Zack Frame - Post #2 - Cooperative Learning

It almost seems silly to really mention the fact that I have used, am currently using, and will continue to use cooperative learning in my theatre classes. Marzano explains that cooperative learning can be beneficial if the groups are kept small and on task. It seems like a no-brainer to say that cooperative learning is a fundamental building block to theatre education. In a production, everyone’s part is so intertwined and interdependent on everyone else’s part. If someone doesn’t do what it is they need to do, everyone will have to pick up the slack. So it seems to go without saying that cooperative learning in the theater is important!

In my first period acting class, we are finishing up making plaster character masks. I am having the students work in small groups of two. By putting the students in small groups (or just pairs), they can discuss what it is that they want to do when making their masks (FYI-the students were using James and the Giant Peach for the selection of characters for their masks. Students were going to use characterizations in order to develop the mask of their character, and hopefully, display characteristics of the character’s personality through their masks). The groups seem to work well, and the kids seem to really enjoy the activity.

In my second period acting class, we are building the set for James and the Giant Peach. (In case you didn’t pick up on it, James and the Giant Peach is the play that students are working on now). I am teaching the students how to build platforms to enhance the design of their set. However, I can only work with so many students at a time because the students are limited on the materials that they have. (for example, there are only two working drills—this means that only two students can drill at any one time. So in groups: I have two students to drill, two students to keep the two by fours square, and two students to hold the structure in place while it is drilled.) Unfortunately, the groups are in about eight. So I have students who aren’t exactly busy—but I try to find them things to do, or get them more involved the next day.

I’m a firm believer that cooperative learning is very important in theatre. I agree when Marzanos says that cooperative learning can be used in many different situations. I am convinced that this strategy was developed with the theatre education in mind! :-)