Teacher Ed Program Kicks Off in UK

The ensemble-based teacher education program began today for 20 central Ohio public schoolteachers at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in the UK. At the core of a partnership between Ohio State and the RSC, the five-day training program focuses on collaboration, community and complex texts, and is based on the RSC’s "Stand Up for Shakespeare" program. Says Brian Edmiston (left), professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology, who is involved in directing the three-year program, “Right from the beginning, this program is a shared journey, with shared purpose – for OSU, the RSC and the teachers. The group already is starting to create an ensemble, and under the leadership of the RSC, immediately has jumped into the complexities of The Winter’s Tale, which we had the honor of seeing yesterday.”

On the program’s first day, the group explored The Winter’s Tale through a variety of collaborative techniques, including drama and movement, active listening and focusing on different points of view.

The program is spearheaded by the OSU Arts Initiative, and is directed in the UK by Jacqui O’Hanlon, Virginia Grainger and Rachel Gartside of the RSC. O’Hanlon (right) explained during the first day of training, that Ohio State and the RSC have a shared commitment to artistic practice and teaching & learning. The new program will create a bridge, she said, between the classroom and artistic practice, and will reflect four key RSC values: collaboration, inquiry, engagement and ambition.

Teacher Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers who are involved as part of the first cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

Amy McKibbon, 5th and 6th grade literature, Hannah Ashton Middle School, Reynoldsburg City Schools

“I love the first day so far, it’s so active and engaging and collaborative. It’s easy for me to see how this ensemble approach can apply to so many areas. I can see using it to explore other literature, like Treasure Island, or to debate historical events in a social studies class. Or even use it in a science class to explore big questions about the environment or space exploration or cloning.”
Danielle Berring, intervention specialist, Linden-McKinley High School, Columbus City Schools

“I didn’t know quite what to expect on the first day and thought we might be exploring traditional interpretations of the text. But we are creating our own interpretations, and finding something new about The Winter’s Tale. It’s fantastic. I don’t have an arts background, and I’m happy to start making the connection between the artistic point of view and science and math. I wouldn’t have tried to cross that border otherwise.”