Computer Assisted Computer Assisted Teaching of LiteratureTeaching of Literature

CREATING A THEATRE CREATING A THEATRE PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

TheatTheatre forre for eeducationducational purposesal purposes has has been been continuously used together with many other continuously used together with many other educationaleducational strategies strategies; it is useless to say that a ; it is useless to say that a good teacher is also a good actorgood teacher is also a good actor. .

TheatTheatrree usage usage in in eeducationducation includes all theincludes all the interactive theatre practices that helpinteractive theatre practices that help, one way , one way or another,or another, the educational process. the educational process.

Some of these processes include developing Some of these processes include developing

original scriptsoriginal scripts (or some of them can be inspired (or some of them can be inspired by those of World Literature’s Classics)by those of World Literature’s Classics) using using the performance of a play as a the performance of a play as a starting point starting point for for audience interactiaudience interaction on and and also also discussing discussing important topics or themesimportant topics or themes..

Learning objectives Learning objectives possibility to write short critical reviews, possibility to write short critical reviews,

using any targeted standard language at using any targeted standard language at an adequate level of formality, explaining an adequate level of formality, explaining and supporting judgements by offering and supporting judgements by offering quotations and citing specific and relevant quotations and citing specific and relevant text fragments;text fragments;

possibility to maximise the impact of possibility to maximise the impact of student’s writing through making use of student’s writing through making use of various devices for presentation which can various devices for presentation which can enhance the textual message, PC, OHP, enhance the textual message, PC, OHP, Video devices, etc.Video devices, etc.

Teacher use of ICTTeacher use of ICT This application will give the teacher the This application will give the teacher the

opportunity to develop skills in using desktop opportunity to develop skills in using desktop publishing / designing and word-processing publishing / designing and word-processing software in order to:software in order to:

investigate different possibilities of electronic investigate different possibilities of electronic (non)-literary texts;(non)-literary texts;

Make use of presenting devices to enhance a text;Make use of presenting devices to enhance a text; use search engines and online searches (both for use search engines and online searches (both for

text and image information);text and image information); select information from various sources, designing select information from various sources, designing

the material to meet the reader’s needs;the material to meet the reader’s needs; use a digital camera use a digital camera to improve theto improve the overall overall

presentation.presentation.

StudentStudent’s’s use of ICT use of ICT

This will help them to:This will help them to: develop word-processing develop word-processing

skills in order to create skills in order to create texts for a specific texts for a specific audience;audience;

use desktop publishing to use desktop publishing to combine text and images;combine text and images;

use a digital camera to use a digital camera to create images for later create images for later digital usage.digital usage.

RequirementsRequirementsA. HardwareA. Hardware

Enough cEnough computers or laptopsomputers or laptops for student for student’s pair work’s pair work Digital photo/video cameraDigital photo/video camera Data projector and large display or interactive whiteboardData projector and large display or interactive whiteboard

B. SoftwareB. Software Word-processing software, such as Microsoft WordWord-processing software, such as Microsoft Word Publishing software, such as Microsoft PublisherPublishing software, such as Microsoft Publisher Internet browser, such as Microsoft Internet ExplorerInternet browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer Hot Potatoes SoftwareHot Potatoes Software

C. Other necessary elementsC. Other necessary elements Internet connectionInternet connection Different models of theatre programmesDifferent models of theatre programmes Digital photographs of school plays and students in this Digital photographs of school plays and students in this

classclass

An important element of this class module is, An important element of this class module is, of course, a lesson that should be adapted of course, a lesson that should be adapted and adjusted to the needs of your students’ and adjusted to the needs of your students’ knowledge level.knowledge level.

The teacher should decide exactly what the The teacher should decide exactly what the theatre programme will be based on - for theatre programme will be based on - for example, this could be a performance of example, this could be a performance of Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet, or it could be a , or it could be a performance that students have seen on performance that students have seen on stage at the theatre or watched on television, stage at the theatre or watched on television, or even acted themselves.or even acted themselves.

JulietJulietO Romeo, Romeo ! Wherefore art O Romeo, Romeo ! Wherefore art

thou Romeo ?thou Romeo ?Deny thy father and refuse thy Deny thy father and refuse thy

name !name !Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my

love,love,And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Romeo Romeo Shall I hear more, or shall I speak Shall I hear more, or shall I speak

at this ?at this ?……………………………………………………………………....I take thee at thy word.I take thee at thy word.Call me but “love”, and I’ll be new Call me but “love”, and I’ll be new

baptized;baptized;Henceforth I never will be RomeoHenceforth I never will be Romeo

ENGLISHENGLISH

JulietJuliet

O, Romeo, Romeo ! De ce eO, Romeo, Romeo ! De ce eşti tuşti tu Romeo ?Romeo ? Uită-ţi tatăl ! Uită-ţi tatăl !

