Student Teachers´ Insights of Drama Education

Teachers
Through
Drama
Student Teachers´ Insights
of Drama Education
Hanna Nygren, University of Eastern Finland, School of
Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education,
Savonlinna Campus
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to clear out the student
teachers´ previous drama experiences and observe
their insights after an intensive study period of
drama. The students (N=45) began their studies in
Degree Programme in Class Teacher Education with
OpeArt -specialisation. OpeArt -programme
integrates drama and music theatre and aims at
educating teachers of the future, by offering them
diverse communication skills together with the tool of
drama. ”Learning through drama is learning how to be”
(Henry, 2000).
Photo: Jonna Kauvonsaari
METHODS
Starting questionnaire and reflective essays were
content analyzed by using TagCrowd -application
and Atlas.ti -programme.
MAIN FINDINGS
Five different descriptive themes were found
in student teachers´ previous experiences of drama
and theatre. Insights of drama were found in essay
answers. Insights were related to previous
experiences. Based on their previous experiences
there were fine differences in the students´
insights.
CONCLUSIONS
Students had various insights of drama education
and its use. They especially highlighted themes like
integration, drama-agreement, puppet theatre,
emotional education and communicational- and
social skills.
Further information
Project Researcher, M.Ed., Drama Teacher
Hanna Nygren hanna.nygren@uef.fi,
tel. +358 50 3792754
School of Applied Educational Science and
Teacher Education
PO Box 86
57101 Savonlinna, University of Eastern
Finland
Acknowledgements
European Union
European Regional Development Fund
FUTURE RESEARCH
The students´ progress will be followed through
their OpeArt-studies. Continuum for this study is
to find out how their relationship with drama will
be shaped and how these student teachers use
drama in their teacher training period and in their
future working life.