Trust Projects

Robots and Drama - Worcester University (Cluster Project)

Traditionally, creativity (and particularly the performing arts) and science disciplines are seen as binary opposites in terms of their pedagogy and their educational value. This project will take a counter view: locating science-based enquiry within a dramatic framework, enabling both teachers and students to learn through a constructed fiction that offers challenges, real-world problem solving tasks, moral debate and philosophical thinking. This drama-based work will also be networked between seven disparate partner schools across England, using open source web 2.0 technologies to engage today’s generation of ‘Digital Native’ learners.

Whilst the theme of this project is specific to robotics, it will be looking for a long-term, pervasive impact on the learning and teaching styles of the participating teachers.

 

Aims

  1. To engage 840 young people in a drama and creativity based learning experience rooted in the KS3 STEM curriculum.
  2. To use robots and robotics as the subject and theme of this work.
  3. To train science teachers in how to apply drama educational methodologies to the KS3 science curriculum.
  4. To enable teachers to develop new creativity-based Teaching and Learning strategies and resources for future use in their schools.
  5. To use digital media (video and photography) as tools to enhance the learning experience.

 

Programme

This project is delivered through seven partner schools distributed right across England. Whilst each school will work largely independently, this network will also enable collaborative activities between partners, using online web-sharing tools (open source social networking websites, SKYPE technologies etc).

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation: C&T

C&T’s Drama and New Media Animateurs and Artistic Director come together in Worcester with QinetiQ staff (from their Malvern research base) and the University of Worcester Science Education faculty to develop and share understanding of the STEM curriculum with regard to robots and robotics at KS3. Out of this a programme of work will be finalised to be delivered in the seven partner schools.

Phase 2: Teacher CPD

In each location the Drama Animateur leads a day of professional development with the 2 participating Science teachers, inducting them into the pedagogy of drama and to a number of creative learning strategies.

Phase 3: Drama & Robots - 1st Run

Working together, the Animateur and each Science teacher delivers the programme to a class of 30 pupils at KS3. The programme involves two full days work for students working off timetable, with access to drama facilities. The weighting is roughly 70% Drama Animateur, 30% Science Teacher.

New technologies are central to this process, as they are central to the lives of the young people. Students will digitally record and upload evidence of their work within C&T’s secure website www.candtnetwork.org, which allows students on shared projects to share and comment on each other’s work in a managed environment. Additionally, this work will be used as stimulus for subsequent group work across the network and in Phase 4.

Phase 4: Drama & Robots – 2nd Run

Having reflected and evaluated on the first experience of delivering the programme, the Science teachers and Animateurs repeat the two days of work with a second group of pupils. This time the weighting of delivery is 60% Science teacher and 40% Animateur.

Phase 5: Evaluation

Teachers from each school and their Animateur come together for a day of formal reflection and evaluation at C&T’s base at the University of Worcester, with QinetiQ staff and the Science Education faculty. See next section.

 

Outcomes

  1. Young people at KS3 more motivated about science through a social and philosophical learning programme using drama and creativity.
  2. Science teachers equipped with a range of applied drama techniques with knowledge and expertise in how to deploy these within the STEM curriculum.
  3. A subsequent opportunity for these schools to be good practice exemplars to their partner schools.
  4. Teachers and Animateurs able to critically reflect on their own learning.
  5. A legacy of drama and creativity based STEM materials in each partner school.
  6. Understandings of the potential of digital media and social networking tools in enhancing learning.

 

Evaluation

The evaluation will be triangulated by measuring outcomes in three arenas:
 

Students:

  1. Appropriate statistical data collection. Likely to revolve around Fischer predictions.
  2. Portfolios of online work created by the students.

 

 Participating Teachers:

  1. Personal reflection on changes in teaching style.
  2. Professional assessment of impact on non-statistical changes, such as children’s behaviour and attention spans.

 

 Animateurs:

  1. Professional reflection on the quality of creative work generated by both students and the extent to which teachers have successfully embraced the new pedagogies.

 

To keep workloads to a minimum, the project will dovetail with existing evaluation systems in place with our partner schools.

Outside of this triangulation the project will also ensure that unexpected outcomes are captured, such as the instigation of after-school science club etc.

 

Additional

C&T is well connected in a number of different communities:

Education sector – There are strong links with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, BECTA and a number of other relevant bodies.

Arts Sector – Naturally C&T are well known in the arts in education sector, for instance contributing regularly to national symposia, as well as to Arts Council England.

Higher Education – C&T often works collaboratively with the University sector: Kent, Chester, Worcester, Charles Sturt (Australia), Queensland University of Technology and the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland.

C&T also cooperate with many PGCE departments all over the UK. Dr Paul Sutton (Artistic Director) is also Research Fellow of the University of Worcester. Consequently C&T will exploit our existing networks to disseminate the findings and good practice established by the project. In addition C&T will make three podcasts available, both from www.candt.org and iTunes.

A case study DVD will also be authored. Partner schools and especially interested parties will have this available as a learning resource.
 

Contact

Contact e-mail rob.lines@candt.org