Session Two
SESSION TWO DESCRIPTIONS
Curriculum
Session: 2.1
Title: Delve into Drama in the Arts National Curriculum: A round table/forum for Drama Australia voices about the Arts National Curriculum
Presenters: Robin Pascoe, Murdoch University & Christine Adams, Curriculum Council of Western Australia
Suitability: All
Form: Forum/Round table
Description:
This forum is designed to focus on the conference theme of curriculum. Our aim as conveners of this forum is to provide space and opportunity for a range of informed drama educators to comment on and discuss both the emerging Arts Australian Curriculum and within it the Australian Drama Curriculum. As an informed discussion there will be opportunities for lively
debate and sharing of opinions and ideas. This forum is specifically targeted for a wide range of Drama Australia conference participants. Participants should leave the forum better informed and oriented towards the likely outcomes of the Arts Australian Curriculum and its potential impact on their teaching practice, students and classrooms. The forum aims to focus on: what might be necessary for primary teachers – generalist primary teachers; and potential impact on senior secondary Drama.
Biography:
Robin Pascoe is currently Senior Lecturer in Arts and Drama Education in the School of Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. He is Chief Examiner for WACE Drama and also a member of the Advisory Group on the ACARA Arts National Curriculum development. He is a former President of Drama Australia.
Christine Adams is the Drama Curriculum Officer at the Curriculum Council of Western Australia and co president of DramaWest. She has taught a range of age groups over many years and looked after the development of K-10 curriculum materials as well as the writing and implementation of the WA senior secondary Drama curriculum.
Research
Session: 2.2A
Title: An advantageous introduction: Sociocultural theory meets drama pedagogy
Presenter: Caitlin Munday
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
This presentation will explore the potential of sociocultural theory to provide a more comprehensive and theoretically grounded understanding of the learning and teaching processes and practices that characterize effective drama pedagogy. The presentation will investigate the many points of convergence between sociocultural theory and effective drama pedagogy, positing that such alignment will not only inform and enrich how educators and the wider drama community interpret and understand learning and teaching processes but will also help explain, justify and add weight to existing claims regarding the validity and value of drama education. This research is part of a larger ARC Linkage project entitled The role of arts education in academic motivation, engagement and achievement currently being conducted in partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts. The presentation will include opportunities for discussion and questions.
Biography:
Caitlin Munday is currently enrolled in a doctorate of philosophy with the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. Her undergraduate degree was in secondary Drama and English education, and it was during this degree that she became particularly interested in drama education research. Her research interests include: ethnomethodology, drama and issues of social justice, and more recently the relationship between sociocultural learning theory and effective drama pedagogy.
Session: 2.2B
Title: Delving Deeper: Researching our Work
Presenter: Michael Anderson for Kelly Freebody, The University of Sydney
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
This paper is aimed at teachers who are interested in using research to develop a deeper understanding of their work. Researching our practice allows us not only to extend and improve, but also allows us to speak to policy makers and school leaders regarding the effectiveness of our work. This paper will be a practical, instructional discussion regarding the opportunities, possibilities and processes involved with undertaking research in the classroom. It is aimed at teachers who are interested undertaking formal or informal research in their schools and those seeking to undertake a research-higher degree (such as a masters or PhD).
Biography:
Dr Michael Anderson is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Strategic Communications in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. His research and teaching concentrates on how arts educators begin, evolve and achieve growth in their careers and how students engage with arts and technology to learn and create in arts education.
Kelly Freebody is a lecturer at The University of Sydney. Her teaching and research interests include educational drama, drama curriculum, social justice and research methods.
Research
Session: 2.3A
Title: The Practicum Experiences of Pre-Service Drama Teachers
Presenter: Christina Gray, Edith Cowan University
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
The teaching practicum provides an opportunity for pre-service teachers to develop their teaching skills, pursue professional inquiry into practice and work with school students alongside experienced teachers in a school context. This paper will explore research conducted as part of my PhD into the practicum experiences of pre-service drama teachers. The experiences are conveyed using focus group and individual interviews, lesson observations, journal reflections and practicum evaluations, which provide a unique and insightful perspective to the practicum experience. The research will inform a contemporary understanding of the teaching practicum and associated issues experienced by pre-service drama teachers. This is instrumental in ensuring teacher training is able to equip pre-service teachers with skills and understanding needed to experience success during the practicum and beyond.
Biography:
Teaching drama since 1992, Christina Gray has worked at a variety of schools and more recently Edith Cowan University predominately in Drama Education. Christina has been an examiner for the Drama Studies exams, DET representative on the Drama Syllabus Committee, moderator for the Curriculum Council, member of the Drama Teacher Development Centre (TDC) and involved in the development and implementation of the new Drama Course.
