Assessment 1: One industry performance project, initiated by you, designed to enhance your own identified progression skills needs (80%) [Learning Outcomes 2, 3]

Assessment 2: An evaluation of the project, with findings expressed through a range of communication methods (20%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 2]

Formative assessment: A presentation to peers describing the project you have designed

This module works partly in parallel and partly in response to your work in other modules, such as Creative Influences, where you will have proposed a project and consulted with your tutors about what you would like to do. The work you carry out for the project will be selected to fulfil needs identified by you. You can plan your work so that it is suitable for either an academic pathway or for industry and entrepreneurial progression in Dance and/or Theatre Arts. If your project is to support your progression to further study you should include guidance from a university tutor and other academic contacts, such as students or recent graduates to ensure your project will help your application to your chosen course.

Having proposed the project you will be expected to implement it and then evaluate the outcome. The project should be of an achievable scale, covering all aspects from research and planning through to an evaluation of how it worked out.

A wide range of communication experiences should form part of the module, such as meetings, presentations, writing for different purposes (e.g. bids for funding, extended essays, reports, letters, emails, minutes etc) interviews, promotion, advertising, negotiating techniques etc.

Examples of the kind of work you might carry out are: identifying a new market or target audience and creating a participatory workshop; performing to a local community for an identified purpose such as raising awareness of a topical issue, or engaging in a performance outside the college environment. Alternatively, you might identify a performance venue or event that needs promoting or recording and carry out appropriate research, investigate funding sources and suggest a strategy that meets the targets you have set - this means you could work with fellow students to promote their work.

Whatever work you are involved in, it will lead to an evaluation of the success or otherwise of the project, and you will be expected to share this through a range of communication techniques.

Introduction to module
Project management workshops
Written, visual & oral communication methods
Funding sources and financial planning
Research workshops
Practical studio workshops
Student presentations and evaluation
Individual tutorials

Work practice activities should comprise a minimum 110 hours, and include:

Identification and initiation of a brief
Involvement in meetings
Pitching of proposed responses
Creation of a range of associated written documents (proposals, reports etc)
Management of the design process
Evaluation of the outcome to an audience

You will have access to suitably equipped performance spaces and associated resources in the college.

Students will have access to studio space and college library and computer resources. University learning resources are available on campus at Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, and online via the partner Need to Know pages of the university website.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/partnerships/current_students/email/index.jsp

Belingy, J & Byrne J. (2005) A Dancer's Guide to Getting Work. A&C Black Publisher Ltd.
Burken, A. (2005) The Art of Project Management. OReilly
Cobb, A.(2011) Leading Project Teams: An Introduction to the Basics of Project Management and Project Team Leadership. Sage Publishing Ltd
Owen, J. (2005) How to Lead. Prentice Hall