Pre-service Teacher Education
My thesis work at the University of Texas at Austin centered on pre-service theatre teacher education. Over two years, I co-founded and developed UT Connections, the UT Theatre Department's resident youth theatre, which also served as a teaching laboratory for graduate and undergraduate theatre education students. In my document Embracing Change and Challenge: Recommendations for Secondary Theatre Teacher Education, I use grounded theory research methods to present a case study of how participation and facilitation in youth theatre rehearsals affects the growth of four preservice theatre teachers. I then set forth four recommendations for theatre teacher educators in facilitating preservice theatre teachers: 1) Provide preservice theatre teachers with a learning laboratory; 2) Incorporate five key instructional strategies (experimentation, reflection, collaboration, individualization, and observation) in all course work; 3) Immerse preservice theatre teachers in realistic teaching situations early and often; and 4) Use Realistic Teacher Education (RTE) as a model for teacher education programs. University of Utrecht professorts Fred Korthagen and Jos Kessels developed RTE as a systemic approach to facilitating preservice teachers in integrating theory and practice.
Abi Pierce, one of the preservice teachers with whom I worked in UT Connections now teaches theatre at a middle school in Plano, Texas. She said of her experiences in UT Connections:
"Being a part of UT Connections was one of the best experiences of my college career. So much of what I learned from the program I am still using in my classroom today...I would consider April the best mentor I have had in my career path up to this point."
In addition to my work with preservice theatre teachers at the University of Texas, I facilitated a workshop for general and mixed education preservice teachers at Ouachita Baptist University on incorporating drama into curriculum to engage all learners.
Abi Pierce, one of the preservice teachers with whom I worked in UT Connections now teaches theatre at a middle school in Plano, Texas. She said of her experiences in UT Connections:
"Being a part of UT Connections was one of the best experiences of my college career. So much of what I learned from the program I am still using in my classroom today...I would consider April the best mentor I have had in my career path up to this point."
In addition to my work with preservice theatre teachers at the University of Texas, I facilitated a workshop for general and mixed education preservice teachers at Ouachita Baptist University on incorporating drama into curriculum to engage all learners.