Session: 2.3 B
Title: ‘We don’t want him in our group’ - group dynamics in the drama classroom
Presenter: Richard Sallis, University of Melbourne
Suitability: All
Form: Paper
Description:
This paper delves under the surface of the drama program at an inner-city government secondary school and looks at the classroom dynamics and social politics that come into play when male and female students work together in groups. The paper is based on some of the findings of Richard’s recent PhD research where he studied boys’ participation in drama in years 7, 8, 11 and 12 at the school. He found that when working in small groups in drama, the students orchestrated, manipulated and subverted the composition and working processes of the group. An unexpected finding of the research was how, when working with boys, the female students consciously and intentionally employed strategies which fostered and enhanced the boys’ participation in the subject. He will also discuss how the pedagogical environment of the drama classroom and particular teaching techniques can enhance student participation in drama.
Biography:
Richard Sallis lectures in drama/theatre education at the University of Melbourne. He is the Director of International Liaison for Drama Australia, a trustee of the Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation and a Board member of the Arena Theatre Company. His research interests include boys’ education, diversity and equity in drama/theatre and ethnodrama.
eLearning
Session: 2.4
Title: Ipad performance plus ++
Presenter: Dr Sue Davis, Central Queensland University & Mary Eggleston, School of Dramatic Arts, 2Muse Productions
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This workshop will focus on exploring the potential uses of iPad applications and other digital technologies in the creation and sharing of live performance work. This will include examples drawn from 2Muse Productions’ youth performance projects ‘Cleo Missing’ and ‘Epiphany’. Participants will be involved in creating characters using old technologies and new, making puppets and creating voices and soundscapes to create performance moments. Participants are invited to bring in their own mobile phones and iPads if they have them, though this is not a requirement for participating.
Biography:
Sue Davis is a lecturer and writer, and formerly a Drama teacher and HOD for over 20 years. Her work includes exploring the ways that technologies can be used for creating drama. She sits on state education advisory panels for Senior Drama and The Arts and manages arts-based community projects, writing and directing performance work. She is one of the writers of the Senior Drama textbook ‘Dramatexts: Creative Practice for Senior Drama Students’.
Beginning Teachers
Session: 2.5
Title: Unleash your potential! – Practical advice for establishing and developing your role as a Drama teacher in schools.
Presenters: Joanne Brasch-McPhee & Bruce McPhee (the workshop will also include a panel of Drama teachers from Mt St Michael’s College; Deb Lonsdale-Walker, Madonna Kelly and Sharon Porter)
Suitability: All
Form: Workshop
Description:
What is the role of the Drama teacher in schools today? This workshop will draw on the expertise of 5 Drama teachers with diverse teaching experiences and backgrounds who will offer practical activities and theoretical advice for beginning and developing teachers. The focus for this session will be: establishing your role within the school; strengthening the profile of Drama within the school; and curriculum development. Opportunities will be provided for participants to ask the panel for advice regarding their own teaching context.
Biography:
Jo Brasch-McPhee has taught year 5-12 Drama in state and independent, regional and city schools for 17 years. Jo has held a variety of PAR positions including Assistant to the HOD – Dance/Drama at All Hallows’ School and in 2012 will be job sharing the HOD of Performing Arts role at Mt St Michael’s College. Jo has been a committee member on Drama Queensland, presented workshops at Drama and Beginning Teacher conferences, has been a Drama panelist and is a District Panel Chair for Dance.
Bruce McPhee has been teaching Drama in secondary regional and city schools for 15 years. He has presented workshops at Beginning Teacher conferences and to QUT pre-service teachers. Bruce has had experience in a range of leadership positions such as Head of Department, Year Co-ordinator, Middle School Co-ordinator and Deputy Principal.
Teaching and Learning: Primary Years
Session: 2.6
Title: Drama as a Tool of Engagement- Delving into Literary Texts
Presenter: Joan Cassidy, Brisbane Bayside State College
Suitability: Primary & Middle Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This workshop will involve participants in a series of mini drama lessons demonstrating how teachers can enthuse students about reading and writing literary texts. The workshop is particularly targeted at primary and secondary teachers (of Drama and/or English) who wish to exploit dramatic conventions to engage students who are preparing for NAPLAN. These strategies enable students to get inside the texts; interpret their meaning; empathise with varying viewpoints and express their understanding through dramatic action.
Biography:
For 30 years, Joan Cassidy has taught Drama in Education; Drama as Education and Drama as Theatre. She is a founding member of Drama Australia and a Life Member of Drama Queensland. Currently as Head of Department (The Arts) she leads a team of inspirational drama, dance, media, music and visual arts teachers in a new state of the art school in Brisbane’s Bayside. As a recipient of Regional Arts Development Fund Grants; QTC’s Regional Partnership Program and member of the QTC Youth Education Reference Group she has a long standing commitment to support young people to engage with theatre and drama in school and beyond.
Teaching and Learning: Middle Years
Session: 2.7
Title: Improvisation and Realism
Presenter: Jane Simmons, St Andrew’s Cathedral School
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This workshop is designed for new & experienced teachers who want to extend their skills for teaching improvisation in how to create truth and belief on stage. Using simple practical exercises and a handout you can take with you, this workshop will teach you how to unpack practitioners like Stanislavksi and the modern realist theorists and assist students in taking that bold step into reacting with realism on stage. Wear comfortable clothing - this is a practical workshop.
Biography:
Jane Simmons is a professional improviser who has performed in sell-out seasons in Sydney and in Las Vegas. She is also an international presenter of improvisation and acting, specializing in how to use improvisation to teach dramatic forms and practitioners. Jane is an experienced examiner, reviewer and teacher of Drama and currently runs the Drama Department at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
Teaching and Learning: Middle & Senior Years
Session: 2.8
Title: Easy Technical Theatre in the Classroom
Presenter: Bianca Smalley (SQIT) & Michael Smalley (USQ)
Suitability: Middle & Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
Think technical theatre is complicated? Think again – you are already teaching it! This is a practical workshop aimed at high school teachers, although it is relevant for anyone who explores theatre concepts with young people.
During the workshop you will:
• understand how to develop current drama activities to include technical theatre without expensive equipment
•create technical theatre right there in the room
• get hands on experience with equipment
• learn about the various courses University of Southern Queensland & Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE offer teachers and high school students.
Wear comfortable clothes and be ready to explore the fun of technical theatre. If you have ever run the school production or find technical theatre intimidating come along and discover how simple it really is.
Biography:
Bianca Smalley is a Professional Technical Theatre Artist who has worked with companies such as The Riverina Theatre Company and Trocodero Productions. She has extensive experience with children’s and young people’s theatre, recently working with Canberra Grammar School and Riverina Youth Theatre. She is currently working with SQIT to develop their performing arts program.
Michael Smalley has a Stage Management career that spans three continents including working with Bridewell Theatre (London) and Blyth Festival (Canada). Currently with USQ, Michael is developing technical theatre pedagogy for Australian high school teachers, presenting at international conferences and contributing to industry journals.
Teaching and Learning: Senior Years
Session: 2.9
Title: Delve ‘Outside the Square’
Presenter: Melissa Newton-Turner & Sue Rider
Suitability: Senior Years
Form: Workshop
Description:
This practical workshop invites beginning and experienced secondary Drama teachers to delve into Melissa Newton-Turner’s ‘Outside the Square’ DVD Senior Secondary Drama resource based on Sue Rider’s Australian contemporary play, ‘The Pink Twins’. The workshop, through hands-on activities and discussion/sharing, introduces the play text, the premiere live performance of the play and unpacks this unique resource which includes a 10 week unit integrated with a virtual artist-in-residency program. The resource makes accessible to Drama teachers and students: Australian Drama; contemporary eclectic theatre; the role and skills of the director; and theatre making, ultimately challenging students to think and act ‘outside the square’ in the creation of their own theatrical work. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing.
Biography:
Melissa Newton-Turner worked for 13 years as a secondary Drama teacher and Head of Department throughout schools in south east Queensland. From 2007 - 2011 Melissa worked as a lecturer and tutor at Queensland University of Technology in Drama Curriculum Studies and continues to guest lecture. Melissa also teaches Drama to the Queensland Ballet’s Professional Years students. Melissa is the creator of the newly released Secondary Drama DVD Resource, ‘Outside the Square’ based on Sue Rider’s Australian contemporary eclectic play, ‘The Pink Twins.’
Sue Rider is a Brisbane-based director, writer, dramaturg and actor, interpreting existing works and pursuing the development of new writing in theatre, music theatre, opera, theatre for young people and theatre in galleries. She was Artistic Director of La Boite Theatre from 1993 to 2000 and is recipient of eighteen industry awards in Australia and NZ. An Arts Queensland Creative Fellowship enabled her to write ‘The Pink Twins’, which she developed as a music theatre work with composer John Rodgers and produced with QPAC/Queensland Music Festival in 2009, winning Bell Awards for Best New Work and Best Independent Production. Current projects include development of a new music theatre work inspired by Linda Neil’s memoir ‘Learning How to Breathe’.