Comments for Free-Range Drama Farm http://farm.dramafarm.org theatre education without the additives Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on Goal #2: The Education Plan by Rob http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-1158 Rob Sat, 24 May 2008 15:28:21 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-1158 Yeah, don't be afraid of the "C-word." An open plan can lead to chaos. The big question to my mind is whether or not you want the process to lead somewhere, i.e. does it have to structurally support a process leading to an end result, or can it be a flat structure. The former requires a tighter curriculum, i.e. you take acting one, then acting two, then production, etc. The latter looks more to me like a workshop model, i.e. you have 10 professionals each offering 6 week-long workshops in a variety of areas, students sign up for two workshops per week (one morning, one afternoon). Workshops run Monday thru Saturday, Sunday is a free day for doing something like putting together a scene or a short piece for performance of some kind. How does that sound? Yeah, don’t be afraid of the “C-word.” An open plan can lead to chaos. The big question to my mind is whether or not you want the process to lead somewhere, i.e. does it have to structurally support a process leading to an end result, or can it be a flat structure.

The former requires a tighter curriculum, i.e. you take acting one, then acting two, then production, etc.

The latter looks more to me like a workshop model, i.e. you have 10 professionals each offering 6 week-long workshops in a variety of areas, students sign up for two workshops per week (one morning, one afternoon). Workshops run Monday thru Saturday, Sunday is a free day for doing something like putting together a scene or a short piece for performance of some kind.

How does that sound?

]]> Comment on Promotion, Love and Coffee by Bryan Gower http://farm.dramafarm.org/2007/08/16/promotion-love-and-coffee/#comment-1153 Bryan Gower Wed, 21 May 2008 04:06:06 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2007/08/16/promotion-love-and-coffee/#comment-1153 Sarah Thanks for your kind words and promotion for Crosstown. It is always heart warming to unexpectedly find encouraging words from those touched in our community. Thanks! Bryan Gower Crosstown Community Center Sarah

Thanks for your kind words and promotion for Crosstown. It is always heart warming to unexpectedly find encouraging words from those touched in our community.

Thanks!
Bryan Gower
Crosstown Community Center

]]> Comment on Open Space Technology by Derrick Kwa http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/03/24/open-space-technology/#comment-1102 Derrick Kwa Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:01:49 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/03/24/open-space-technology/#comment-1102 Good to see you back on the blog. =). Yeah, I think it could work, in both ways. Not much suggestions on specifics, but yeah. I think it could work, and I think it's a good idea. Good to see you back on the blog. =).

Yeah, I think it could work, in both ways. Not much suggestions on specifics, but yeah. I think it could work, and I think it’s a good idea.

]]> Comment on Goal #2: The Education Plan by David http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-900 David Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:52:17 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-900 When we went through this process we started with our mission statement. Then we did "learning objectives" and then sort of collated and matched objectives to the mission. It was a pretty cool process. I'd be happy to do the same process with you - I kinda liked it. When we went through this process we started with our mission statement. Then we did “learning objectives” and then sort of collated and matched objectives to the mission. It was a pretty cool process.

I’d be happy to do the same process with you - I kinda liked it.

]]> Comment on Goal #2: The Education Plan by andrea http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-895 andrea Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:22:42 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/26/goal-2-the-education-plan/#comment-895 don't be afraid of the word "curriculum" - it doesn't have to be about paperwork, but it SHOULD be about a cohesive structure with measurable objectives and a method of evaluation. just because it's informal education doesn't mean it's totally off the cuff. that said, i think a roadmap is a good place to start, and the natural first step towards planning an actual curriculum. do you know anything about backwards design? http://www.ltag.education.tas.gov.au/Planning/models/princbackdesign.htm is a site with a pretty good overview (although amusingly enough, it's from tasmania. awesome.) and might be interesting for you as you start the planning process. don’t be afraid of the word “curriculum” - it doesn’t have to be about paperwork, but it SHOULD be about a cohesive structure with measurable objectives and a method of evaluation. just because it’s informal education doesn’t mean it’s totally off the cuff.

that said, i think a roadmap is a good place to start, and the natural first step towards planning an actual curriculum. do you know anything about backwards design? http://www.ltag.education.tas.gov.au/Planning/models/princbackdesign.htm is a site with a pretty good overview (although amusingly enough, it’s from tasmania. awesome.) and might be interesting for you as you start the planning process.

