Study Programmes 2006/2007 / Teacher Education / Drama 1  

See also

Drama 1

Location:

Notodden

Duration:

1 year(s)

ECTS:

30

Faculty:

Faculty of Art, Folk Culture and Teacher Education , Department: ILF

Introduction

The curriculum for Drama I forms part of the first year of study of the 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Subject Teacher: Practical and Arts Subjects. The curriculum is based on the national curriculum for drama defined by the Ministry of Education, Research and Church Affairs on 3rd April 2003. The programme in drama is also open to General Teacher Education students and others who require 30 ECTS of the subject drama for their subject specialisation.

To study drama as part of the teacher education means acquiring specialised skills in various types of dramatic fiction and theatre. In the 30 ECTS programme in drama, students will develop skills and insight into how the theatre arts and play may be combined in drama pedagogy. In this study programme, therefore, emphasis is placed on the artistic-pedagogic use of the forms of expression of both the theatre and play.

Being a teacher of drama involves using one’s specialised skills to achieve goals within the sphere of drama-aesthetic expression. In the 10-year compulsory school, this is associated with the school’s subjects, themes and project work.

Aim of the Programme

Focus on the target areas will ensure a mixture of personal-expression skills, theoretical knowledge, practice training, didactic reflection and professional development. One’s ability to convey personal expression is a premise for didactic work with the expressive skills of children, and will therefore be emphasised.

Curriculum and structure

Subject and subject-didactic knowledge

Students will acquire fundamental aesthetic knowledge and experience, based on practical-artistic creative activity.

Students must be active and engaged in their own learning processes, which consist of developing their own knowledge of the subject drama, skills and ability to communicate within the four main areas of the study programme:

The student will develop skills in:

Theatrical production

Students will develop an understanding of various dramatic skills and forms which are necessary prerequisites for carrying out drama-related pedagogical activities.

Students will learn to:

Experimental drama activities and subject-didactics

In this main course students will acquire insight into, and gain experience of, using drama as a teaching method. Emphasis will be placed on stimulating the senses and experience-based teaching methods – i.e. aesthetic experience, recognition and reflection – will be central to drama didactics. Learning processes will be determined by the school’s choice of content and drama-methodological choice of form. Experimentation will take place through practical work and teaching, a teaching practice and seminars.

The student should be able to apply theoretical knowledge about:

Students will acquire a fundamental understanding of the relation between theory and practical activities by:

Subject theory

Students will acquire insight into and have the opportunity for theoretical reflection within the areas of :

BEING A DRAMA TEACHER

Students will become acquainted with how drama can be used as a teaching method. The many subjects, topics and projects of schools determine their content, and the student’s knowledge of the relationships between play, art and pedagogy determine methods of work. The student will acquire knowledge and skills in using drama in order to activate pupils’ aesthetic learning processes. The student will build up his/her ability as a drama teacher through subject-knowledge, didactic knowledge, co-operation and reflection.

CO-OPERATION AND REFLECTION

Drama is a method of teaching that is used already in the first year in primary schools. The student will also be able to make use of their basic education in drama, for instance, in practice placements at drama and cultural schools during later stages of their education. The student will also be able to participate in up to two-week practice placements at other relevant institutions at a later point during the programme, where drama will be focused on (see information on flexible practice placements in the Practice Handbook). Students will be able to experience the various aspects of theatre production and analysis of theatre through co-operation with the regional theatres, for example, at Teater Ibsen and Grenland, Friteater.

Students will:

Teaching and learning methods

PERIODS OF STUDY THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR

The autumn and the spring semesters are divided into different periods, with various requirements associated with each period of study. The various periods act as indicators of progress and the study programme’s requirements will be evaluated on the basis of a pass/fail grade for each period. Many of the assignments will be related to work that is described in greater detail under Joint Subjects.

Drama will be taught during the first year of study in interdisciplinary cooperation with the subjects pedagogy and Norwegian. This interdisciplinary work is described separately under Joint Subjects. Other arrangements will be made for students who are not part of the Practical and Arts Subjects programme.