Tăgăduieşte-ţi numele, ori dacă Tăgăduieşte-ţi numele, ori dacă

Nu vrei – o jură-mi că vei fi al meuNu vrei – o jură-mi că vei fi al meu

Şi-atunci de tot ce sunt m-oi lepăda Şi-atunci de tot ce sunt m-oi lepăda şi eu !şi eu !

Romeo Romeo

SSă mai ascult, ori să-i vorbescă mai ascult, ori să-i vorbesc ? ?

……………………………………………………………………....

Fac tot ce-mi spui: zi-mi doar Fac tot ce-mi spui: zi-mi doar ““iubiteiubite” ” deci ! deci !

Primind aPrimind aşa botezul nou, ţi-o jurâşa botezul nou, ţi-o jurâ

Că nu mai vreau să fiu Romeo-n Că nu mai vreau să fiu Romeo-n veci ! veci !

ROMÂNEŞTEROMÂNEŞTE

Students should already have the following Students should already have the following knowledge and skills:knowledge and skills:

explored the text characteristics of theatre explored the text characteristics of theatre programmes and focused on the potential of programmes and focused on the potential of presentation devices in enhancing their work;presentation devices in enhancing their work;

be familiar with literary texts and quotations be familiar with literary texts and quotations usage;usage;

understand the need to use formal standard understand the need to use formal standard English/Romanian, and the need to write for a English/Romanian, and the need to write for a general purpose and audience;general purpose and audience;

be familiar with summarising information from a be familiar with summarising information from a various sources, preparing the material to meet various sources, preparing the material to meet the reader’s needs with the use of the the reader’s needs with the use of the (electronic) library and the possibly to make use (electronic) library and the possibly to make use of ICT in other subjects.of ICT in other subjects.

When studying the theatre programme, When studying the theatre programme, the teacher will need to elicit from students the teacher will need to elicit from students the reason they think the respective the reason they think the respective theatre programme is presented as it is.theatre programme is presented as it is.

For example, why some certain images For example, why some certain images are placed in certain places on the page? are placed in certain places on the page?

This, will actually, make them think about This, will actually, make them think about the (general) layout during the preparation the (general) layout during the preparation for their personal designing of the for their personal designing of the programme when ICT is being used.programme when ICT is being used.

Students should already have the following ICT skills :Students should already have the following ICT skills : understand the functions of a desktop publishing understand the functions of a desktop publishing

application;application; know how to cut, edit, import and paste information know how to cut, edit, import and paste information

either written by themselves or found from online either written by themselves or found from online research;research;

know how to save images and text from documents know how to save images and text from documents on the Web;on the Web;

understand how to use a digital camera and transfer understand how to use a digital camera and transfer images to documents;images to documents;

have a number of suitable websites and search have a number of suitable websites and search engines available for this specific use.engines available for this specific use.

Students should have access to the Internet so that they can save Students should have access to the Internet so that they can save images and gather information for their programme. The following images and gather information for their programme. The following sites are useful sources:sites are useful sources:

Theatre website links: Theatre website links: British & RomanianBritish & Romanian www.rsc.org.ukwww.rsc.org.uk - Royal Shakespeare Company - Royal Shakespeare Company www.nt-online.orgwww.nt-online.org - National Theatre - National Theatre www.shakespeares-globe.orgwww.shakespeares-globe.org - Shakespeare's Globe - Shakespeare's Globe www.londontheatre.co.ukwww.londontheatre.co.uk - London Theatre - London Theatre www.whatsonstage.comwww.whatsonstage.com - Listings for all UK theatres and you can - Listings for all UK theatres and you can

also buy tickets at this sitealso buy tickets at this site www.kentaylor.co.ukwww.kentaylor.co.uk - Drama portal from Ken Taylor of Middlesex - Drama portal from Ken Taylor of Middlesex

UniversityUniversity http://sites.micro-link.net/zekscrabhttp://sites.micro-link.net/zekscrab - Shake Sphere - big guide from - Shake Sphere - big guide from

Michael CummingsMichael Cummings http://shakespeare.palomar.eduhttp://shakespeare.palomar.edu - Mr William Shakespeare and the - Mr William Shakespeare and the

