The Acting Habits of Mind as Individualized Learning From Theatre Classes

• In Event: Engaging Teaching and Learning in and Through Drama

Abstract

Theory and measurement of transfer from arts education has focused on constructs such as empathy or outcomes such as vocabulary level. However, previous work has found variable results. Practitioners have called on research to engage with authentic art practices, motivated by creating theatre, not transfer. A middle way is to look at theatre classes in terms of Acting Habits of Mind (Goldstein, 2024)– dispositional thinking strategies used to solve exercises and goals in theatre activities that can also be applied in other contexts. These include: body awareness, metacognition, envisioning, collaboration, considering others, committing to choices, flexibility, and releasing inhibitions. The proposed talk will also discuss how teachers provide opportunities for students to use each with agency, independence, and individual ability.

Author

• Thalia R. Goldstein, George Mason University