Drama in Education

This stimulating programme is designed to give you a world-class education in Drama in Education.

Aims of the Programme

Drama is both an art form in its own right and also a highly effective teaching and learning methodology, which has been shown to operate successfully in formal and non-formal educational settings. Students will be introduced to the philosophies underpinning this creative educational approach, to its history, and to a wide range of drama and theatre in education techniques and to their use in diverse educational contexts.

Who is the programme for

The course has been running for almost twenty years and attracts an international audience. It is provided for teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education, youth leaders, early childhood educators, theatre in education practitioners and others with a professional interest in the arts in education.

Structure

The taught component contains six modules, four of which are specialist modules in drama and theatre in education, with each module containing approximately 20-25 hours of contact time. The course is taught by tutors with international reputations in the field. Students are involved in practice focused workshops and seminars covering approaches to drama in formal and non-formal educational settings. Online and face-to-face support is provided during the academic year through regular scheduled tutorials. The two common M.Ed. Research Methods modules are delivered using a blended learning model.

Typically, students register for Option 2 taking the modules in year one and completing the related assessments from home. Students who have passed their module assignments and are eligible to progress to the dissertation year, attend a second, week-long Summer School the following July in preparation for their dissertation. This is a research year and students write a 15,000 word dissertation under the guidance of an assigned supervisor with additional scheduled online group tutorials. Students are required to submit their dissertation at the end of June in the following year. Students who for any reason do not wish to continue to the dissertation on the M.Ed. programme may, after satisfactorily completing the modules, apply to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies. They have up to 5 years from the date of leaving the programme to rescind the Diploma and return to complete the masters dissertation if they choose.

Taught component

Module One:  Introduction to Drama in Education

Topics covered in this module include: The nature of the art form and key components in Drama in Education; drama games and movement exercises; role playing and improvisation; teacher-in-role; depiction; fictional framing; distancing; questioning; drama conventions (such as hot seating, voices in the head, angels and devils, conscience alley, questioning in role, role on the wall); dramatic storytelling; facilitating group and whole class work; pioneers in Drama in Education; historical overview of drama in schools and current approaches to drama in schools; process drama; the work of Dorothy Heathcote and Gavin Bolton.

Module Two:  Drama and Theatre in Education

Topics covered in this module include: Key figures and influences in Drama and Theatre in Education, e.g., Stanislavski, Brecht, Heathcote, Boal, and Bond. Critical pedagogy and Paulo Freire. The work of Augusto Boal; the Theatre of the Oppressed; Newspaper Theatre; Forum Theatre. Developments in Theatre in Education; devising in Drama and Theatre in Education; working with text; teaching artistically and teacher as artist.

Module Three:  Advanced Issues in Drama in Education

Topics covered in this module include: Heathcote’s Mantle of the Expert; structuring drama sequences for learning; using drama across the curriculum; dealing with social, political, and value issues in drama; drama and early childhood education; drama and students with special educational needs; drama and language learning; puppet work; assessing and evaluating drama.

Module Four:  Critical Reading in Drama in Education

This critical reading module is designed to allow students to formulate an overview and assessment of varying methods and approaches to Drama in Education. In-depth reading is organised around a structured theme, which requires critical evaluation of the literature. Students are encouraged to establish contact with other students on the programme with whom they will share and critically discuss their responses to the texts (peer-buddies/critical friends). This critical reading module seeks to increase students’ critical awareness, the ability to discuss theoretical concepts, and the ability to relate theory to practice.

Research Methods Modules

In addition to the four specialised modules focusing on Drama and Theatre in Education, a further two research methods modules are undertaken by students on the programme. The two research methods modules are common to all M.Ed. strands, and are delivered through a blended learning approach.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students participate in online and face to face practice focused workshops/seminars exploring drama in formal and non-formal educational settings. Each module is individually assessed through projects, case studies, portfolios, reports and essays. Integration of theory and practice is stressed in the content of modules and in assessments. Arts based, experiential and active teaching and learning strategies are used in the presentation of modules.

The M.Ed. programme fees for the academic year 2024/2025 are as follows*

*Full fees information is available at: https://www.tcd.ie/academicregistry/fees-and-payments/assets/PG-24-25-fees.pdf 

For queries related to course content, please contact Dr Susan Kennedy-Killian susan.kennedykillian@tcd.ie
For all other enquiries, refer to: https://www.tcd.ie/education/courses/postgraduate/masters-in-education/drama-in-education/
Or contact Ms Sheena Helbert (master.education@tcd.ie / Tel: 00-353-1-8961290 / 00-353-1-8963568).