(1174) 'IF THIS IS SO FUN FOR ADULTS, IT MUST BE A THOUSAND TIMES MORE FUN FOR CHILDREN!' ADULT TEACHER STUDENT EXPERIENCES ON GROUPING THROUGH DRAMA COURSE PRACTICES

摘要

Cooperative learning, grouping, flexibility in communication and transformational ways of learning playa very important role in today's learning environments. Future teachers need strong experience ingrouping and in the mechanisms that lie beyond the ways people form groups. It is essential to maketeacher students familiar with the methods of how to positively influence the atmosphere where pupilsare forming groups, communicating and cooperating. Drama education has unique and very effectivemethods for successful grouping. This study reflects the meanings teacher students give on dramacourse practices influencing their experiences on grouping. The study was executed in Finland at theKokkola University Consortium Chydenius. Drama education course is part of an adult students'teacher education programme and it takes place at the beginning of the studies of new courses.Through the drama education course the students dive into the variety of drama methods byexperiencing these themselves and they authentically get to know how drama education creates at itsbest an amazing learning environment for grouping. This study aims to identify different authenticexperiences that teacher students recounted for individual grouping experiences. Drama educationforms a third reality among participants, it works on several levels and combines reality and fictionwhere students are free to let loose control and give space to creativity and spontaneity. As thishappens, the ways students free themselves to cooperation, playful, joyful and limitless grouping havegreat importance for the whole grouping during their teacher studies. Furthermore, as they becometeachers they need to know how to create a safe and effective space for true grouping among theirpupils.