BOAL'S METHODOLOGY IN EDUCATION - COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Introduction

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This course is aimed at teachers and school staff from pre-school level to primary, secondary, vocational, adult and special needs education, staff of non-government organizations, government and policy makers and company staff as well as students and all those who are interested in use of drama and theatre methods to address conflicts, passivity and insecurity in order to bring dialogue where only one way communication exists. Participants are expected to have at least B1 level of English proficiency.

 

Methodology

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The core methodology we are going to use was developed by Brazilian director, writer, politician and activist Augusto Boal who revolutionized theatre and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his work on the Theatre of the Oppressed manifest. This methodology is now used in fields such as education and pedagogy, social work and mental health, and political and cultural activism, as well as numerous other areas where people are deprived of their right to dialogue. It is based on total involvement of all participants who will be active protagonists of their own learning and live an educational experience centered on the experimentation of their own ability. Objectives will be carried out through several activities (short lessons, experience comparisons, theatre exercises, improvisations, group works and discussions…) which will allow participants both to learn and to bring their experiences in this event; our principle of teaching is based on “learning by doing approach” and on “mutual teaching”. Participants will have the opportunity to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge through a methodology based on team work, discussions and elaboration using also a method of practical exercises and simulations.

 

Objectives

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• Promoting Boal’s methodology as a tool for dealing with conflicts in schools and our surroundings.

• Facilitating understanding of conflict and analysis of diversity of its forms.

• Facilitating understanding of the language of theatre and ability to use its basic elements, the sound, the image and the movement to convey meaning and engage in dialogue.

• Improving understanding of sensations, feelings and thoughts through individual and collective perceptions.

• Facilitating juxtaposition of individual perceptions to form a deeper collective perception.

• Acquisition of games, exercises and techniques for de-mechanizing sensations, feelings, thoughts and perceptions.

• Developing communication, collaboration, presentation, problem solving, negotiation, critical and creative thinking skills.

• Learning versatile techniques and exercises from the arsenal of The Rainbow of Desire for externalizing internalized conflicts, addressing apathy and passivity and enhancing participation.

• Facilitating ability to create and facilitate a Forum Theatre performance.

• Improving the use of English (official language of the course).

• Promoting intercultural awareness.

• Sharing experiences of drama and theatre methodologies as well as diverse conflict resolution strategies in education in different countries in order to help each of us to be more effective in our work.

• Strengthening the European collaboration among people practicing Boal’s methodology or people dealing with conflicts in different contexts but unified by similar drama-pedagogical approaches.

• Providing insights into different education systems.

 

Networking opportunities and cultural programme

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The course includes networking opportunities and cultural exchange opportunities to create European dimension and find possible partners for future projects as well as a city tour or a cultural trip (depending on the location). These are included in the course fee and at no additional expence for participants.

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Preparation

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After registration participants will receive a pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the After registration participants will receive a pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to prepare a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture which will be used during the first meeting. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience.

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Follow up

 

After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.

 

Certificate

 

Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and the Europass Mobility Document.

 

Accommodation

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We do not directly offer accommodation and subsistence and participants are responsible for organizing it by themselves.

 

Paperwork

 

We also provide all the support with paperwork you might need for your Erasmus+ project documentation such as mobility agreement and registration letter.

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Cancelation policy

 

Free cancellation up to 30 days before the start. After that, the reservation is not refundable. Changes in name and profile of the participant are possible any time before the start of the course (replacement participants from the same school/org are accepted at any time). In case the school/org doesn't find a replacement, we will still offer a place at any of our confirmed courses later in the year without any additional costs but we can not guarantee that every course session will be confirmed and the school/org will only be offered to choose from already confirmed course sessions. In case it will not be possible for the participant to attend the course or for us to organize the course due to extraordinary circumstances (classified as such by the European Commission) which present themselves in the period of less than 30 days before the start of the course and we don’t manage to find an alternative solution, we will keep 50 % of the payment and refund the remaining balance of 50% to the payer’s bank account.