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Nature rangers

Robin Mills from  Puketaha school has sent a message telling us the latest about her teaching in Mantle of the Expert. Children are in role as nature rangers running an island sanctuary for native animals off the shores of NZ.

The island sanctuary (imagined) where we are based as rangers is rather uncomfortably close to where the (real) container ship Rena has run aground this week….  but I chose to ignore that as we’re further out to sea and the rangers weren’t aware of the proximity before they went off for their two weeks break.
Being an environmental clean-up company could make an interesting topic. Actually this year we’ve had some substantial current event potential for Mantle scenarios! I hope 2012 isn’t as eventful in reality. We have had enough science-based learning ideas to last a long time!
I’ve attached two faves from our ranger’s photo album – the drama scenario was that we were out on the island in the dark counting tuatara eggs as part of our census. We had previously mapped the island to scale, drawn in its ‘height lines’ (don’t you love the language kids come up with), worked out the nature of the terrain we were working on, organised treams to search 1/4 of the island each, collected appropriate gear and had our driver drop us off at a point close to each search area. (Ideas courtesy of Luke’s demo at the conference.)
The diaries written after the search were classic, more ‘real’ than the writing that followed our trip to Waitomo. Says something for writing in role, doesn’t it?

A mighty tree has fallen – passing of Dorothy Heathcote

Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tane –
“A mighty totora has fallen in the forest of Tane”

 

Many people will have already heard the sad news that the progenitor of Mantle of the Expert, Prof. Dorothy Heathcote passed away over the weekend. Dorothy’s contribution to drama education was of course immeasurable. We are all very fortunate to have lived and learned in her shadow. I know that Dorothy was very proud of the work that was happening in Mantle of the Expert in New Zealand and always took a keen interest in developments here.

Her passing serves as a reminder to keep planting the seeds and growing our own forest of Totora here in Aotearoa. I have been reflecting on how many people in NZ must have been touched by the power of her work. She visited here a number of times during the 70s and 80s and inspired a whole generation of teachers and policy makers. She was with us again via live link at the Weaving Our Stories conference in 2009 and the stunning address she gave on that day seems to take on extra import in light of her passing.

Dorothy’s amazing life story is captured beautifully in the attached obituary which was supplied by her family. Your comments are invited (either here, or on the Drama NZ website) and will be relayed to the Heathcote family.

Dorothy Heathcote Obituary

 

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Using MOTE for the first time

This article from the UK website gives a really nice account of a teacher using drama for learning – teaching in role – the expert frame for the first time in a short ‘mini mantle’ based around the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

Could be a nice model for those wanting to “dabble”.

Sourced from www.mantleoftheexpert.com

using moe for the first time

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Second drama education symposium in Auckland

Very excited about Peter O’Connor’s second ‘Critical Studies in drama in education’ symposium coming up in Auckland at the beginning of December. Peter ran the first of these last year and it was a fabulous event. This year’s symposium is a great chance to catch some of the latest research from big international names in drama education from around NZ and Australia (the list from Oz includes John O’Toole, Michael Anderson, Penny Bundy, Helen Cahill, Kelly Freebody).

This event will particularly appeal to those undertaking postgraduate study in drama education, including Mantle of the Expert – as it also includes a ‘collaboratory’ for Masters and PhD students to share their research and network. For more information click this link

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New link to blog – Mantle at HNS

Viv has taken the technological bull by the horns and set up a new blog!

The purpose is to record the happenings as they unfold with a Mantle currently being run with Lynette’s class at Hillcrest Normal School. This is the third year Lynette has kindly let me and my student teachers work in her class and we thought it might be interesting for people to follow along as we plan, implement and discover together… Thanks to Irene, the school principal, and Gay, the DP for permission to share the work in this way.

You can visit the blog by going to ‘Links’

I will be updating the blog regularly and welcome your comments – and advice – either here or direct into the blog

If others are interested in starting their own blogs too please do – we can link them from this site as we have done with Priya’s wonderful example – To set yourself up I recommend ‘blogspot’ as very easy to use even for beginners like me!

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Link to Priya’s Muritai Mantle blog

I have just added a permanent link to Priya Gain’s wonderfully rich blog site from Muritai School.

