Looking at Learning in Drama
Related reading on assessment
Evidence of children's learning in drama can be collected through a variety of means, for example:
- observation notes
- photographs
- extension activities
- writing in role
- verabatim quotes
- brief audio taped extracts
- drawing in role
- self assessment activities
Reading articles or chapters about learning in and through drama is useful to complement the
diamond nine activity. It enables the discussion to be widened and underpinned by writers and research in the field. It is preferable to undertake this after the diamond nine activity however, so that the student teachers draw initially on their own insights and observations and then contextualise these.
If two articles are set then in groups of six student teachers, three can read one and three the other during the session. The two sub-groups may need 10-15 minutes to read and agree key points, some of which may relate to the diamond nine discussion; others may expand their understanding of the rationale for drama previously shared. This organisational strategy prompts the two sub-groups to share the new knowledge or perspectives gained from their reading.
The following chapters on assessment may be helpful:
Baldwin, P. and Fleming, K. (2002) Chapter Six: Assessment in and through drama in
Teaching Literacy through Drama London: Routledge pp.39-43
Bunyan, P., Catron, J., Harrison, L., McEvoy, S., Moore, R., Welburn, B., and Williams, J. (2000) Chapter Two: progression through engagement, critical analysis and transference
Cracking Drama: Progression in Drama within English (5-16) York: York Publishing Services for NATE pp. 9-14
Grainger, T. and Cremin, M. (2001) Chapter Fourteen: Assessing Classroom Drama in
Resourcing Classroom Drama 5-8. Sheffield: NATE pp. 91-95
Kitson, N. and Spiby, I. (1997) Chapter Two: Learning through Drama in
Drama 7-11 London: Routledge pp. 27-42
Winston, J. and Tandy, M. (1998) Chapter Six, Progression, continuity and assessment in primary drama in
Beginning Drama 4-11. London: David Fulton pp. 88-103
