THEA 250 Play Production

This course is required for Theatre majors and is recommended for Education majors. It is designed to teach students to use dramatic techniques not only in the theatre but also in other areas such as: Language Arts, Social Studies, Outdoor Recreation, etc. Students will work with others in a "hands-on" laboratory situation - sharing ideas, planning, structuring, and implementing lesson plans and completing a research project surveying the field of Creative Dramatics and Theatre by, with, and for Children.

Credits

3

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

48

Semester Contact Hours Lab

48

General Education Competency

[GE Core type]

THEA 250Play Production

Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.

I. General Information

Department

Visual, Performing, and Liberal Arts

II. Course Specification

Course Type

Program Requirement

General Education Competency

[GE Core type]

Credit Hours Narrative

3

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

48

Semester Contact Hours Lab

48

Grading Method

Letter grade

Repeatable

N

III. Catalog Course Description

This course is required for Theatre majors and is recommended for Education majors. It is designed to teach students to use dramatic techniques not only in the theatre but also in other areas such as: Language Arts, Social Studies, Outdoor Recreation, etc. Students will work with others in a "hands-on" laboratory situation - sharing ideas, planning, structuring, and implementing lesson plans and completing a research project surveying the field of Creative Dramatics and Theatre by, with, and for Children.

IV. Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

  • Survey the field of Creative Dramatics and Theatre by, with, and for Children.
  • Develop an understanding of the subject, it's terminology, methods, and practices.
  • Recognize the complexity of of the subject to evaluate and improve their own critical thinking skills.
  • Develop an ability to discuss the importance of the arts as an influence in their own lives and as evidence of our culture in order to understand the importance of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
  • Learn to appreciate the importance of creativity in their own work and in the works of others.
  • Critically evaluate the potential for the use of Creative Dramatics and Children's Theatre.
  • Explore the cultural diversity of the world population as expressed in the arts and evaluate the differences and similarities of different ages, peoples, and movements.
  • Survey lesson planning strategies discussed in the text and presented by the teacher.

V. Topical Outline (Course Content)

Course Overview Creative Drama Imagination Play Movement, Rhythms, and Dance Pantomime Improvisation Puppetry and Mask Making Dramatic Structure Building Plays from Stories Creating Plays from Other Sources Poetry Speech Storytelling Drama as a Teaching Tool Creative Drama for the Special Student Sharing Work with an Audience Applied Theatre Playgoing Creative Drama in Alternative Spaces After-School-Drama Lesson Plans and Final Exam

VI. Delivery Methodologies

Required Assignments

Demonstrate proficiency of understanding terminology, historical information, methods, and practices; by submitting articles, pamphlets, precis, etc. concerning areas discussed in class; and by objective examination. Demonstrate knowledge of the field by submitting a 10+ page research paper; following APA guidelines on an aspect of Drama/Theatre Teaching; showing proper use of terminology and demonstrating ability to converse knowledgeably about the field. Keep a journal though the semester which should include notes, articles, materials provided in class, evaluations, research materials, and progress reports. Journals will be submitted at the end of the semester. Work out a scheme of presenting information about the subject in both written and oral presentation. Students will at the beginning of the semester submit a one page defense of the use of Drama in the Classroom and then at the end of the semester submit a second defense. The students will then compare and evaluate the two defenses. This will be submitted as part of their completed portfolio and will become a valuable teaching and learning resource for the student.

Required Exams

This course is designed to educate the student by exposing him/her to the field of Children's Theatre and Creative Dramatics as it relates to performance and to education and to provide the opportunity to examine, evaluate, retain, and utilize information in the content area. Attendance will be evaluated to insure that each student has equal opportunity to access the information presented in the class. To evaluate the success of the instruction and the performance of the student, objective quizzes and examinations will be given to assess retention of information presented. Assignments will be completed when scheduled. Students must complete with a passing grade all objective quizzes and examinations. To assess the students ability to evaluate, retain, and utilize the information presented students will be subjectively evaluated by the professor and their peers as they participate in class discussions, present materials orally, and successfully complete the course objectives.

Required Text

Text: Creative Drama in the Classroom. Eighth Edition. Nellie McCaslin. 1996 Longman. ISBN 0-205-45116-0.

Specific Course Activity Assignment or Assessment Requirements

Demonstrate proficiency of understanding terminology, historical information, methods, and practices; by submitting articles, pamphlets, precis, etc. concerning areas discussed in class; and by objective examination. Demonstrate knowledge of the field by submitting a 10+ page research paper; following APA guidelines on an aspect of Drama/Theatre Teaching; showing proper use of terminology and demonstrating ability to converse knowledgeably about the field. Keep a journal though the semester which should include notes, articles, materials provided in class, evaluations, research materials, and progress reports. Journals will be submitted at the end of the semester. Work out a scheme of presenting information about the subject in both written and oral presentation. Students will at the beginning of the semester submit a one page defense of the use of Drama in the Classroom and then at the end of the semester submit a second defense. The students will then compare and evaluate the two defenses. This will be submitted as part of their completed portfolio and will become a valuable teaching and learning resource for the student. This course is designed to educate the student by exposing him/her to the field of Children's Theatre and Creative Dramatics as it relates to performance and to education and to provide the opportunity to examine, evaluate, retain, and utilize information in the content area. Attendance will be evaluated to insure that each student has equal opportunity to access the information presented in the class. To evaluate the success of the instruction and the performance of the student, objective quizzes and examinations will be given to assess retention of information presented. Assignments will be completed when scheduled. Students must complete with a passing grade all objective quizzes and examinations. To assess the students ability to evaluate, retain, and utilize the information presented students will be subjectively evaluated by the professor and their peers as they participate in class discussions, present materials orally, and successfully complete the course objectives.