Using theatre techniques as a tool to enable active learning : searching for a pedagogy to transform spectators into spect-actors

[摘要] In Britain provision is made for students with a low Basic Skills level (literacy andnumeracy) to continue with their post-GCSE education in a low level vocationalcourse. These low level courses aim to teach students basic, life and vocationalskills necessary to progress to the next level. This study aims to find a pedagogywhich is suited to the needs of these marginalised students and transforms themfrom spectators into spect-actors.Two programmes were designed, implemented, managed and measured by thisstudy in order to find the pedagogy best suited to the needs of these students.Programme 1 was based on ideas by the educationalists Kolb, Petty, Honey andMumford; and aimed to empower students with the basic and life skills necessaryfor progression.Programme 1 failed as the mostly narrative pedagogy was associated with asimilar pedagogy used in schools. Assessment methods were unsuitable and thecourse paid more attention to the needs of the group than the needs of theindividual.Programme 2 aimed to actively involve students in the learning of skills essentialto progression and was based on theatrical techniques. Augusto Boal's Theatreof the Oppressed techniques, especially Forum Theatre, formed the basis of thestudent-centred programme. Boal's interactive theatre techniques, together withideas taken from Aristotle, Artaud, Brecht, Heathcote and Freire formed thepedagogy of an interactive course where the focus fell on the needs of theindividual student.This study found that Programme 2 was successful. Students took to the taskbasedinteractive course where all solutions to problems were found by means ofactive investigation, no theorem was learned without application and no action took place without a purpose. Students changed from spectators into spectactorswith a view that the world is not stagnant but transformable. Achievementand success rates back up the findings.The interactive pedagogy using theatre techniques to teach can be appliedacross the curriculum and it is suggested that such courses should run alongsidemain stream academic courses to accommodate the learning of all students.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University