Drama has been known to positively affect pupils in terms of developing self-confidence, dedication to an art form, sensitivity, and empathy. As an extension of the subject, Drama In Education or Applied Drama has been introduced to help make the learning experience in other subjects more kinetic, tangible and practical for learners. It provides a stimulating context in which students are able to think and reason with reference to moral dilemmas.
One of the reasons we love drama at The Ridge School is that it requires boys to take a “leap of trust”. This helps them come out of their shells and explore another way of existing, just momentarily, and the results are phenomenal.
How Will Applied Drama Help My Son?
Applied Drama is a term for the use of theatrical practices for the purpose of educating. It’s different from conventional theatre in that it’s not purely for entertainment and actively involves participants in the dramatic process. Applied Drama is usually about real-life situations and works well as an educational tool by immersing participants in the situations they are learning about.
Theatre-based techniques are used as tools for discovery and learning in order to explore issues within communities so that problems may be identified and solutions tested. It has the powerful ability to provoke and shape social change.
Transformational Education At The Ridge School
The Ridge School endeavours to extend our boys’ understanding of their place within the world and in relation to others through Applied Drama within an educational setting. Drama provides an alternative way of knowing, which transcends verbal understanding through the use of the body and physical sensation. It thus has powerful transformative abilities.
Through this teaching technique, our boys learn to seek solutions, discover more about themselves and their relationships, and ultimately become agents of change. It allows learners to absorb realities that differ from their own in a performance and reflect upon that performance with emotion and reason. Therefore, it is an effective means of developing empathy. For example, boys learning about Apartheid in a history class might work on a role play in small groups to help them gain a deeper understanding of what it was like for South Africans at the time. This kind of learning simply cannot compare to learning about Apartheid in a textbook.
For a truly unique education that is made rewarding and stimulating through Applied Drama and other modern techniques, enrol your son At The Ridge School. Call us on 011 481 5800 for more information.
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