The+significance+of+the+issue+and+the+researcher

**The significance of the issue and the researcher **

In this modern era the use of technology is commonly used in society. Technology in education is more widespread than researching on the internet and word processing assignments. There is large scope for the use of modern technology in dance education to increase student engagment. Since the beginnning of motion laboratories the implication on animation and video film clips has opened up a whole new universe for creative personnal. There are many programs available for students to create animated dances and to create avatars for the virtual dancer. These include “Lifeforms”, ‘Danceforms” and “Stage Struck”. The introduction of YouTube has allowed dance educators and students to have the ability to research and post original dance compositions on the internet in a simple and clear manner. This, in addition to the rise of reality dance programs including, So you think you can Dance and **Dancing with the Stars** have brought reinvented dance and have provoked viewers to take an interest in the artform of dance. The researcher is a performing arts educator whose research interests include exposing all students to unique dance experiences and providing access to pedagogy not available at private dance institutions. Private institutions focus on technique and the performance skills. As an enthusiastic educator, the researcher deems it important to teach composition and design methods within dance curriculum. Like all performing arts teachers and practitioners, not all dance teachers, are experts in the vast assortments of dance styles. It is very difficult to be proficient in all styles due to their varying demands and underlying principles of the technique. Unlike Physical education teachers teachers you can’t just learn the rules in order to teach it. A tap teacher can understand the principles of “Classical Ballet” and “Pas de deux” but cannot always execute the combinations proficiently. In recent times, teachers can now use technology to asssit them using the elements of a virtual classroom. There is also scope for the use of technology for other purposes within the dance curriculum such as self-assessment and refinement. Students can record and view their compositions in order to improve their choreography and its execution. Like in mose subjects, evaluation and reflection is an important tool in a student’s quest on self-discovery in order to create life long learners. Within the researcher's classroom an Iphone is used with video clips (external and internal) and music to play through stereo connections and data projectors. To further enhance andrefine this unique method of assessment and drafting, the researcher is examining and trialling ways to VOD/PODCast class performancwes and rehearsals and package it to students either via Learning Management systems such as Scholaris, Ultranet, and Moodle or during class time.

The researcher uses a didactic-democratic model. She believes that the fundamentals of education are finding the balance between ‘teaching by showing’ (didactic) and learning to work in a collaborative and peer influenced manner (democratic). In dance, it is important to know the fundamental skills and execution of technique and then the application of them in rhythmic choreography. A kinesthetic approach is in teaching choreography. It is difficult to demonstrate the ability to choreograph however the emphasis needs to be on demonstrating the importance of the personal learning goals and setting achievable goals within a set time frame.