MDEA - Artists, Teachers, Learners

Event is FULL - Currently not accepting registrations

FULL - Keynote Presentation - Artificial Intelligence Panel

This panel of arts educators and theatre professionals will delve into the intersection of technology and creativity. Through insightful discussions and diverse perspectives, the panel will explore the potential applications, challenges, and ethical considerations of integrating AI into the realm of drama and arts education.

*This description was created in collaboration with Chat GPT.

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 09:15 am - 10:15 am

Suitable for: All Grades

FULL - Annual General Meeting

President’s Greeting, Message from Partners, AGM

FULL - A1 - Production Playbook: Demystifying the School Production Process

So, you have the opportunity to stage a show… now what? Putting on a school production is exciting, but it can often be overwhelming. Teachers often wear many "hats", but what if you could find a way to put a feather in one of those caps?

This workshop aims to help participants gain more confidence and expertise in the realm of school production. Facilitators will review the process and present their favourite tips, tricks and techniques for mounting a successful show. There will be opportunities for participants to explore suggestions, discuss common issues, and share what has worked in their own practice. The hope is that this workshop will help support those who are new to school productions, and rejuvenate the practice of veteran theatre directors. Topics covered include: choosing a show, auditioning and casting actors, rehearsing, implementing production elements, supporting a successful run, and wrapping up during post-production. The focus of the workshop will be plays for middle and senior years, but it should also be useful to those producing musicals.

Grade Level: Middle/Senior Years

Facilitators:
Amanda Alexander (she/her) teaches Middle and Senior Drama classes at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School. She has extensive experience directing and producing one-act and full-length plays with both age levels. Amanda loves finding new plays and discovering innovative ways to tell a story on stage. A Past-President of the Manitoba Drama Educators’ Association, she is still involved on the Board as a Member-at-Large.

Hope Figueroa (she/her) teaches Drama, among other Humanities courses, in Winnipeg School Division. She draws from her 12+ years of performance experience as a local actor and improviser to orchestrate performance opportunities for students. She enjoys seeing students grow as young actors through the rehearsal process and strives to find pieces that are equal parts fun and challenging. Hope serves on the board of the Manitoba Drama Educators' Association as a Member-at-Large.

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 12:45 pm - 02:00 pm

FULL - A2 - Assessment within Drama and Theatre

Join Jey Thibedeau to explore the diverse ways and means for assessment within dramatic & theatre arts. EY, MY and SY educators are welcome. A variety of assessment tools will be shared. The workshop will include assessment for learning (how do learners self-assess), assessment as learning (self, peer and teacher evaluation considered), assessment of learning - what outcomes have been met?

Grade Level: Middle/Senior Years

Facilitator:
Jey Thibedeau has been a dramatic arts educator for over 30 years in western Canada. She has taught students in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba, ages 4-74, from all walks and journeys through life. She has served on the Gr 9-12 Dramatic arts curriculum committee as well as the former Alliance for Arts Education in Manitoba and MDEA board of directors. Jey currently teaches Drama in Education at the University of Winnipeg as well as grades 6-8 Drama and ELA in the Seven Oaks School Division.

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 12:45 pm - 02:00 pm

FULL - A3 - Collective Creation

Create an original piece of theatre from fairy tales, myths, history, and the news. Participants will work together to create and perform a short play inspired by a variety of texts and reflect on meanings generated by their work. Today’s method uses the “on your feet” techniques of dramatic play, oral storytelling, tableaux, and improvisation to rehearse and build a performance.

Creating drama “on your feet” utilizes verbal, kinesthetic, and interpersonal intelligences. Yes, reading and writing can enrich the research and creation process, but those skills are not required in today’s project – students who are strong communicators but may not be excellent readers have a chance to shine. In 70 minutes we’ll experience a condensed process whose scope could be adjusted to fit a longer in-class project.

Grade Level: All Grades

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 01:00 pm - 02:10 pm

FULL - B1 - Playback Theatre

Use personal stories as the source material for creating drama. Reflect on the story of your life and share the dramatic episodes that form your personal or family history. How did your parents meet? Who was your best friend when you were 10 years old? Stories from childhood or from yesterday bring a personal connection to creative work and deepen relationships within a group.
Playing back scenes from your life can be used to celebrate and commemorate group events, discover new perspectives on your own experiences, and even encourage discussion and resolve conflicts. It may even help you find humour and empathy where you didn’t expect them.

Grade Level: All Grades

Facilitator:
Kent Suss is an instructor of Drama and the Expressive Arts in the Faculty of Education, and an administrator in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Winnipeg. He has been a teaching artist through Artists in the Schools; a high school drama teacher; an actor, puppeteer, and playwright; and the director of a theatre school. Some of his art and writing can be found at https://creativewheel9.wordpress.com/.

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 02:20 pm - 03:10 pm

FULL - B2 - Chat GPT Drama Scriptwriting Workshop

An immersive and practical session aimed at drama educators seeking to incorporate artificial intelligence and Chat GPT into their scriptwriting instruction. This workshop offers drama teachers an introduction to AI technologies and their applications in the context of scriptwriting. Through a combination of demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will discover how AI-generated dialogues, plot suggestions, and character analysis can enhance students' creativity and understanding of dramatic storytelling. Teachers will also gain valuable insights into effectively integrating AI tools into their curriculum, empowering them to guide students in exploring new possibilities in scriptwriting while fostering their unique artistic expression.

*This workshop description was created in collaboration with Chat GPT.

Grade Level: Middle/Senior Years

Facilitators:
Kyle Collins and Kyle Spencer

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 02:20 pm - 03:10 pm

FULL - B3 - Planning Time

Teachers need time to plan. This may seem obvious, but far too often the time to do that at work and with colleagues is limited or simply non-existent. This workshop will provide participants with an extra prep. A session to work independently and with others to imagine and develop plans for Drama learning with your students. We will look at some possible planning tools and templates before we turn things over to the group. Come prepared with a device and set a goal for what you’d like to accomplish during the session.

Facilitator:
Adam Charbonneau is a STEAM support teacher in the Winnipeg School Division and the current president of the Manitoba Drama Educators’ Association.

Grade Level: All Grades

Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 174 Market Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 02:20 pm - 03:10 pm