Dramanet Final Summary for 2016 …to 21st December
What happened there?!? …just like that it seems, the school year has finished for us all!?!?
Whether you wrapped up the school year over a week (or more!!) ago or but a day or two ago (which I know was the case for some of you poor, tortured souls!!) I hope you are now finding time to re-charge and shift your focus to great times with the nearest and dearest in your lives.
I’d like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who has started, contributed or responded to, or shared their point of view in our discussions this year; it is all the many of you and your constant sharing and giving which make DramaNet the highly successful professional network and one of the best forms of constant and on-going professional learning that it is. Thank you all!
Here’s an overview of some recent posts which would be worth having quick one-click access to for when you next need to refer back to these…
Key discussions:
Events, EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Professional Learning and Development
For Primary Teachers: Curriculum Level "Rubrics"
Finally, just this morning I shared some really interesting stats tables from our recent Arts Online team milestone report for the Ministry of Education, I hope [whether you are new to our Arts Online/Dramanet whanau or if, like me, you’ve been a subscriber since those very early years of the project] that these fun facts and glimpses of insight give you a sense of the bigger picture and inner workings of the project. I also hope you’ll all be affirmed and proud that YOU are a key part and reason for the success of the community too. This site, this forum, your contributions, your viewership and your involvement personify the Ako that is so central to effective learning, no matter what stage of life we’re all at.
This update will also be uploaded to our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Meri kirihimete whānau!
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator - Dramanet
http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/artsonline1
Dramanet Summary to 14th May
Kia ora koutou,
A fairly quiet time on our list recently until a sudden spike at the end of this second week of Term 2…Of course, quiet on the list means frantic in your classrooms and departments. Remember, we’re all here when you need us!
Here’s the major things you need to know, all summarised in one place to save you scrolling back through the ocean of emails in your inboxes.
Note Worthy:
The next 24 months will be an interesting time in education as the government moves to reprioritise the structures and funding behind professional learning and development across the country. The last Education Gazette featured two links in particular which I shared recently that are both well worth a read by everyone in the sector. Thanks also to Kim Bonnington for extending the discussion. More here.
A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:
My thanks to Mel Notley for this post which asked about integrating drama with her science focus on land forms forYears 4/5/6. This was a fantastic post and thanks must also go to those who suggested ideas for this via the list… There are a wealth of ideas that emerge from this type of integrated focus and a range of drama conventions that work at (curriculum) levels 1-3(and even 4) to explore these through. As well as the suggestions to look at Mantle of the Expert to help, here are some thoughts I have had on the concept in thinking more about it:
These could, of course, be worked up and/or watered down depending on the level being worked with. Also, for me School Journal articles and stories which use land forms as a focus would provide a great resource text to drive the explorations further too; with their characters, roles, settings, events/action and tension that could be explored more deeply through the above conventions.
I love the notion of drama being used as the deliberate pedagogy through which aspects of science – like land forms – and so many other areas of learning at the primary age can be made more 'active'. This is a great way of providing opportunities for students to really embody and enact what they are learning about; to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the topic… and let’s not forget, it’s fun!
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:
SGCNZ UOSWSF – Prop Support Requests:
There have been a few requests by teachers looking to minimise luggage issues when travelling to Wellington for the national festival in June. If any teachers/schools in Wellington can help with these requests, please contact senders directly…
Resources Shared:
EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Events and Workshops:
Professional Learning and Development:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
As always, this summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai to wiki – have a great week (Week 3 already!!!),
Ryan
Dramanet Summary to 2nd April
Ata mārie koutou,
I know if you’re anything like me, then you’ll find these past two short weeks actually felt incredibly long as we juggled rehearsals and practices to fit everything ‘normal’ into a much smaller time-frame!! Regardless, whatever the three-day week just gone or the one before it was like for you, I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing time over the five-day weekend for Easter and that you were able to spend much of that time with your family and loved-ones. Our community has been humming away, busy as ever, recently.
Here’s your latest summary which I’d encourage you to browse over a cuppa in the coming days.
Note Worthy:
It’s always enjoyable to read a post that reminds us all why Arts Online and these communities for each discipline exist in the first place. Our community includes both the most and least experienced educators and practitioners we have and yet, regardless of experience, we all have something valuable to learn from one another.
I have always maintained that the kaupapa of tuakana-teina is the biggest asset of Arts Online. This week I noted we are just over 10 new subscribers away from a massive 800 members! That's up from just over 700 in July last year! This is awesome and reflects the fact that, while our numbers will always fluctuate somewhat, the number of educators, practitioners and other interested parties who each have a vested interest in The Arts andDrama education, and secondary arts students, in this country grows by the day. The support network provided through the Arts Online community platform is second to none. Ultimately, that’s all down to each of you so I thank you all for your commitment and contributions that keep our list humming along strongly every day!