Priya has been employed as a specialist teacher providing MOTE based learning as part of an extension programme at the school. Her illustrated blog provides a fascinating insight into a number of successful NZ themed Mantle experiences with different groups at the primary level. Lots of inspiration here for beginners or more experienced practitioners.

You can visit Priya’s blog any time from the link shown on the main page. Or click here

It is well worth visiting and you can become a ‘follower’ to receive regular updates.

Thanks for sharing this with us Priya…

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Another article of interest – Bolton

Bolton, Changes in thinking about drama Ed

For those who enjoy a bite of theory now and again, this article is an oldie but still a goodie. Gavin Bolton (who has done more than just about anyone else to bring Dorothy Heathcote’s work into classroom practice) wrote this article in the late eighties…. I revisited it the other day and found it as vital and useful as ever (though it is disturbing to note that 30 years on the picture Bolton paints of the uninformed teacher using ‘skits’ and meaningless ‘games’ to teach drama is still one that many of us would recognise today…)

In particular, I enjoy the way Bolton offers a categorization of how drama supports learning. Check out what he has to say about the four ways children learn in drama… He suggests that children learn through

1. metaxis (a dual awareness of the real and fictional worlds)

2. aesthetic and referential attention (appreciation of drama for its own sake – and as an illustration of real world issues)

3. Subsidiary awareness / unconscious awareness (the tacit learning that happens even if teachers or learners don’t notice it happening)

4. Natural or ‘common’ understanding (the stuff we already know, which is reframed and comes to be seen in a new way)

I rather like this elegant characterisation … How does it fit with YOUR understanding of how children learn in a drama / mantle of the expert setting….?

 

Dorothy Heathcote awarded MBE

Exciting news today – the much admired inventor of the MOTE system, Dorothy Heathcote, has had her contributions to education honoured with the awarding of an MBE. Here’s what the British drama society said about Heathcote’s contribution to education and children’s lives – hear hear from here!

During a career spanning more than 60 years, her seminal work in the field of drama education has had a global impact on the way in which drama, theatre and the curriculum are perceived. The practice of the many thousands of teachers who have been touched by Dorothy’s ways of working has be profoundly changed and the learning experiences of many thousands of children have been immeasurably enhanced.

I will be sending congratulations to Dorothy on behalf of NZ MOTE practitioners. If you would like to include a personal message, either email me  or post a comment to this post.

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Jonathon Neelands – space in our hearts

I love this article from Jonathon Neelands. Written very shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Neelands makes a very rational and yet passionately argued case for drama as part of a rethink of curriculum ‘basics’. Much here of direct relevance to MOTE in NZ.

I’ve just been reading some of my students’ responses to this article, and it encouraged me to share it here!

Neelands space in our hearts

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MOTE in the English classroom

Received this email from Esther at Auckland Girl’s Grammar – she’s been bravely trying some drama strategies she learned in the IFTE conference workshop within her Secondary English classroom. Well done Esther – sounds like you are taking some risks and creating rich learning experiences for the students!
Great to see the collaboration between teachers within the school too – we need more of this at secondary!

Just to let you know, that with some nervous excitement, we are both trying out some techniques we learnt from you!  Fortunately, we have also had the help of our school drama teacher  to help guide us.

So far I have got my Year 9 English class to become a team of investigative journalists following up on a story animal cruelty and a strange rebellion on Manor Farm [aka Animal Farm] – where I ended up impersonating the drunken Mr Jones languishing at the Red Lion pub as they interrogated me!
This week I am getting my Year 12 English class to become a Trauma team  who are going to work with a family where domestic violence and murder have occurred (from the novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’) and interview then prepare psychological assessments of each character for a meeting with a lawyer.
Before the year is out I would like to think about how I can apply MoTE to my low stream class and my Art History class too.
Its all very scary and I feel like a first year teacher all over again but it is reinvigorating my teaching and certainly impacting student engagement in my classroom. Many thanks for providing the inspiration in your workshop that ignited this professional growth!
Best wishes
Esther Graham
Auckland Girls’  Grammar School.