FRASER UNIVERSITY

Spring Semester 1999

EDUC 457 - 4 ?

D.Vecchio

Drama and Education

Office: AHCOTE

Location: Northern Lights College,

Tel: ?

(250) 785-6981

Fort St. John Campus

D01.00

Times: Wednesdays 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

PREREQUISITE

Educ 401/402

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course will enable students:

• to acquire knowledge of educational (developmental) drama as a participatory, student-centred mode of learning

• to actively experience and respond to the process of educational drama through a variety of drama games, activities,

themes and exercises

• to develop skills in planning and organising drama lessons and units in the classroom and across the curriculum

• to experience the role of 'teacher' in the drama classroom

• to learn a variety of methodologies in drama education: to become familiar with the use of improvisation, story telling,

reader's theatre, role-playing and drama ensembles in the context of drama education

• to learn authentic assessment and evaluation of drama in the classroom

• to implement teaching strategies that utilise reading, thinking, verbal and non verbal communication, reading and

listening skills

• to learn a context for performance drama that is educational and relevant to curriculum

The course will be primarily focused on practical "hands-on" activities that teachers can use in the classroom. Some

theory of drama education will be discussed. Methods used in class will cover: discussion groups, journals (reflection

papers), lectures, self-evaluation, instructor demonstrations, readings, planning lessons and units and, of course,

participatory drama work.

Participatory work in the course will begin with activities that develop group involvement and build confidence and

trust. Opportunities will be provided for exploring issues and situations through drama, using drama exercises, games,

mime, movement, improvisation, role-playing, language and other forms of self-expression. Emphasis will be dependent

upon student needs, background and interest, working towards sustained drama work that have meaning and value.

The course will focus on using drama "for understanding" - understanding of self, each other, and the world around us.

Whole group role drama and improvisation will be used as an integrated teaching system that promotes positive

self-esteem and child-centred learning. Specifically, the course will teach how to engage children in drama that has its

foundations in active learning through creative and structured play. A method for introducing performance drama will be

explored.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Reflective journal - 15%

2. Unit plan - 20%

3. Ensemble drama - 20%

Participation in class activities - 25%

A 20 minute lesson taught to the class - 10%

A written self-evaluation of learning - 10%

REQUIRED TEXT

Booth, D. & Lundy, C. (1985). Improvisation: Learning Through Drama. Holt, Rinehart & Winston Ltd.

ISBN 0-7747-1211-2.