Learning through drama is a unique way to engage and energise your workforce and deliver results. An innovative approach to experiential learning and development, it gets the creative juices flowing and allows people to explore a side of themselves they might otherwise never have known existed. Drama is fun and lively and ‒most importantly ‒successful at empowering people to act differently in the workplace.
Why drama based learning?
Drama based learning is, as the name implies, learning with the use of drama as the key methodology. Its benefits are manifold, including bringing about behavioural changes, reaching larger audiences, bringing subjects to life and getting people inspired.
Taking on different shapes and styles, learning through drama can be interactive, facilitated, simulated, role play or scripted drama. All slightly different in their approach to learning, the different methodologies provide an excellent way to get the energy flowing within a group and an opportunity for real debate, discussion and the sharing of best practice. There is also the option for an individual to be ‘hot seated’ and questioned directly by potential conference delegates, which is a fantastic way to achieve a real-life scenario and engage everyone in exploring the challenges, developing a common understanding and starting to focus on the behaviours that will bring about real change.
Learning with the use of drama is an excellent medium for getting people to think differently and to get creative. Drama can be used in so many alternative ways to raise awareness, build engagement, empower new thinking and enable learning.
Who and what is this learning suited to?
Whether performance management, customer service or difficult conversations, all behavioural challenges can be addressed through this interactive, safe and highly-engaging style of learning. Both simple and complex issues can be approached very effectively using drama as a tool, with learning being achieved by witnessing the impact of the behaviours being acted out. Learning through drama and acting out different work-related scenarios is suitable for all levels of an organisation, from senior executives to front-line staff. It is also suited to both small ‒including one-on-one environments ‒and large groups.
Role play has proven to be a mainstay of learning and development over the years and has evolved quite considerably in some cases. Generally delivered one-to-one and with a facilitator, this technique provides a unique opportunity for individuals to put their learning into practice and hone their skills. It offers a level of intricacy and immediacy that it is hard to achieve in any other way, including receiving constructive feedback. Characters and situations develop as scenarios progress and individuals are able to engage on a far deeper level than with other types of learning.
With the use of technology, drama based learning using role play can be made even more beneficial in the one-to-one set-up with the use of filming, encouraging individuals to review their action and reflect upon how they might change their behaviour in a real-life situation. This method also works virtually, engaging global teams and remote workers.