]]> Comment on Pittsburgh, PA, Here We Come! by Katy http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/19/pittsburgh-pa-here-we-come/#comment-826 Katy Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:57:31 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2008/01/19/pittsburgh-pa-here-we-come/#comment-826 yay for moving to Pittsburgh! Keep me posted, which, of course you will. yay for moving to Pittsburgh! Keep me posted, which, of course you will.

]]> Comment on The Program by Ellen http://farm.dramafarm.org/concept/the-program/#comment-678 Ellen Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:43:10 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/concept/the-program/#comment-678 This sounds a lot like what we senior dancers are doing to put on our BFA thesis concert series at UIUC. We have an advisor who's overseeing our work and making suggestions, but it's very much up to us how we choose to structure and manage our concerts. It's a great feeling, and I wish more people got to experience it. Go Drama Farm! ~Ellen :-) This sounds a lot like what we senior dancers are doing to put on our BFA thesis concert series at UIUC. We have an advisor who’s overseeing our work and making suggestions, but it’s very much up to us how we choose to structure and manage our concerts. It’s a great feeling, and I wish more people got to experience it. Go Drama Farm!

~Ellen :-)

]]> Comment on Become a Co-Schemer by Rob Seitelman http://farm.dramafarm.org/how-you-can-help/become-a-co-schemer/#comment-49 Rob Seitelman Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:15:42 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/how-you-can-help/become-a-co-schemer/#comment-49 You know I'd do anything to work with you again, but this just sounds awesome! Count me in. You know I’d do anything to work with you again, but this just sounds awesome! Count me in.

]]> Comment on Free-Range What? by Katy http://farm.dramafarm.org/free-range-what/#comment-20 Katy Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:09:21 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/free-range-what/#comment-20 I think that your emphasis on happy *and* well-educated young theater professionals might be the most ground-breaking and innovative idea you've got here. I'm just saying. =) I think that your emphasis on happy *and* well-educated young theater professionals might be the most ground-breaking and innovative idea you’ve got here. I’m just saying. =)

]]> Comment on More interesting articles… by Sarah http://farm.dramafarm.org/2007/09/14/more-interesting-articles/#comment-41 Sarah Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:00:48 +0000 http://farm.dramafarm.org/2007/09/14/more-interesting-articles/#comment-41 Hi Scott, Thanks for the support! It's great to know that there are theatre educators out there who like the idea and want to be involved! Right now, the best thing you can do to help is spread the word - if you have any students who might be interested in something like this, or if you know of other theatre professionals who might want a part in helping us build the program, send them our way! In the next few weeks there will be even more specific ways to get involved and help us figure things out, so stay tuned - we'd love to have you as a part of it! <i>Informal Learning</i> is a really interesting book - its primary focus is on finding new ways for companies to train their employees, but I think a lot of the ideas can be applied to other kinds of education too. Definitely worth a read for anyone who's interested in how to create alternative kinds of learning environments... And thanks again for stopping by - it's great to meet you! =) Hi Scott,

Thanks for the support! It’s great to know that there are theatre educators out there who like the idea and want to be involved! Right now, the best thing you can do to help is spread the word - if you have any students who might be interested in something like this, or if you know of other theatre professionals who might want a part in helping us build the program, send them our way! In the next few weeks there will be even more specific ways to get involved and help us figure things out, so stay tuned - we’d love to have you as a part of it!

Informal Learning is a really interesting book - its primary focus is on finding new ways for companies to train their employees, but I think a lot of the ideas can be applied to other kinds of education too. Definitely worth a read for anyone who’s interested in how to create alternative kinds of learning environments…

And thanks again for stopping by - it’s great to meet you! =)

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