Internet – portalInternet – portal www.teatrul-national.ro –Official website of the National Theatrewww.teatrul-national.ro –Official website of the National Theatre www.nottara.org. – Nottara Theatre – Bucharestwww.nottara.org. – Nottara Theatre – Bucharest www.teatru-cinema.ro –information website about plays & movieswww.teatru-cinema.ro –information website about plays & movies

Possible Search EnginesPossible Search Engines www.google.comwww.google.com - One of the best-known - One of the best-known

search enginessearch engines www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com http://vivisimo.comhttp://vivisimo.com - Clustering engine - Clustering engine www.teoma.comwww.teoma.com - Search tool - Search tool www.aesop.comwww.aesop.com - Search engine - Search engine http://web.webcrawler.comhttp://web.webcrawler.com - WebCrawler search - WebCrawler search

engineengine www.searchUK.co.ukwww.searchUK.co.uk - UK-based search engine - UK-based search engine www.portal.ro - Romanianwww.portal.ro - Romanian-based search engine-based search engine www.timpul-liber.rowww.timpul-liber.ro - Search tool - Search tool

Students should work in small groups and Students should work in small groups and use these sites to begin researching for use these sites to begin researching for their own contribution to the programme; their own contribution to the programme;

This will enable them to subdivide what This will enable them to subdivide what each person is searching for; work with each person is searching for; work with one guided group each lesson to develop one guided group each lesson to develop ideas on the structure, conventions and ideas on the structure, conventions and stylistic features of their part of the stylistic features of their part of the programme. programme.

Inserting pictures of famous Inserting pictures of famous people/actors or of the people/actors or of the students themselves, they students themselves, they will certainly improve the look will certainly improve the look and feel of the programme. and feel of the programme.

Pictures of famous Pictures of famous people/actors can easily be people/actors can easily be found on the Internet and found on the Internet and saved in shared work areas. saved in shared work areas.

Similarly, most educational Similarly, most educational institutions have digital institutions have digital pictures of all their enrolled pictures of all their enrolled students - providing these will students - providing these will also liven up the programme.also liven up the programme.

Designing the Plot / SummaryDesigning the Plot / Summary The teacher decides how students should The teacher decides how students should

approach this. ICT may help students approach this. ICT may help students structure their text. Part of the skill will be structure their text. Part of the skill will be in writing to a set number of words. in writing to a set number of words.

Displaying the main points in a diagram Displaying the main points in a diagram can help with summarising the plot clearly can help with summarising the plot clearly and gives a helpful structure. and gives a helpful structure.

It is not intended that students should complete It is not intended that students should complete the whole programme in one lesson. Draw the whole programme in one lesson. Draw groups together to discuss the work completed groups together to discuss the work completed so far and plan ahead for the following lesson.so far and plan ahead for the following lesson.

Ask nominated individuals from the guided group Ask nominated individuals from the guided group to describe what they will aim to include, how to to describe what they will aim to include, how to write a critical review and how to use quotation. write a critical review and how to use quotation. Ask one pair of researchers to outline their Ask one pair of researchers to outline their findings. Discuss editing and refining certain findings. Discuss editing and refining certain sections that might be too long or need adjusting sections that might be too long or need adjusting to fit in with the final theatre programme.to fit in with the final theatre programme.

Extension ActivitiesExtension Activities

Create a presentationCreate a presentation A multimedia presentation really helps bring the A multimedia presentation really helps bring the

subject alive and is easy to create. There are a subject alive and is easy to create. There are a great many sites that include the whole text of great many sites that include the whole text of Shakespeare plays on the Internet, which can be Shakespeare plays on the Internet, which can be copied and pasted to save typing. copied and pasted to save typing.

In addition to this, there are audio and In addition to this, there are audio and sometimes movie clips that can enhance a sometimes movie clips that can enhance a programme by making it multimedia. programme by making it multimedia.

Students can also be recorded reading scenes Students can also be recorded reading scenes from a play. The digital sound file can be from a play. The digital sound file can be inserted directly into a programme.inserted directly into a programme.

Hot Potatoes Directing The Stage Hot Potatoes Directing The Stage By using Hot Potatoes the By using Hot Potatoes the

teacher will turn into a teacher will turn into a “cybernetic” Steven “cybernetic” Steven Spielberg when directing on Spielberg when directing on the electronic stage of the electronic stage of Worldwide Literature.Worldwide Literature.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, So, Ladies and Gentlemen, get ready for the immortal get ready for the immortal Romeo and Juliet acting on Romeo and Juliet acting on

…… ……desktops…….!desktops…….!

Curtains up and …..click !Curtains up and …..click !