Commonplace #5

When students begin use the textbook source of authority and fail to recognize that it has drawn on primary sources material-- that is often contested-- then as the Wiggins and Mc Tighe (2005) state, we may be failing to promote a culture of ideas in the class: "Most textbooks present students with highly simplified view of reality and practically no insight into the methods by which the information has been gathered and the facts distilled. Moveover, textbooks seldom communicate to the students the richness and excitement of the original works." (p. 230)

Wiggins and Mc Tighe claim learning is more effective when we learn through experience. Often Language arts classrooms are occupied with reading and writing (of course necessary!) but what can drama accomplish in the classroom? How can we create experiences using the imaginations our students bring to the classroom to create meaningful entries books and history.  Dorothy Heathcote, a renowned drama educator in the UK, using role playing a means to teach students through experiences. As you watch this video it's interesting to see how Heathcote becomes the manager of shoe factory and as well as the teacher of the class.  She politely demands that her students use their imagination to go with her into the shoe factory, and learn (mistakes included) as they watch their teacher and peers.