Education through drama and theater | Mohammed Awwad | TEDxNicosia

TEDx Talks
20 Feb 201518:13
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging TEDx talk, the speaker, a drama educator and a clown, shares his journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of theater. He humorously addresses cultural misunderstandings of his name, Hamid, and dives into the profound impact of drama education on children's lives. Through personal anecdotes and interactive theater games, he illustrates the boundless creativity and problem-solving skills that drama fosters, emphasizing its ability to reflect life's complexities and empower young minds to understand the consequences of their actions.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The speaker, Hamid, humorously corrects the common mispronunciation of his name and offers a trick to pronounce it correctly.
  • 🎭 Hamid is a drama educator who teaches children theater and incorporates clowning as part of his teaching.
  • 🤡 The story of a young boy named Mohammed who wanted to be a clown illustrates the journey from childhood dreams to professional theater.
  • 🏫 Drama education is presented as a valuable tool for engaging children and fostering creativity and imagination.
  • 🎨 The script highlights the transformative power of imagination, where ordinary objects can be reimagined into something new and entertaining.
  • 🔄 Creativity is shown to have no limits, encouraging children to see the potential in every situation and object.
  • 🤹‍♂️ The role of a clown in education is to entertain but also to teach important life skills, such as dealing with conflicts and seeing the positive in negative situations.
  • 🎭 Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed is mentioned as a form of theater that involves the audience, emphasizing the collective power of storytelling.
  • 🤝 The script emphasizes the importance of interaction and relationship in theater, both between actors and between actors and the audience.
  • 💡 Theatre is described as a mirror of life, reflecting the decisions and actions of individuals, and allowing for reflection on the consequences of those actions.
  • 🏆 The final message is one of inspiration, encouraging the audience to recognize the impact of theater in personal growth and decision-making.
Q & A

  • What is the main profession of the speaker?

    -The speaker is a drama educator who teaches children theater in schools.

  • Why does the speaker mention the hat and the heat?

    -The speaker uses the hat and the heat as a metaphor for his initial decision to be a clown and the challenges he faced in pursuing it.

  • What is the speaker's real name, and why is it a point of discussion?

    -The speaker's real name is Hamid, and it is a point of discussion because it is often mispronounced or misunderstood by people from different cultures.

  • What was the pivotal moment that led the speaker to pursue theater?

    -The pivotal moment was when the speaker was introduced to theater during an audition, where he fell in love with performing and decided to pursue it as a career.

  • What is the significance of the story about the young boy named Mohammed?

    -The story of the young boy Mohammed is a personal anecdote illustrating the speaker's journey from being bullied and misunderstood to finding his passion in theater and becoming a clown.

  • What does the speaker believe about the purpose of theater?

    -The speaker believes that theater is about creating connections, not just between actors and the audience, but also between the audience and the story, and it can be a tool for reflection and change.

  • Who is Agosto Boal, and what is his contribution to theater mentioned in the script?

    -Agosto Boal was a Brazilian director who created 'Theatre of the Oppressed,' a form of theater that encourages audience participation and sees theater as a means for social change.

  • What is the role of a clown according to the speaker?

    -According to the speaker, a clown is a fictional character who entertains people by creating comedy through fictional situations and conflicts.

  • What is the main lesson the speaker wants to convey about creativity?

    -The main lesson is that creativity involves taking something original and transforming it into another original idea using imagination, and that imagination has no limits.

  • What activity did the speaker use to demonstrate the power of theater in a school setting?

    -The speaker used a drama game where children were divided into 'pink' and 'green' groups, creating their own theater scenes to resolve a conflict, demonstrating the power of theater to provoke thought and decision-making.

  • What conclusion does the speaker draw about the impact of theater on children's understanding of decisions and consequences?

    -The speaker concludes that theater can help children see the results of their decisions, allowing them to experience both the fun and the thought-provoking aspects of their actions.

Outlines
00:00
😀 Introduction to a Drama Educator's Journey

The speaker, who humorously clarifies his name is Hamid, not Mohammad as mispronounced by Greeks or English speakers, introduces himself as an Arab and a drama educator. He explains his role as a teacher in schools, focusing on theater education, and mentions his clown identity. Hamid was invited by a friend to speak at TEDx Nicosia about an idea worth spreading, to which he proposed making education funny by connecting with the child within us. He begins his talk with a personal story about a young boy named Mohammed who dreamt of becoming a clown.

05:01
🤡 The Evolution of a Young Clown's Dream

This paragraph delves into the story of a young boy named Mohamed who, despite bullying and the challenges of adolescence, held onto his dream of becoming a clown. His journey led him to university where he discovered the true essence of theater, learning that it's not just about performance but about creating connections and understanding. The paragraph highlights the historical roots of drama in Greece and introduces the concept of 'Theatre of the Oppressed' by Augusto Boal, emphasizing the participatory nature of theater and its potential for social change.

