Category: Projects

A taste of Dog Squad – a mantle of the expert-inspired adventure for home (and school) learning
By Categories: Classroom examples - Primary, News, Projects Leave a comment

It’s a great pleasure to share this slide show (see link below). It’s an overview of a Mantle of the Expert – inspired adventure called Dog Squad. These slides represent the culmination of an incredible team effort over the last few months. Inspired by the work of Tim Taylor and exploremore, the planning for Dog Squad was…

DNZ Workshops – on zoom
By Categories: Classroom examples - Intermediate, Classroom examples - Primary, News, Projects, Teaching tips, Workshops / Courses / PD Leave a comment

Coming up VERY SOON, Drama New Zealand is offering two FREE workshops for primary and intermediate teachers looking at dramatic inquiry for home learning / distance learning. These will be held over ZOOM and facilitated by Viv Aitken and Renee Downey. Further information below (including full flier and facilitator biographies) There has already been a…

Auckland Theatre Company – Storyworlds project
By Categories: Classroom examples - Primary, Projects, Videos and podcasts, Workshops / Courses / PD Leave a comment

Auckland theatre company has a long history of creating quality theatre for adults and young people. Now it’s developing a brand new programme for young children from years 1-3 called ‘Storyworlds.’ In this approach, children are taken on a creative adventure by actor-teachers, who use a range of dramatic inquiry strategies (including teacher in role,…

Research project: How well does Mantle of the Expert prepare students for intermediate school?
By Categories: Conferences & Symposia, News, Projects, Research Leave a comment

These slides are from Renee Downey’s presentation at Drama New Zealand conference in Christchurch, April 14th 2019, with findings from her Masters research. Renee wanted to know whether students from her class (who had experienced 4 years of learning through Mantle of the Expert) felt prepared for inquiry learning at Intermediate. So, she interviewed them,…

Research project: Teachers report 35 benefits for writing & 50+ other benefits from Mantle of the Expert.
By Categories: Conferences & Symposia, News, Projects, Research Leave a comment

These slides – presented at the Drama New Zealand conference in Christchurch on 14th April, 2019 – reveal exciting new findings from a two year research project exploring dramatic inquiry and culturally responsive pedagogy in a Northland primary school. Here’s a quick guide to what’s inside: Slides 1-10 provide background information about the school and…

TLIF inquiry finds enhanced outcomes for writing
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In 2016-17 A team of teachers at Otaika Valley school in Northland, lead by project leader Renee Downey conducted a really exciting TLIF funded inquiry exploring the use of dramatic inquiry to enhance writing outcomes for their students – including the high number of Māori learners in the school. Professional learning in drama and mantle…

Miguel’s Mantle of the Expert adventures
By Categories: Blogs, Classroom examples - Intermediate, News, Projects Leave a comment

Miguel Garcia is a beginning teacher based in New Plymouth. He’s embarking on his second Mantle of the Expert this term. Check out this blog where Miguel and Viv discuss planning and teaching as the adventures unfold with this class. Should be of particular interest to beginners – though more experienced practitioners are also invited…

Digital rolling role project. Secondary teachers should check this out!
By Categories: Classroom examples - Secondary, News, Projects 1 Comment

In my report from the Heathcote conference I mentioned the digital rolling role project that had been trialled by teachers from a range of countries. Of particular interest to secondary colleagues, this project is an exciting example of how online spaces can be used for drama collaboration. Sue Davis has now kindly shared her slides…