Course Objectives

Introduction

The curriculum for the specialisation study programme in drama is based on the National Curriculum for the Specialisation in Drama in Pre-school Teacher Education of March 3rd, 1997.

The curriculum is an extension of and specialisation based on courses from the subject-pedagogical study of drama in the first year of study. Students who complete this study programme will qualify for pedagogical work with children in day-care centres, first grade in primary school and in the after-school programme up to the fourth grade.

In day-care centres and primary school, drama-pedagogical activities are intended to stimulate children’s aesthetic development and their ability to express themselves in dramatic forms.

Students will develop insight into how children’s play and theatre art may be combined in drama pedagogy.

The teaching builds upon an understanding of play, dance, theatre and pedagogy, which jointly form the foundation of the subject Drama. The development of students’ skills and experience will be emphasised together with practical and methodical work.

30 ECTS in Drama provides specialisation in selected working and expressive methods in drama-pedagogical activities with children and their experience with their own dramatic presentations.

Target group and admission requirements

The programme is primarily intended for students taking the 3-year pre-school teacher education study programme, and secondarily for post-graduate students.

It is also possible to take a total of 60 ECTS which will provide the foundation for advanced studies in the subject.

Study programme aims

• The student will expand his/her insight into the nature of the Drama subject, and its basis in culture, play, theatre art and art pedagogy. The topics include work with creating fictional situations, producing a gestalt of the roles, acting and dissemination.
• The student will expand his/her understanding of how children create drama, and of the aesthetic aspect of play.

Study programme curriculum - content and structure

Knowledge of the subject

The student will develop understanding of and skills in the subject of drama, within both theoretical themes and practical drama and theatrical work.

Play as a form of aesthetic understanding

European theatre history

Introduction to the history and theory of children’s theatre

Dramaturgy

Drama-pedagogical trends

Body and voice

Improvisation

Dance and expressive movement

Role-play

Dramatic creativity

Theatre for children

Pedagogical activities with children

The student will develop skills in planning, executing and evaluating drama-pedagogical activities by:

• Planning and arranging aesthetic experiences in order to inspire children to engage in dramatic play in day-care centres.
• Discovering drama and theatre activities with children.
• Using various forms of expression and techniques related to development in drama.
• Planning and arranging drama pedagogical activities related to children’s experience of theatre.

Methods and reflection

• Evaluate and analyse theatrical performances for children
• Evaluate and use methods for the development of play for children
• Reflect on the opportunities for learning and knowledge based on the use of theatre and drama in day-care centres
• Identify and formulate drama pedagogical problem approaches for development work in day-care centres
• Learn about methods which are suited to drama pedagogical development work

Learning Methods

The study programme is organised around workshops with mandatory attendance. In case of absence students are required to provide valid documentation before they may receive approval for completing the study programme. In addition students are required to compensate their absence with other assignments they agree on with the subject teacher.

Between the workshops, students will be given assignments which can be completed by using Classfronter (accessible online).

At the beginning of the study programme, in the first workshop session, a 3-day obligatory course in methodology will be arranged.

Teaching and learning methods

• Teacher-directed practical instruction
• Lectures
• Student-directed group work (theatre workshop and drama workshop) with presentations
• Theatre production: theatre for children
• Study trip

The study programme aims to provide a mixture of theatre artistic experience, drama pedagogical practice, theoretical knowledge and reflection.

The student will participate in theatre productions in groups; one of these productions will be performed in front of an audience which includes children.

Obligatory visits to the theatre will be arranged as well as a study trip, so that students will gain insight into theatre for children and adults. Students may expect to incur expenses in connection with the visit to the theatre/ study trip.

The relationship between theory and practice

One week’s teaching practice is included in the spring semester. A practice-project with a subject didactic approach related to the period of teaching practice will be written. Teaching practice may be carried out individually or in groups.

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment

In discussions with teachers and co-students, students will be given the opportunity to evaluate their progress in the subject.

In order to be permitted to take the examination, students must first have submitted their assignments within the designated deadlines and received passing marks; these assignments will be graded on a pass/fail basis.

Autumn:

• Introductory course (individual reflection commentary)
• Theatre production (individual reflection commentary)
• Piece of theatre criticism related to the theatre visit/study trip (written, individual)

Spring:

• Project assignment related to the teaching practice (written, individual)
• Theatre production (practical group work documented using a video camera)
• Drama seminar presentation (written individual work and oral presentation in groups)

Final assessment

The final grade is based on the portfolio and a practical-artistic component (performance-work in groups).

Portfolio

During the study programme students will submit and present various written and oral assignments. By the end of the study programme they will also have carried out various performance activities which will be documented using a video camera. These documentation items will be included in the student’s portfolio. Three assignments will be selected from the work portfolio and included in the presentation portfolio. In addition to these three assignments, students are required to write a final reflective note. The portfolio will be assessed and awarded a grade which will be included in the final assessment.

Practical artistic work

Students will be allotted 3 days’ preparation time in which to compose a piece of scenic expression which will be presented to the examiner, subject teachers, co-students and others.

There will also be an oral interview with examiner and subject teachers concerning the presentation.

Weighting:

• The portfolio counts for 60%.
• The artistic presentation in groups counts for 40%.

A final grade will be entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the highest grade and E the lowest passing grade.

Please refer to Telemark University College’s Examination Eegulations for more information.

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