Title
Tiptoeing the line: social justice in the drama classroom

Workshop description
In this workshop we will explore ways to intentionally balance the demands of the curriculum with the desire to teach for a better world. In doing so, we will look at how students might learn both about and through drama within an international school context.

Learning outcomes
Teachers will:
Consider how their own identity and the identities of their students might have an impact on any attempts to teach drama within a DEI/social justice framework.
Consider the opportunities and challenges arising from attempts to teach curriculum drama with an emphasis on DEI/social justice.
Consider how a range of strategies drawn from drama in education might be harnessed to develop a pedagogy of drama teaching oriented towards DEI/social justice.
Start developing a unit of work that enables students to learn both about and through drama.

How will the workshop benefit the teacher in their curriculum delivery?
Many schools claim to be teaching for a better world while also sustaining high levels of academic rigour and achievement. This workshop is designed to help teachers adapt or develop units of work from a DEI/social justice perspective while maintaining a focus on academic progress.

Target audience
All theatre teachers.

Born in Australia and raised in the United Kingdom, I have been teaching drama and English since 1999 – three years in a state comprehensive in England then Thailand (six years), Beijing (five years) and Hong Kong (three years). I now work at Dulwich College (Singapore).

My passion for drama and theatre has developed and grown over the years. I love the way each experience is different—the way the students’ responses to a given theme or text or skill repeatedly confound your expectations and the way drama provides a forum where students’ ideas are genuinely valued.

I have always believed in the power of drama in enabling learners to develop their understanding of the world outside the drama studio. As part of a recently completed MEd course, I wrote a dissertation focused on teaching drama for social justice in an international school context. The reading and research I carried out in preparing that dissertation has encouraged me to go further in advocating for a curriculum orientated towards DEI/social justice. I continue to read, listen and learn about this work and am involved in a group leading DEI efforts in my current school.

Event coordinator
Sophie Galton

Please note participants must attend parts 1 and 2.

Part 1 Europe and Asia
Wednesday 21st July 2021
8:00-10:00am – BST (British Summer Time)
9:00-11:00am – CEST (Central European Standard Time)
3:00-5:00pm – SST (Singapore Standard Time)

Part 2 Europe and Asia
Thursday 22nd July 2021
8:00-10:00am – BST (British Summer Time)
9:00-11:00am – CEST (Central European Standard Time)
3:00-5:00pm – SST (Singapore Standard Time)

The cost of this workshop is GBP £50 per person for ISTA members and GBP £55 per person for non members.

Any materials shared with you prior to the workshop, such as the workbook. A notebook and pencil are always useful.

Space requirements
If possible, please try to have a small amount of space near to you for any practical work.