Theatre in Integral Education Workshops with Teachers and Children

On December 9 and 12, 2015, Ravi Shanker conducted workshops on the theme ‘body theatre’ for 200 students of grades 9 and 10 of Sri Aurobindo Centre of New Education (SACNE) in Jodhpur. Through the theatre of images that speak, the students took a journey within to manifest qualities such as generosity and equality. In spontaneous presentations, the students unknowingly displayed their violent side which was undoubtedly influenced by today’s media. Following each presentation, the participants came face-to-face with reality. As the students shifted their focus to the ideal world they would like to be in, they discovered that deep down they all aspire towards harmony and progress and freedom from fear-driven expectations of their parents. Finally, the workshop ended with the students resolving to discover their life’s true calling.

Teachers’ Workshops

On December 10 and 11, some 21 teachers of SACNE, Jodhpur, participated in enjoyable sessions on ‘creative teaching’ wherein they unleashed their latent talents through various spontaneous theatre processes. Stepping in the shoes of an actor-teacher, they recognized theatre as a powerful medium of education. Exploring core processes from observation to sensitization to aspiration to assimilation to preparation to purification to presentation to communication, expanded their perception of approaching education and creative methods of teaching. Tools such as actors’ clarity chart helped realize the significance of staying focused on what they truly aspire as individuals and teachers. Their enactments on education and facilitative teaching followed with intense open forum sessions expanded their consciousness, bringing to the surface innumerable possibilities of experiential learning and teaching creatively via theatre. The workshop ended with an assignment on implementing all the learning in the teachers’ day-to-day classroom teaching.

On December 14 and 15, 2015, a group of 12 teachers of Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education (SASIE) in Chandigarh participated in the first phase of theatre in integral education workshop. Starting with free-wheeling interactions on theatre and education, the teachers journeyed through many benefitting aspects of self through the process of creative drama. Tapping into various latent qualities of the participants, a treasure house of immense potentials in each was revealed. The core process of theatre in the light of experiential learning gave birth to various creative approaches to address aspects of the self and themes that concern today’s young learners. Finally, the teachers were taught how creating and enacting stories can be the foundation to learn and teach any subject that they wish to undertake resulting in harmonious progress. The teachers acknowledged the significance of applying pragmatic processes of learning and teaching and resultant beauty that arises.

On 19 and 20 December, 2015, in another workshop at AuroMirra Center of Education (AMCE) in Patiala, 20 teachers dug into their inner treasures by enacting scenes from their experiences that threw up qualities helpful to their progress. They recognized their latent strengths by responding to given situations freeing them from inhibitions they had earlier. Appropriately called ‘inner swaraj’, games of harmony were played that expanded their vision on education and uplifted their consciousness. Sharing, weaving and dramatizing what to them were matters of great concern revealed multiple creative ways of responding to life situations in a calm fashion. The teachers’ final presentations were followed with intense open forum sessions, which expanded their vision on teaching processes that create an environment of experiential and joyful learning. The reverberations of unbridled joy, enthusiasm, confidence, creativity and love for learning were palpable.

Feedback:

“The workshop taught us how to be quick and spontaneous. We tend to think and plan a lot which sometimes are very mechanical and regular. Instead we have to let our heart or inner voice dominate. It also taught us a lot about team effort and how important each member’s contribution can be. Every member of the group had a different personality and bringing together a diverse group and showcasing a common effort was something that this workshop taught me.”
— Kirti Kheechee, Teacher, SACNE, Jodhpur

“This workshop was delightful and an enlightening one. It certainly increased my confidence level. It also compelled me to think about teaching strategies and how innovative and thoughtful they can be, which create interest, involvement and joy among students. This workshop was innovative.”
— Meenakshi, Science Teacher, SACNE, Jodhpur

“It was really a great experience! It has made me confident. I am convinced that sensitivity can indeed result in discipline. Besides, it revealed to me that dramatization or creative learning need not consume a lot of time, efforts and planning as I used to think earlier.”
— Preeti, Teacher, SACNE, Jodhpur

“Before the start of the workshop I believed it would be about theatre in integral education, but now in retrospect I have realized the immense and profound impact of it. The many aspects that were touched upon included the many possibilities of the use of theatre to teach each and every subject, values of life, etc., on the one hand, and how the process itself becomes a medium of learning on the other.
The workshop conducted and modeled by Ravi Shanker was an education in itself on how a teacher should approach teaching. He tapped into something beautiful in each one and the final result or presentation was just an end to a whole and complete enriching learning experience.
I plan to use it with our students for sure. I can already see many opportunities to incorporate every aspect of the workshop at some point and in some way.”
— Jasvinder, Principal, SASOIE, Chandigarh

“The vision of true education can be realized to a greater extent if we have workshops like this. Sometimes we start believing that there is nothing more to be realized beyond certain limited concepts, but such workshops remove our blindness and broaden our mind-set.
The element of spontaneity in the workshop was really inspiring. As in life situations, good or bad just pop up and we need to react according to the best of our capabilities, so did we practice here. To learn how to rein the limitation of the mind from thinking in advance was really fascinating. Similar to how Ravi Shanker guided us bringing forth our potentials by taking a backseat and trusting us, can also be experienced with the children. As teachers we are already aware of this sometimes, but ‘sometimes’ should become every time. The vibration among participants as teachers and students is significant and this could be felt in the workshop.”
— Harsharan Kaur, Teacher (Social Studies), SASOIE, Chandigarh

“This workshop has been an eye opener in some ways as to how we can discover what has been hidden deep inside us; how dramatics can help make regular curriculum more interesting and easy; how we can incorporate all our faculties and integrate more subjects through it . . .”
— Sandeep Kaur, Teacher, AMCE, Patiala

“This workshop helped me to bring out my hidden qualities . . .”
— Sarbdeep Kaur, Teacher, AMCE, Patiala

“This two day session will help us how to create a story and drama in kindergarten and use our voice while working with small children . . .”
— Kanchan, Teacher, AMCE, Patiala

“This workshop was a great way of discovering one’s hidden talents. During the session I discovered in me an actor, a singer and of course an artist. Now I am confident I can sing, act and speak for myself. As a woman now I feel more empowered . . .”
— Manpreet Ghuman, Teacher, AMCE, Patiala