Dramatic new ways to learn

NUI Galway: Students of the Ard Dioplóma san Oideachais at NUI Galway are getting a taste of the theatrical this week through a new project aimed at revitalising the classroom experience, writes Olivia Kelly

The "Oideas" project is a week-long series of workshops designed to develop creative classroom methodologies though the mediums of drama and storytelling.

"The project arose out of the problem people had of getting stuck in the same methodologies they were exposed to in school - an over reliance on text, reading, writing out and repetition," says Therese Burns, lecturer at the education department, NUI Galway and creator of Oideas.

Her students needed to think beyond the "chalk and talk" system of teaching, she says, and open their minds to more creative skills.

During the week, students will be exposed to theatre workshops, games and exercises under the direction of Galway-based actor and writer Páraic Breathnach.

"The students will learn very simple skills to help put themselves across and develop their presence in the classroom," Breathnach says.

Students will also learn how to "communicate a story" to their class through creating drama. The method can be used in any subject, Breathnach says, from teaching Irish grammar, to explaining Pythagoras' Theorem.

The week culminates in a forum theatre field trip, where a group of actors will depict typical school scenes from the 1950s, 1970s and the year 2002. Students will be asked to comment on and direct the scenes to show the techniques they learned during the week. Burns hopes to extend the project to the other HDip students in NUI Galway next year.