With that in mind, it was encouraging to read Rene Molina’s affirmation to you all recently:
“I’d like to thank you all for sharing whatever information you have through this group. It has made my journey much easier and fun too! I really enjoy reading about your teaching experiences.” Full the message here
Thank you for taking the time to share your point of view with us, Rene! Your comment is greatly appreciated and I hope it encourages more members of our community, who have remained silent in the past, to speak up – whatever you have to share or say is worth sharing or saying!
A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:
Resources Shared:
EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Events and Workshops:
In the [social] media:
Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
Employment Opportunities:
Finally, it would be good to see the collective voice of all arts teachers and their experiences heard loud and clear and for them to be well represented in returns for the 2016 Secondary Teacher Census being conducted for the Education Council. I posted a link to information here. Check it out and complete the survey – it’s fairly quick and painless.
As always, this summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Naku noa na,
Ryan
Dramanet Summary to 8th March
Kia ora koutou,
‘To do lists’... I suppose they are what keep us all moving at this time of the year: appraisal meetings and set-up for the year; inquiry goals and PLD foci; data analysis; board reports; teaching and learning programme (aka. schemes) up-dates; department manuals; PLD applications and bookings; invoicing follow ups; EOTC bookings and subsequent forms, and forms, and forms to complete…then we all manage to still fit that ‘little thing’ we call teaching in as well; that precious time we actually spend with our students doing what we love before returning to each of our “administration nightmares”. Actually, I think there’s a reality show title and concept in that I'm sure?! Think “Hoarders” meets “Hell’s Kitchen” meets “Under Cover Boss". Anyway, all jokes aside, I hope this week’s summary does find you well as you work through your own list of “to do” tasks…
This has been on my own ‘to do’ list for a few days now, so I apologies for the delay. Let’s crack on…
Note Worthy:
A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:
EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Events and Workshops:
In the [social] media:
Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
As always, this summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai tō wiki,
Ryan
Dramanet Summary to 21st February
Kia ora koutou,
I hope you’re all finding your feet in the classroom once again as timetables and rolls finally settle [or have they?], major annual events like Athletics/House Day, Swimming Sports and scholars/leaders assemblies get out of the way and attention turns, once relationships are firmly established, on really sinking our teeth into these rich contexts that shape and drive our work in the classroom for Term 1.
Here’s your summary of activity for Week 3 on Dramanet…
Note-Worthy:
A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:
Robert Dil is facilitating a great workshop for primary teachers in puppetry with no previous experience needed, read on:
“Puppet Play” in Wellington; Saturday 5th March from 9am -12pm.
Location: St. Mark's Church School, 13 Dufferin Street, Basin Reserve, Wellington. Cost: $60 per participant.
“This interactive workshop will explore how puppets can be used in the classroom and other theatre contexts to engage young people, create a fun environment, and promote literacy and the performing arts.”
Full details and registration info, here.
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:
EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Events and Workshops:
In the [social] media:
Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
I was interested to read this article from the Huffington Post education website this week, about mental-health strategies in the classroom:
Although it focussed on primary-aged students, with well-being and mindfulness becoming increasingly important considerations within our sector I wondered what thoughts this conjures up for drama teachers about how we too ‘deal with’ or ‘address’ mental health and related issues in the drama classroom? We would all agree, I am sure, that for many students Drama is that ‘safe place’ but building that safe place takes considerable work and conscious effort too. Perhaps some of you might share how you actively tie activity related to mindfulness, well-being or mental health into your drama programmes? Anyway, food for thought...
This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username“artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai tō wiki,
Ryan
Dramanet Summary to 13th February
Kia ora koutou,
It’s always a great time of year in Term 1. Don’t get me wrong, I know how busy we all are and the exhaustion felt as we get back into the swing of things after a long-enjoyed summer break, but the vibe of a school in term one is always a happy one – for students and staff alike. I hope this summary finds you all well, re-adjusted and enjoying the warm (actually, let’s face it ‘hot’!) months for teaching and learning…
This summary combines all of the threads and discussions held over the summer break and recent ‘back to school’ period as we head already into Week 3 of 2016…
Note-Worthy:
A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:
This year will see an increased focus from the AOL team on reaching out to our primary sector to support their delivery of arts programmes and, in particular, on unpacking and exemplifying student and programme learning progressions in the early curriculum levels (1-3), for all strands. This section of our summary provides targeted advice to our primary subscribers:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:
SGCNZ UOSWSF Dates and Co-ordinator Posts:
EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Events and Workshops for learners:
Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
Teacher Resource Exchange – from the community; for the community:
Two new resources were published on the TRE this week:
Our thanks again for these contributions!
This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai tō rā,
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator – Dramanet
@artsonline1
Dramanet Summary to 14th December [Our Final Wrap-Up for 2015!]
