Workshops for child-centred learning in rural Africa
December 2005 - March 2006(Contact: Dr John Holmes)
Funded By: British Academy
Other project members:
Jane Plastow - School of English/Workshop Theatre
This project was a follow up to the previous four years of research into newly qualified teachers in Eritrean primary schools. After observing and gathering data about their teaching we used the videos and records over the previous four years as raw material for the workshops, where we watched videos of 'best practice' and discussed this with the teachers who were featured. In addition, to focus on making the classroom more child centreed we used drama workshops with the children and the teachers and ended the workshops with a drama involving the children who demonstrated what they thought was good about their schools and what they thought 'needed changing'. This was staged for the local community and involved music and dance. It concluded with a discussion and reflection from the teachers on their own roles within the school and community. We hope to take the findings of these workshops further forward, especially in the use of drama techniques as a research tool into classroom dynamics and local literacy practice.
This project last updated by John Holmes on 6th September 2006.