Autumn: period 1

Basic training

Students will acquire basic knowledge and skills associated with forms of dramatic expression. The period will include workshop and teacher-directed activities, including training with vehicles of expression, such as body and voice; improvisation; and basic introduction to role-play and dramatic fiction, cooperation, aesthetic interaction, communication and oral mediation. Logbooks, group exercises and other written work related to aesthetic theory will be carried out at arranged intervals and will act as indicators for the assessment at the end of the period.

There will be interdisciplinary co-operation with the subjects of Norwegian and pedagogy throughout the period.

There will also be a teaching practice period of 2 weeks (cf. see Practice Handbook)*. *NB, this practice period applies to Practical and Arts Subjects’ students, other practice arrangements will apply for other students.

The theoretical basis of the subject will take the form of fundamental concepts related to drama and theatrical work and aesthetic theory, and to subjects concerning theatre history.

Period 2

Theatrical productions

The focus will be on dramatisation and development of acting skills. The student will evaluate and make use of dramatic forms of expression in a theatrical production.

Students will gain an understanding of fundamental elements within drama as well as various tools and choices, by working on dramatising a script for a scene.

The period will end with the presentation of the production. Work on the piece involves an interdisciplinary cooperation between drama and pedagogy. The work will be documented and presented visually and in written form (see information on Joint Subjects).

Together with the theatrical production the student will be required to complete a number of specific requirements in order to achieve a passing grade for this period.

This period of study also involves a study-trip; students can expect to incur expenses in connection with this trip.

The theoretical foundation of the subject includes the fundamental concepts and theatre-historical topics related to drama and theatre activities.

Spring: Period 3

Drama didactics

This period includes activities using exploratory drama and drama as teaching methods. The student will develop skills using drama in teaching in school. This will involve students using drama to activate pupils in the learning process during practice placements, through the use of aesthetic language forms. A 4-week teaching practice in a primary/lower secondary school is included during this period. For this period the student will be required to complete the teaching practice and other study requirements. The aims for this period are connected to using drama in primary/lower secondary school and didactics for the aesthetic dimension. This period of teaching practice applies to Practical and Arts Subjects’ students; for other students the teaching practice will be arranged to suit their studies.

The theoretical foundation of the subject includes aspects of drama didactics history and theory, arts pedagogy and didactics for the aesthetic dimension.

Period 4

Practical-artistic activities for children

Exam-related work

This period includes two theatrical productions, of which one will be assessed.

Theatrical production 1

Students will produce a dramatic piece for children/youth based on fairytale/story, picture book or myth.

Evaluation will be based on aesthetic and ethical elements.

Theatrical production 2 – exam-related

The period also includes a project in which students create and present a production in relation to a specific target-group in accordance with specific requirements. Students will be required to demonstrate a variety of abilities within the field, and use dramaturgical tools in the presentation. The production will be graded and will be included in the student’s final grade (40%).

The theoretical basis for this course is theatre theory.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Teaching and supervision will be carried out by means of:

STUDY PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS

In order to receive a passing grade for the programme students are required to participate in all the activities and complete all assignments, group-exercises and other requirements within the required time limits. The various assignments will be specified during each period.

Teaching

Attendance at all the practical-artistic teaching, supervision and group-work is necessary and compulsory. 80% attendance is the minimum requirement for each period.

Study requirements also involve completion and attendance of:

There is a possibility that each of these subjects will be assessed, either in the form of written work, or other form of assessment (i.e. the student portfolio). This will be detailed in the semester plan.

Portfolio

Students will be required to present examples of their written work and to document practical work, for example by means of photos and video-extracts.

These may include:

Assessment Methods

Students must have completed all of the study programme requirements related to the various periods and/or have submitted within the deadline and have had them approved as a ‘pass’ in order to sit the final examination.

Individual presentation portfolio: 60% of final grade

The portfolio consists of:

  1. up to 4 assignments selected from the portfolio of work
  2. a reflective note/ meta-text (written, individual)

The portfolio may be discussed in the oral examination.

Practical-artistic examination (at the end of Period 4): 40% of final grade

There will be a group test in the form of scenic work that will be followed by an oral exam.

The oral examination may be carried out on an individual basis and related to the portfolio.

The student will be awarded a final grade from A-F, where A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade. Each course unit must achieve a passing grade in order for the student to achieve a final passing grade. For further information, please refer to the Examination Regulation at Telemark University College.


Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean