Storytelling/oral interpretation – The animation site, commoncraft.com, offers some great opportunities to transform a story in an interesting way with little drawing ability. The telling of the story revolves around the voice and the visual to back it up.
Radio play – Podcasting is really the modern way of working with a radio play, and can be used for the production of a performance that is based on sound. These effects can incorporate digital sound through the process of editing.
Scenes – Vodcasting of scene-based performances would work well for the purposes of creating a commercial, an “awareness” video (like a public address) or “how-to” video – for example, “How to survive a zombie apocalypse” or “How to create a mask“. There are so many options on what a student could demonstrate in a how-to format in relation to stage/set/costume design. A student could do an assignment on the effects of colour or light and dark on mood. In the study of film, students could collaborate with students in other film classes anywhere in the world to create a documentary or fictitious story. The options are endless and how-to vodcasts could be done as screencasts instead, with instructions or samples in the large frame and the work taking place in the video frame.
Research -Students rarely have opportunities to research performers or performance styles of particular theatres. Digitally there is a real chance to further education into theatrical performance styles. For example, in a Modern Theatre class I had to do a report with video, a Powerpoint and a handout to show to all students in the class. This could be done combining several criteria and media into a WebQuest assignment.
Drama requires a performer, a performance space and an audience – the audience need not be live, but it could be set up like a large video conference where each performer enacts a production virtually or responds with critique as a group. If a Drama classroom teacher is looking for inspiration, I would encourage them to look at what Eric Whitacre, a composer/conductor/lecturer, has done with a virtual choir. The website is http://ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir and a video of this was posted in an earlier blog post. Inspiration is out there, if you are looking for it.
Drama Cat: Drama Zone 
Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas! I especially like the idea of students making what they do during class available to a wider audience. It can give students some great motivation if grandparents/parents/aunts/uncles around the country and world can see what they do in school. Also, what a great opportunity to learn and grow in acting to watch yourself on camera.
You’re very welcome Allison. I keep trying to think of ideas to bring the Drama environment something new. While the purpose of the secondary Drama class is to encourage performance development, there are so many ways to achieve this. I’m still compiling ideas.
Carla, I really enjoyed what you said about students being able to research performers and performance styles. This began to make me think that I could do this very thing to motivate students in physical education as I can get students to research athletes so they understand how to perform the motor movements correctly. How amazing would it be if you could share information and collaborate with other high school drama classes to teach and inspire each other. As we begin to scratch the technology surface within the classroom it will be interesting to see where technology takes us.
Good idea Cheyne, it’s best to learn from the best. Talented athletes, like talented performers, have much insight that can be provided to our students.
Blended classrooms are such a great idea. The kids would experience so much production work using all these techniques as well. Many of the techniques he listed could even be used in science classrooms for research. A little drama in our dry academic courses goes a long way. 🙂
I am really enjoying your blog. It feels like I am reading a ‘professional’ blog with great resources and a true focus. I agree with your idea to encourage research into performance styles, your medium is rich with information and different views on that information. You should check out Matt’s Blog http://words.usask.ca/burgtron/2013/03/01/choose-your-own-adventure-on-youtube/ for a fun idea.
Thanks Josiah, I’m glad you are a fan. I like the title of Matt’s blog already; I’ll check it out.