to think critically, and truly confront what our strengths and weaknesses are. Sometimes we do not want to think about our weaknesses, but in a course that is as diagnostic as this one, it is very important to know what you are better and worse at in order to position ourselves for a better future, or in this case the correct specialist pathway. 

Contextual practice can develop our work practically because again, we realize what we are better at doing. With this knowledge, our work will develop around our strengths creating better outcomes. It is important however, to try all techniques, whether we are weak or strong at them. After encountering our weaknesses, and contextualizing upon them, we can move forward working solely with our strengths, again creating quality work. Overall, contextual practice is not always remembered, or prioritized, but it serves a very important purpose in the development of our work.

A major benefit of working in a group is I can receive feedback from my group members regarding my work at any point during the day. Getting different opinions on my direction in any project helps improve the quality of my work so being able to collaborate with group members gives me constant access to constructive criticism. 

My response to the project brief has changed with the introduction of new processes to develop my proposal. The different visualizations and 3-D models we did in class today have enabled me to think more conceptually and without restrictions. These visualization techniques have also allowed me to be more “free” with my drawing and 3-D work, not everything has to be grounded in realism and I can again, be more conceptual with my use of materials in visualizing. This in turn increases the conceptual nature of my proposal. Also, the research involved in this project has enabled me to look for deeper meaning in my -ism and other words as well as the overall meaning of my proposal. My research has guided me towards different ideas that increase the connection of my proposal to my three words without being too literal.

Displaying my work in progress felt exciting, I am always eager to display my work and observe anyone and everyone’s reactions, especially in a group of like minded people. I commented on two projects and made sure my comment was actually constructive. I encouraged one fellow student to be more experimental with her visualizations as that could help her think more conceptually and increase the interest level of her proposal. I wish I did present to the entire class, but in looking at everyone else’s work, I doubted the strength of my own, specifically my visualizations. I need to gain more confidence in the strength of my work and not compare myself to others, and hopefully Thursday after feedback from tutors and other students I will have that confidence.

I found the post it feedback helpful because everyone in the room looking at my work is talented enough to give truly constructive feedback, and the feedback I received definitely shifted my focus on what my strengths are and what I still need to work on. I am always eager to benefit myself because I don’t just want to pass this course but do well.

I learned today to visualize conceptually, and embrace materials and processes that I normally would never think of using. I also learned that I am capable of working with new materials in a short time frame, and be able to produce a lot of proper work in a short class period.