The Development of Professional Vision in An Embodied Learning Environment: An Empirical Study on Youth Ballet Learners
Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Peng, Xinyun
Graduate Program:
Learning, Design, and Technology (PHD)
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
December 08, 2022
Committee Members:
Ty Hollett, Major Field Member Susan Land, Chair & Dissertation Advisor Roy Clariana, Major Field Member Amy Farris, Outside Unit & Field Member Susan Land, Program Head/Chair
Keywords:
Professional Vision Reflective Practices Embodied Learning Ballet Learning
Abstract:
discipline. The concept of professional vision expands the breadth of professional learning research when used as the central concept to study professional learning and development in an embodied learning environment. This dissertation sought to investigate 1) the nature of professional vision in the context of ballet teaching and learning, and 2) how youth ballet students gradually established their professional
vision through various reflective practices. I analyzed the data acquired from an advanced ballet class at a performing arts school using a professional vision skills-contents framework adapted from professional vision- and reflection-related studies. Then, the in-depth analysis of how reflective practices influenced the process of professional vision development was conducted using the reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action model (Schön, 1987). The findings indicated that embodied reflection played a unique and crucial role in ballet professional vision in terms of facilitating information processing and that other forms of reflections deepened the embodied practices. The findings also revealed that the video-analysis-based technology supported embodied reflection between students and teacher in refined and intersecting ways. All findings together implied that the intricate professional vision development process involving instructors, students,
video-analysis technology across time and space can be explained by the concept cascading effect. Possible future research directions could include the measurement and application of professional vision understanding in other contexts, as well as its relationship with relevant theoretical models.
