Taipei European School’s Post

The post below is a super interesting read that clearly underscores what anyone providing arts education access to young people knows - that the arts, drama and performing arts make for a more rounded education and expanded thinking for young people, which directly and positively impacts the academic and psycho-social outcomes. Which poses rhetorical question why is finding it so often not a priority? 🧐

Will ‘Change’ make Drama and Theatre Education an entitlement for all children and young people? The learning potential of Drama is internationally recognised for its contribution to the development of a healthy, humane, empathetic, creative and democratic society. It is a statutory requirement in many countries, including Scotland and Wales. But not in England’s schools. The curriculum provision for the arts in England has been re-shaped by an academy structure, an assessment-driven curriculum, and mandatory inspections that result in competitive school league tables. It should be every child’s entitlement to experience: Ø Drama as a Foundation Subject in the National Curriculum, with the same status as Art and Music; Ø At least one annual engagement with professional theatre; Ø A drama curriculum and theatre repertoire that is more representative of the UK’s diverse population. National Drama have advocated for these three aims throughout the year. How? Ø Inputs at the party Conferences; Ø Through the Seize the Day initiative, which has now involved over 400 schools and theatres; Ø Presented to the Shadow Education Team; Ø Produced a generic curriculum statement for primary, secondary and SEND Drama; Ø Published advocacy-curriculum statements to support teachers; Ø Presented evidence to the House of Lords 11-16 Curriculum Enquiry; Ø Hosted a two-day conference for secondary Drama Specialist teachers; Ø Planned a national Drama Primary Conference in Stockport in September 2024;. Ø Hosted a one-day workshop for SEND Education at the University of Reading; Ø Facilitated a Forum for chairs of Drama Associations and administrators of drama social media groups;. Ø Presented evidence to the Shadow Cultural Minister, Chris Bryant MP; Ø Started discussions on a draft National Plan for Drama, equivalent to the Music Plan; One can only hope that all of our advocacy strategies will play a part in raising the profile and addressing the inequalities that now pervade the education provision in England. We need ‘change’, no matter how gradual it might be.

So, it's September 15th and "Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding its Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits" has now been out for 50 days! I think my first set of posts describing the book started 50 days before publication date, so I've been at this for a bit. Still figuring it out - marketing and publicizing a book is very different from submitting and editing the peer reviewed psychology journal publications I'm used to!! If anyone has ideas or tips for how to let educators, administrators, actors, and advocates of arts education and theatre about the free materials (executive summary, downloadable posters, teacher toolkit) available on TheatreEdMatters.com and the book, available every where online books are sold https://lnkd.in/eyqC6R7G, https://lnkd.in/evM49fti please reach out or comment - I'm so very open to suggestions!

It's book release day!!!!! (Although it's been shipping for a few weeks already). "Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding its Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits" is now officially out in the world. This has been a labor of love that crosses 19 years of work, from my very first semester of grad school, when I discovered there wasn't much in the way of empirical research on theatre and empathy. It's followed me through 4 labs, and more than 35 different research projects (!?!@>%@#) My hope for the book is that it gives a language and structure for acting teachers to talk about what it is they are teaching students in classrooms; that is gives actors and performers ideas about the different psychological skills they are using while acting; that it gives researchers ideas of where this totally unrealized area of arts education research can go next; that it gives arts education advocates a strong perspective and stance from which to argue the value of theatre for everyone, for always. For those of you who are interested and have ordered and read it- thank you! I hope you love it. https://lnkd.in/evM49fti

REVEALED! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN! The Drama Victoria Annual Conference will take place on Thursday 28 & Friday 29 November, 2024. We are seeking submissions for workshops and presentations that respond to the conference theme and its subthemes below: REVEAL: Unlocking the Mystery of Drama and Theatre Education for the Future Step into the world of intrigue and imagination at "Reveal," a conference designed for Drama and Theatre educators seeking to investigate the secrets of teaching excellence. In a world where students spend most of their time online, we need Drama and Theatre more than ever, and we need it to be engaging. Integrating global pedagogical approaches and skills for tomorrow’s artists, this conference promises to be an immersive experience. Setting the Scene: A Global Perspective (Curriculum) "Setting the Scene" delves into creating an engaging and dynamic Drama and Theatre classroom that focuses on implementing lesson and unit design, including the role technology can play in enhancing teaching and learning. The Action: "The Action" represents an opportunity for teachers to engage in energetic, exciting and practical workshops that captivate students and leave them inspired by the power of theatre. Unravelling Clues: "Unravelling Clues" offers Drama and Theatre teachers a journey into education research and industry, which informs best practice. Through in-depth investigations, delegates embark on a quest to uncover the secrets behind some of the best practices in Drama and Theatre education. Solving the Mystery: "Solving the Mystery" delves into some of the challenges faced by Drama and Theatre educators in the classroom. These workshops will explore behaviour management strategies, the cultivation of 21st-century skills, sustainability practices, and reconciliation. Submit your presenation or workshop here: https://lnkd.in/g9T4Ht73

