This is the last of three responses to a Newsroom article written by Emma Willis. This blog comes from my perspective on an article that discusses a possible discontinuation of NZ theatre in Education.
Today's statement is in regard to how face to faced learning is important to students and happens within the performing arts.
See Emma Willis' article here:
Statement #3: Social learning matters
At a time when social cohesion is under threat from a range of social and technological forces, this type of teaching and learning matters. Despite the arguments of those who rely purely on economic rationale to tell us that our courses are “failing,” the fundamentally kanohi ki te kanohi, (face-to-face) nature of our discipline is now more essential than ever.
There are evidently strong points to make for both online and in person tutorials based on social cohesion. Emma Willis is right when she says it has been under threat. I think that is based on the repercussions of being in lockdown and fearing social events for three years.
I wanted to refer to what Emma Willis said, about "the fundamentally kanohi ki te kanohi, (face-to-face) nature of our discipline is now more essential than ever". I wanted to explain why I think it is fundamental. I remember teaching in 2020, when we went into lockdown the first time, the only way I could keep my students afloat was to give them more opportunities to listen and talk to others. Many of them struggled with their new routines and weren't coping very well without social dynamics. So, I opened up a communication-based video chat each week where anyone from any class of mine could come together and chat. This was added on top of our usual online Drama lessons. We talked about life, theatre, their feelings, made jokes, played music, all sorts, to keep their social and emotional wellbeing ok, during this time. There is power in listening and talking. You can communicate lots of things through typing, however it doesn't quite soothe the soul the way that talking and listening does.
...when we went into lockdown the first time, the only way I could keep my students afloat was to give them more opportunities to listen and talk to others.
You may find that sometimes emails work wonders when it comes to arranging things in work situations, however, sometimes one meeting can help resolve any confusion or misinterpretation that can occur when reading through several emails. There's an entertaining short skit from Key and Peele which support what I am saying about how text messaging can be misinterpreted. See the clip here and be mindful that it is uncensored. Misinterpretation can be a factor in this. It can stop students from understanding what they are learning. So, I think Emma Willis makes a very valid point that even in terms of interpretation and communicating with students clearly, this type of learning does matter.
The Performing Arts covers a variety of Learning Styles
Another factor is styles of learning. Not everyone is a visual, logical or solitary learner, that is why it is important to promote other learning styles, such as social learning, kinesthetic learning, and musical and auditory learning. These learning styles require students to communicate and/or collaborate with others. I believe everyone can relate and can think of a moment in their learning life where they struggled with something, and I wonder if a contributing factor was that it was a different learning style to what works best for them. So, I must reiterate that I agree with Emma Willis that this type of learning does matter.
I believe everyone can relate and can think of a moment in their learning life where they struggled with something, and I wonder if a contributing factor was that it was a different learning style to what works best for them.
It is so important to learn through a social context for a variety of reasons. I think that is one reason why our online learning works, at Tovah's Tutoring Company Ltd, because we factor in these important aspects. Students gain the experience and knowledge from our qualified teachers through a video conference context. So, they are not limited to one way of learning. We communicate very effectively, where students can ask us questions and automatically receive replies and feedback; it is just like in a classroom, without any physical contact with our students.
Students gain the experience and knowledge from our qualified teachers through a video conference context. So, they are not limited to one way of learning.
Tovah O'Neill
Tovah's Tutoring Company Ltd
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