10:06
🎭 Embracing the Role of a Clown in Drama Education

The speaker shares his realization that being an actor allows him to be a clown, using the heart and red nose as symbols. He explains the role of a clown as creating comedy through fictional characters and situations. Through a simple drama game involving a newspaper's transformation, he illustrates the boundless nature of creativity and imagination. The clown's role is also to teach children to see negative situations positively and to deal with conflicts in a playful yet thoughtful manner.

15:10
🎈 The Power of Theater in Conflict Resolution and Decision Making

In this final paragraph, the speaker recounts an interactive theater activity with children, dividing them into 'pink' and 'green' groups and encouraging them to resolve a conflict through creative expression. The children's spontaneous creation of combat scenes, despite the initial plan for a peaceful party, leads to a discussion about the consequences of their actions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of theater in helping children understand the results of their decisions, allowing them to learn and grow through laughter and reflection.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Drama Education
Drama Education refers to the teaching of theater and performance skills in an educational setting. It is a method of learning that encourages students to explore their creativity and express themselves through acting, directing, and playwriting. In the script, the speaker is a drama educator who teaches children how to engage in theater, emphasizing the importance of drama in children's lives and its role in fostering creativity and self-expression.
💡Clown
A clown is a performer who employs humor, often through physical comedy, slapstick, or mime, to entertain an audience. The script's speaker identifies as a clown and uses this persona to connect with children and make education fun. The clown's role in the narrative is to illustrate the power of humor and play in the learning process, as well as to demonstrate how drama can be a tool for personal growth and expression.
💡Theatre of the Oppressed
Theatre of the Oppressed is a form of theater created by Brazilian director Augusto Boal, which aims to involve the audience in the performance, allowing them to become actors and influence the story's outcome. This concept is mentioned in the script to highlight the interactive and transformative potential of theater, where the audience's participation is seen as key to creating social change and fostering a dialogue about societal issues.
💡Creativity
Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new. In the video script, creativity is exemplified through the clown's ability to transform ordinary objects, like a newspaper, into multiple uses, demonstrating the boundless nature of imagination. The script emphasizes the importance of nurturing creativity in children as a means to encourage them to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to problems.
💡Imagination
Imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. The script discusses the limitless nature of imagination, particularly in the context of drama and play, where children are encouraged to envision new uses for objects and scenarios. Imagination is portrayed as a powerful tool for exploration and learning.
💡Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution refers to the process of resolving disputes or disagreements in a peaceful manner. In the script, the speaker uses a drama game to teach children about conflict resolution, where they are divided into groups and encouraged to create their own theater scenes to address and resolve the conflict. This activity illustrates the potential of drama to provide a safe space for children to explore and understand complex social dynamics.
💡Theater
Theater is a form of art that combines acting, dialogue, music, singing, and dance to tell a story or convey emotional experiences. The script discusses theater as a mirror of life, where the audience and actors co-create the narrative and its meaning. Theater is presented as a medium that can inspire thought, provoke emotion, and facilitate social commentary.
💡Bullying
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, or threat to abuse or intimidate others. The script mentions the speaker's personal experience with bullying during his teenage years, which highlights the negative impact it can have on an individual's well-being. The narrative uses this experience to underscore the importance of empathy and understanding in educational settings.
💡Personal Growth
Personal growth refers to the process of improving and developing one's abilities, personality, and understanding. The script's speaker recounts his journey from being a bullied teenager to becoming a drama educator and a clown, illustrating how personal growth can be facilitated through the pursuit of one's passions and the transformative power of theater.
💡Play
Play is a form of activity that is spontaneous, enjoyable, and often recreational. In the context of the script, play is used as a means to engage children in learning and self-expression. The speaker emphasizes the importance of play in drama education, as it allows children to explore their imagination and creativity in a fun and interactive way.
💡Educational Fun
Educational fun refers to the incorporation of enjoyable and engaging elements into the learning process. The script's speaker advocates for making education funny as a way to connect with the child inside us and to inspire learning. This concept is central to the speaker's approach to drama education, where humor and play are used to enhance the educational experience.
Highlights

The speaker humorously clarifies his name pronunciation and provides a cultural perspective.

Introduction to the speaker's profession as a drama educator and his role in teaching children theater.

The speaker's personal journey from being a bullied teenager to discovering his passion for theater.

The historical context of drama as a ritualistic connection to gods, not merely for entertainment.

Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed and the concept of audience participation in theater.

The idea that theater is a reflection of life and that everyone can be an actor.

The transformative power of theater in teaching children to see negative situations positively.

The concept of creativity and imagination in drama, illustrated through the use of a newspaper.

The speaker's realization of the potential of drama to change lives and his decision to become a clown.

The role of a clown in teaching children to deal with conflicts through humor and play.

A practical example of using drama to resolve conflicts among children, promoting empathy and understanding.

The importance of allowing children to create their own theater scenes to explore and express their emotions.

The impact of theater on children's decision-making and understanding the consequences of their actions.

The speaker's final message on the value of theater in children's lives for both entertainment and education.

The speaker's call to action for integrating drama into education to foster creativity and emotional intelligence.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Drama EducationCreative ThinkingChild DevelopmentTheatre of the OppressedBullying AwarenessImaginationConflict ResolutionClowningStorytellingYouth Empowerment