Module: The Drama Continuum: From Make Believe Play to Theatre

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	The Drama Continuum: From Make Believe Play to Theatre
Module Code	AP206 (ITS) / EDP1004 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Institute of Education	School	Arts Education & Movement
Module Co-ordinator	Sharon Mcardle
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

The aim of this module is to prepare students to effectively participate in the Drama continuum - from process Drama to Performance Drama and investigate the relationship between both forms. The course will give students the skills to be able to facilitate meaningful, creative and socially conscious drama programs within primary school settings. The central activity of the semester will involve participants in devising a collaborative theatre piece aimed for a primary school audience, which addresses social justice issues of interest to the group. The aim of the module is to empower students to develop agency, to promote global citizenship, inclusive and human rights education. It aims to foster a creative mindset among students, and encourage reflective practice in supporting the process of portfolio-based learning. Students will develop artistic and collaborative partnerships with a number of professional external agencies such as; Ombudsman for Children's office, Fighting Words, World Vision, Theatre Company, Arts advocates as well as a relationship with a local Primary School as learning community. The use of creative pedagogies and digital technologies to support teaching and learning will be a guiding principle of this module. The module will include some direct teaching but will mainly use a structured workshop approach with an emphasis on experiential learning.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and apply appropriate pedagogical approaches and key principles involved in devising theatre with due regard to inclusive education and global citizenship education.
2. Reflect on the external partnerships involved in the collaborative process of devising social justice theatre
3. Demonstrate relevant creative skills and pedagogies in workshop facilitation and ensemble playing when devising theatre.
4. Present a collaborative devised theatre piece aimed at primary school audience which explores a social justice issue
5. Record and evaluate the Devising Process through the lens of social consciousness
6. Demonstrate application of the concept of the student as an active learner, creative thinker, innovator, self-reflective, life-long learner in relation to the continuum of drama education.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Workshop	14	Practice and reflection
Lecture	4	lecture
Class Presentation	4	Small group Presentation Devised theatre performance
Independent Study	42	reading and viewing multimedia resources before and after lectures/workshops
Group work	25	Preparation for small group presentation and devised theatre performance
Directed learning	35	Engagement with specific materials including online resources to support learning
Total Workload: 124

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Drama Continuum - From Process Drama to Performance
The contribution of Drama educationalists and practitioners will be visited with specific focus on Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed. Key concepts and Principles of Drama and devised theatre will be employed for their pedagogical processes of making theatre and their impact in creating empowering learning mediums that promote creativity, inclusivity, well-being, interculturalism, identity, agency, global citizenship and social consciousness. Practical devising workshop skills will include:drama facilitation, ensemble work, devising, drama outreach facilitation.

Partnerships, Professional Relationships, Identity.
Partnerships and professional relationships will be established with external agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations, theatre companies and primary schools allowing partners to work and learn collaboratively in teacher education. They will include a number of the following: Ombudsmans for Children's Office, World Vision, Fighting Words and Theatre companies dedicated to making socially conscious programs. Students will be supported and guided to become self-reflective practitioners and agents for social change through ongoing journal work and drama activities.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	A critical reflection on the nature of devised theatre for a young audience as a means of exploring a social justice issue.	80%	n/a
Group presentation	Small group Presentation based on social justice issues and contribution of theatre movements as a means of promoting agency and social change.	10%	n/a
Participation	Student participation in workshops and final presentation	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Bicat, Tina and Baldwin, Chris: 2002, Devised and Collaborative Theatre, Crowood Press,
Boal, Augusto: 1992, Games for actors and non-actors, Routledge, London,
Johnstone, Keith: 0, Improv, Metheun,
Oddey, Alison: 0, Devising theatre: A practical handbook and theoretical handbook, Routledge,
Poulter, Christine: 1987, Playing the Game, Palgrave,
Taylor, P.: 2003, Applied Theatre: creating transformative encounters in the community., N.H. Heinemann,

Other Resources

0, Website, OCO, 0, Ombudsman for Children's Office, http://www.oco.ie, 0, website, WV, 0, World Vision, http://www.worldvision.ie, 0, website, FW, 0, Fighting Words, http://www.fightingwords.ie, 0, website, AiE, 0, Arts in Education, http://www.artsineducation.ie, 0, website, The Ark, 0, Cultural Centre for Children, http://ark.ie,