On Monday the 2nd of July, 19 participants from both teaching and artistic backgrounds met at the O’Donoghue Centre at NUI Galway for the Baboró CPD course on drama tools for the classroom. This one week course provided a significant benefit to teachers of primary students who wished to introduce the use of drama and improvisation in their classroom as a way of stimulating their students interest in a range of subjects. Participants represented both teaching and non-teaching backgrounds, offering varying perspectives to the curriculum-focused course.
Now in its third year, Facilitator and Drama Specialist Irene O’Meara introduced participants to hands-on games, tools and activities focused on drama and the arts, used for the purpose of bringing schoolchildren to higher levels of emotional understanding and critical thinking. By experimenting with informed improvisation, time, tableaus, and song, educators were equipped to introduce new drama techniques in the classroom, exposing children to theatre and teaching other subjects through creative, hands-on frameworks that empower their learning. After exploring the use of drama as a fictional lens in the classroom learning environment, educators were able to leave inspired with new tools to explore important emotions, issues and themes in their work.
The course was very well received, with participants commenting, “I have gained a lot of experience in drama games, exercises and vocal games…I learned the benefit of those exercises for children’s imagination.” And “I was very happy with the integrated approach and links to the curriculum. I felt very engaged during the week and got great ideas for the classroom.” While another said, “I feel I am coming away with new perspectives of drama, a deeper understanding of its importance in the classroom and I have a wealth of new ideas to use going forward.”
Baboró is thrilled with the positive responses from participants and is excited to see the ways the course will inspire these educators to bring creative arts into children’s lives.
For more information on Baboró’s year-round work and CPD courses sign-up for our industry newsletter here or contact Michelle at communications@baboro.ie
