Creating Spaces For Sharing Practices
by Regina Chua
Two heads (or more) are often better than one. I owe much of the honing of my practice as a theatre practitioner-educator to the sharing of others, and have found that sometimes it is better to pick each others’ brains when we find ourselves at an impasse.
Through time spent learning and exchanging ideas, wisdoms, and moments, - whether within a classroom, during curriculum development sessions, or simply over coffee - my thinking was challenged, and where I grew.
When I joined the committee in 2023, one of the programmes that stuck out to me were the Swop Shops that SDEA had hosted in the past. The concept was simple. Offer a game to a group of educators, while taking away games that other educators are offering. Add in a little reflection, and the Swop Shop becomes a chance to not just play, but also to learn. Our own drama game flea market of sorts, except we’re exchanging strategies and not vintage clothes.
Since then, we’ve run two fun-filled Swop Shops, one for educators working with Lower Primary students, and the next for educators working with Lower Secondary students. I brought some of these games shared into my classroom and my students thoroughly enjoyed the learning process.
I believe that we need more of these opportunities for drama educators like myself to share and connect with one another. To both help us feel a little less alone, and disrupt our set ways of practicing - giving us new ways to solve old challenges, and help others do so too.
The concept is simple. Meet fellow drama educators and exchange a game or drama activity with one another. You will walk away with a whole host of activities, ideas, and pedagogical approaches to bring back to your classroom. You may even find that perfect game to add to your toolbag that you and your students have been looking for all this time!
While we began with more level specific sessions, I thought to try something slightly different for the 3 upcoming sessions. Navigating SYF, The Accessible Classroom, and Values in Action (CCA Edition).
Navigating SYF
SYF is a biannual affair for most and an annual situation for some. As drama educators, we know that the process is more important than the result, but how do we make the process meaningful and purposeful? How do we keep rehearsals fresh? What tools can we use to make the process an enjoyable learning experience for both our students and ourselves?
The Accessible Classroom
The mainstream classroom has evolved over the years, and we have been made more aware of the neuroatypical learners found within it. With a neurodiverse classroom, how do we keep learners’ engagement strong and make learning more accessible to various accessibility/learning needs? How do we create a safe learning environment for ourselves and our learners?
Values in Action (CCA Edition)
Values in Action (VIA) is a key Student Development Experience (SDE) in all MOE schools, designed to nurture socially responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to their communities. As drama educators, how can we guide our students in designing or developing their own performances or presentations that create real impact? How can we help them cultivate reflective practices to deepen their learning from these experiences? And when tackling sensitive topics, how do we support them in navigating these discussions with care and responsibility?
While teaching may often feel lonely in a classroom of 20 or more kids, meeting other educators in similar situations has always made me feel a little less alone, and pushed me to think differently. This year I plan to further disrupt and go deeper in my practice, challenging myself to think beyond why I do what I do.
These upcoming sessions are of course not exhaustive. If you’d like to discuss a topic or theme, get in touch with me and we’ll see what our two heads can do together! Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you at the next Swop Shop!
Written by Regina Chua,
Vice-President
Singapore Drama Educators Association
If you’d like to get in touch about future Swop Shop topics and themes, you may contact the SDEA Secretariat at office@sdea.org.sg or Regina at reginachua@sdea.org.sg