Theatre around and inside us

PROJECT TITLE: Theatre around and inside us WHYIn the 21st century there are new challenges as financial crisis, globalization, immigration etc. For this reason, the students are changing. It is noted that new technologies (mobile phones, computers, tablets) influence students’ day life. On the other hand, empathy, emotional skills and self-knowledge have ceased to exist. The main aim of this Erasmus + project is to use theatrical techniques as a method to change children’s behaviour in issues related with the four topics: diversity, school bullying, interpersonal relationships, human rights.OBJECTIVESThe individual objectives that emerged from a needs’ analysis of the involved schools at the beginning of the project are to:a) develop their creativity and imaginationb) cultivate critical thinking.c) encourage initiative, problem confrontation, decision making, communication and constructive management of emotions.d) develop empathy, emotional intelligence. e) strengthen their self-awareness and self-confidence.f) engage and participate in the learning process to become more responsible for learning and improve their overall performance.g) increase the sense of initiative, emancipation and self-esteem.h) be facilitated to express views, trends and feelings on social and cultural issues of the partners.i) be able to create and share theatrical events to acquire the relevant skillsFurthermore, through international meetings, we hope to: a) develop a relationship between the four European schools for creating innovative educational processes and exchanging good educational practices.b) develop a relationship between schools to encourage future partnerships.c) create and develop cooperation between teachers and pupils in the theatre. d) promote teamwork of pupils and teachers.PARTICIPANTS1) 7o GYMNASIO RODOU from Greece (Coordinator)2) GOTTFRIED-WILHELM-LEIBNIZ-GESAMTSCHULE from Germany3) ISTITUTI VINCI - ATENEO GROUP SAS from Italy 4) INSTITUTO DE ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA BEATRIZ DE SUABIA from SpainMETHODOLOGY & TOOLSWe will use a student-centered methodology mPPACT (Methodology for a Pupil and Performing Arts- Center Teaching). The mPPACT process focuses on the identity of the self and the identity of the other. Our activities will be based on theatrical pedagogue programmes and Forum Theatre techniques inspired from Augusto Boal.Initially there will be an international meeting where the teachers involved in the project will be educated with theatrical techniques. Methods on drama in education will be developed and exchanged between the partners. Before each mobility and for the chosen topic the participants have to prepare two activities:a.Group dynamics and pre­-evaluationb. Personal Engagement-Exploration/ResearchThe students will use drama in education for their survey and reflection on the chosen topic and ultimately create their short play, which they are going to perform during the mobilities. These short plays could be based on a trigger question, image, video, document etc. or/and on their personal experience. They will make a short play/ performance relevant to the specific topic of the meeting. In order to pre-evaluate students’ views experimental games would be useful at the beginning of the preparation. During each meeting it will be two more activities:a.From Personal to Communalb.Evaluation and DevelopmentStudents will critically reflect on their views of the environment they live in, they will compare and exchange their thoughts with students from a different culture in Europe. They will notice stereotypes, differences and similarities and appreciate the diversity of cultures. At the end a questionnaire must be answered to evaluate the meeting’s results. Also, teachers will also participate in meetings with the teachers from the other countries, in order to discuss and evaluate the progress of the project. When the students come back home they will present the mobility’s result to their peers.RESULTSBy using drama techniques, we shall try to increase students' awareness and change their attitudes on the four topics. The results will be presented on the project's blog and on the Twinspace.IMPACT-The participating teachers will be educated in using drama techniques to cope with different kind of issues in the school community.-These teachers with the new acquired experience and knowledge will instruct in turn their colleagues at school.-There will be aimed activities by the teachers for the management of students' problems. -We aim to develop and train students' teams within every school which -in the long term- will identify and confront relevant issues. -The students will participate in drama activities at school, in order to disseminate the values of the project (respect of the other, tolerance in diversity etc.)-The teachers will share best practices at European level and develop drama techniques on students' management.