Well here we are at the end of 2015 with most secondary schools already wrapped and the majority of our primary friends joining the rest over the course of this week.
Can I start this final Dramanet summary of the year by extending a massive thank you to everyone who has started, contributed or responded to, or shared their point of view (either privately or publicly) in our discussions this year. A special, personal thanks from me also for all the awhi and support I’ve felt during my first six months as your facilitator; as I’ve slowly got a handle on the job – your messages have been really encouraging so thank you!
I saw the following image was posted by Drama NZ on Facebook this morning and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the summary this week….
…it is all the many of you and your constant sharing and giving which make Dramanet the highly successful professional network and still one of the best forms of constant and on-going professional learning that it remains. Now then, let’s wrap up the final stretch of the year…
Note Worthy:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko: A voice of help and support…
Events, EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Professional Development Opportunities and Workshops:
Professional Reading & Viewing:
In the Spotlight: “A Primary Focus”
In the spirit of highlighting the sheer power, value and importance of collaboration for our subject – especially for those who are in isolated areas or in ‘departments of one’ – I wanted use this space one final time this year, to draw our primary audience's attention to, and to highlight the power a simple discussion on this list can have in providing ideas and leadership for others to follow and use as a model or idea for their own practice…
Below I copy, direct from our list, a brief discussion held between four of our subscribers – Jonathan Dutton (the catalyst for this discussion), Sherie Harrison, Emma Bishop and Petra Jaeger-Letts. While three of them may have only considered that they were responding to Jonathan’s original request for ideas, by having this discussion on the list everyone was invited in and could therefore be influenced and informed by the discussion/collaboration happening between our colleagues…
Year 7 and 8 Drama Programming
Jonathan: I am running a new year 7 - 8 drama program at my school next year and was wondering what other schools do. Does anyone have units of work they would be willing to share or point me in the direction of?
Sherie: How often do you see the kids and for how long (session wise and cycle)? I teach Dance and Drama at Mt Maunganui Intermediate. I see them twice a week for 1.5hrs each time. They get 11-13 sessions per cycle. Although mixed with Dance, we do cover Theatresports, Devised Drama, Musical Theatre (y7 only), Puppetry (y8 only) and if time, work with mini scripts. If any of this looks helpful then let me know.
Emma: We have year 7 rotation – 9 weeks three 50min lessons per seven day cycle – during this time we cover basic performance skills and stage craft intro to techniques and end with a unit called party products where they create an infomercial for a party product and then perform on one of the last classes and end with the party with all the products…This rotation is compulsory for all classes. Year 8 is a semester option class – so 19 weeks of 3 times per 7 day cycle: We do a fairy tales elements unit; Mr Men/Little Miss Techniques unit; A process drama – Giraffes can’t dance or a war based process drama both using story books as the foundation stimulus. Happy to discuss off line – feel free to email me directly.
Petra: We are doing something a bit different. We are planning a full-year collaborative project involving all the arts. We get 2 periods per week with our 7/8 students. We used to have the students rotate across the four arts, but we felt we didn’t really have long enough to get stuck into something in one term. This is what we came up with as a solution. The stimulus for next year is migration. The students have a 6-week rotation through Drama, Music, Visual Art and Dance at the start of term 1. In the rotation they will learn about the different creating, producing and performing roles in each area. They will then put in an application for the area they wish to work in, explaining what they like to do, any previous experience, etc. At the end of term one we will begin our creating sessions, with sharing and feedback to the whole group. They will then go into producing at the end of term through to term 4. Finally performing in term 4, we should have a pretty special piece of work which was completely generated by the students. The key competencies will be the main driver in our planning and work. We envision visual arts creating masks, costumes, backdrops etc. Dance will come up with some interpretive pieces. Music will do soundscapes for some of the work and drama (my area) will create a storyline and the main drama which holds the piece together. We’re trying this for the first time, we’re a bit nervous because it is tricky trying to anticipate all the things that can come unstuck when you are working collaboratively with about 160 students and across four arts disciplines, but we’re definitely looking forward to trying something new.
Each suggestion given here was significantly different to the prior. Each suggestion had immediate uses and possibility for Jonathan (and us all!!) who had originally posed the question. Each suggestion took their own school context into consideration and worked with or around their timetabling constraints. And finally, I hope just by reading the discussion, that teachers of Year 7 and/or 8 students anywhere out there were able to see ideas and ‘ways-into’ (whether they are a drama specialist or primary classroom teacher) putting drama into your work with students.
This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Meri kirihimete whānau!