This article is what everyone is talking about today. We are thrilled to see this spotlight on acting training, it helps us talk about it more openly together. That’s what this community is for. There is the craft of acting but also the craft of acting teaching and this article is a perfect example how the two get lumped in together. Acting training has changed, the classrooms the students and the environments have radically shifted. We must have ALL the conversations so that we can grow and evolve! https://lnkd.in/eHPAAeky

🌟 ADR Beginner Advice 🌟: How to better your VO career effectively. "How do I get into such and such studio?" "How can I separate my auditions/reels from the thousands of other VAs?" I get asked these questions or similar stuff frequently. We all know that VA, improv, audition classes help massively, no question, but you know what also helps? Just plain ol ACTING classes. Like classical acting classes. You can have all the VA training you want, but if you also havent gone to school/taken classes to understand the nuances, subtlety, and science behind performance in general, I HIGHLY suggest adding that to your arsenal if you can afford it. Grab a theatrical coach, take a Shakespeare class, enroll in a Stanislavski/Meisner/Chekhov/Adler workshop, anything! I know there's some social media groups who have free acting intensives with other fellow actors in case money is tight. I've been in the VO community a few years, but I've been a professional actor for about 14 years now, and the skills I've learned in classical acting translate smoothly into the more grounded performances that VO is demanding more of now. Hope this helps even 1 person in the beginning of their VO journey. 🙏

Maybe one day a sign like this will be visible... Captions are not typically displayed in cinemas or at the theatre, but I have the option to run live captions on my phone, as do many other people. You might see the problem here. We're not allowed to be on phones in these places, so can't even use that as an option either, meaning at least 1 in 5 people are missing out on the performance. Context 🧩 We need context to understand the circumstances leading up to, during and following an event, statement or idea 💡 Have you ever walked in a room and people are halfway through a conversation or joke and you desperately want to know the bits you missed? It's like that, but all the time when you have hearing loss. This is why captions are essential. They provide context. Captions are additional details (provided in brackets), to support those with hearing loss that might not have heard them, such as: 🦻 (Car approaching) 🦻 (Dog howling in distance) 🦻 (Vocalising) 🦻 (Tap dripping) 🦻 (Audience applaud loudly) 💡Subtitles vs captions (what's the difference?) Subtitles translate the language used to your preferred language, so you can understand it. Captions provide context. Closed captions (cc) have the option to be switched on or off by viewers. Open captions are displayed with no option to switch off by viewers. You can support your colleagues by always having an option for captions in online meetings, especially on Zoom as the host needs to authorise this. Captions are also useful for situations when playing sound is not appropriate, such as on public transport, in the middle of the night or for speakers of other languages that need the translation. Do you use captions? #language #captions #Subtitles #accessibility #inclusion #cinema #theatre

Looking for guidance on the new Expressive Reading task which is part of the Trinity Acting exams? Our blog outlines in detail how this task works at each grade, what examiners are looking for and how you can assist your students to excel in this element of their exam. It also includes a helpful video by lead examiner Joanna Harte. Take a look here: https://hubs.la/Q02DQpRH0 #TrinityDrama #DramaEducation #DramaTeacher #Acting #ExpressiveReading #ActingExam

Title: Integrating Theatre into Pedagogy: Enhancing Communication and Confidence in Education Are you looking to revolutionise your teaching methods and instil confidence in your students? Look no further than integrating theatre into pedagogy! As a student of B.El.Ed., I've had the privilege of experiencing firsthand the transformative power of incorporating theatre into education through our theatre practicum. In our practicum, behrupiya (traditional Indian street performance) plays a pivotal role, providing invaluable lessons in public speaking, communication, and interpersonal skills. By seamlessly blending theatre techniques with innovative pedagogical approaches, we not only engage students but also cultivate a dynamic learning environment. However, integrating theatre into education comes with its own set of challenges. One major obstacle is overcoming stage fright and self-consciousness, both for educators and students. It's essential to create a safe and supportive space where individuals feel empowered to step out of their comfort zones and explore their potential. To overcome these challenges, fostering a culture of openness and encouragement is key. Emphasising the separation of personal identity from performance allows individuals to embrace vulnerability and take risks without fear of judgement. Additionally, providing constructive feedback and incorporating reflective practices help cultivate self-awareness and continuous growth. I chose the character of a Tarot card reader and this has been a great opportunity to interact with people with a totally different perspective. My key takeaway from this experience is the importance of confidence in both teaching and learning. Being shameless in our pursuit of knowledge and growth enables us to push boundaries and unleash our full potential.Join me in embracing theatre as a powerful tool for enhancing communication, confidence, and creativity in education. Together, let's ignite a passion for learning that extends beyond the classroom walls! #TheatreInEducation #InnovativeTeaching #CommunicationSkills #EducationTransformation #StudentEngagement #CreativeLearning