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator - Dramanet
http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/artsonline1
Dramanet: Summary to 21st November
"Time waits for no man..." especially us drama teachers, huh?! Sorry for the slackness on my part recently in getting these to you but November has certainly seen the march of time power through at full-force, for sure! This summary is the combination of what I have counted to be some 924 emails through the list-serve to-date this month – impressive work from the nearly 750 of you who subscribe, post, read, or just lurk (yes you!) on the list…Thank you all!
So here’s what been going down – enjoy!
Note Worthy:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko: A voice of help and support…
Events, EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Professional Development Opportunities and Workshops:
Employment Opportunities:
In the Spotlight: “A Primary Focus:
This week I'd like to share a link for our primary drama educator community to a 'case study' from our Learner Examples section of the Arts Online website. It is the time of year when many primary schools will be looking to the ‘drama staff member’ (if they’re lucky enough to have you...) to put on the school’s Christmas concert or whole-school “production” - this link looks at how one school did this:
While it deals with a completely different context, the structure and method of developing a school drama showcase can be easily applied to frameworks such as “The Christmas Story”; “Christmas Celebrations around the World” or “The Kiwi Christmas” as just three possible examples. Check it out and even if you don’t go full-hog with a school production – the ideas provide great suggestions for fun, active and engaging drama lessons to see the year through…
As always, this summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Ngā mihi me na manaakitanga,
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator - Dramanet
http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/artsonline1
Dramanet Weekly Summary to 31st October
With most seniors around the country either already on study leave or heading off for it in the coming couple of days, it’s nice although our ‘to do’ lists are full to feel our contact timetables having just a little bit of breathing space. . .
As always thanks to everyone who keeps the posts coming in – we have had many ‘new regulars’ coming through and some first-timers too which is awesome! So, here’s what’s been happening on Dramanet recently:
Note Worthy:
This hasn’t actually been discussed over this past week at all but I wanted to take the opportunity to feature it in the summary in the hope it will pick up some thoughts and opinions throughout this coming week. NCEA examinations for 2015 are right around the corner – nothing you didn’t already know at all – however, I wanted to pose a few questions around ‘extra tutorials’ once examination/study ‘leave’ begins…
Ready…and GO!
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko: A voice of help and support…
Events, EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Professional Development Opportunities and Workshops:
Employment Opportunities:
In the Spotlight: “A Primary Focus”
Marama Tracey Lloydd from the Auckland Arts Festival has been sharing the AAF programmes with us on Dramanet recently. It’s been great to see such a wide range of fantastic opportunities target younger students in this coming festival. I would urge all our primary subscribers in Auckland to look at booking a trip for your classes or syndicates (or even the entire school!!). She writes:
“There is a lot of talk about the arts and the value it has for students (and educators!) The Auckland Arts Festival has a diverse and passionate education programme and we look for works each year of sufficient quality to inspire young students. I have sent information out in hard and soft copy to schools last week but here are three links which will take you straight to each show in the For Schools section of our website where you will find all show details. One show plays at both Q Theatre and at the Pumphouse in Takapuna - so separate links are provided. Plan and book now for March 2016 and please dialogue with me anytime.”
Links:
· http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/…/duck-death-and-the-tul…/
· http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/…/duck-death-and-the-tul…/
· http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/…/…/ruaumoko-at-the-civic/
This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai to mutunga wiki!
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator - Dramanet
http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/artsonline1
Dramanet Weekly Summary to 17th October
And so we find ourselves at the end of the first week of Term 4 – how did that happen? I’d like to say that I hope the first week wasn’t too full on, but I fear that any such suggestions for any of us at this time of year are somewhat redundant. So, I hope at least you can put your feet up a bit this weekend! This summary combines all the activity on the list over the term break period as well as the posts and discussions over this first week.
Note-Worthy:
He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko: A voice of help and support...
Events, EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:
Professional Development Opportunities and Workshops:
Drama New Zealand are in Wellington today (as we speak) for yet another in the series of Scholarship Drama workshops for teachers and students that President, Emma Bishop has been touring the country to facilitate.
Professional Reading/Viewing:
Employment Opportunities:
In the Spotlight: “A Primary Focus”
Primary teachers – can I send out this challenge to you all this term? Make “Mantle of the Expert” http://www.mantleoftheexpert.com/about-moe/articles/ your go to site and revolutionise your classroom! This site has many interesting papers on Drama and the Mantle of the Expert. All articles are available as PDF files vary in length from quick reads to extended pieces but all make fantastic suggestions for how you can integrate drama education into your classroom as the driving force behind delivery of other learning areas.
If you are new to Mantle of the Expert pedagogy, then start with Luke Abbott’s Mantle of the expert – an attempt to understand the misunderstood to get you started. Heed the call – you’ll enjoy the adventure and your students will even more!
This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username “artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.
Kia pai to mutunga wiki!
Ryan Benjamin
Arts Online Community Facilitator - Dramanet
http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/
https://twitter.com/artsonline1