Session Block 1

Saturday, July 13th, 11:45am-1pm (EDT)

All of the Session Blocks will be hosted on Zoom Meeting. You will be sent an email, 24 hours prior to the next day's events, which will contain all of the log-on details for each event. As in an in-person Conference, please feel free to select whichever workshop you would like to attend in the moment.

Network: Early Childhood

Familiar Object, Novel Objective: Object Puppetry workshops as a catalyst for enhanced emotional education and metaphor in primary schools

Session Chair: Helen Ainsworth

In this poster, Familiar Object, Novel Objective, Helen Ainsworth will present her recent work in a local primary which used object puppetry as a conduit for emotional education. The poster delves into the rich terrain where puppetry and emotional education converge, offering a unique perspective shaped by her experience delivering the puppetry in schools project. A seasoned puppeteer and interdisciplinary artist, Ainsworth transcends traditional boundaries to unlock new metaphors in pupils to help further their knowledge of emotion and thus themselves.Grounded in her deep commitment to inclusivity, the presentation explains the practical ways that puppetry can serve as a powerful tool for emotional education. Drawing on her experiences working with in the local school Ainsworth explores puppetry's ability to provide a dynamic and accessible medium for self-expression, breaking down barriers, increasing understanding and fostering creative connections.The narrative woven through Ainsworth's poster, which practically charts her project in the school, reflects her dedication to the art of puppetry not only as a performative medium but as a catalyst for profound emotional and artistic exploration. The insights shared draw on her collaborative work with the diverse community of this inner London school, demonstrating the universality of puppetry as a language that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries.Attendees can anticipate a vibrant presentation on how puppetry, under Ainsworth's guidance, becomes a transformative force, shaping emotional landscapes and offering an innovative approach to education. The presentation promises to present a how puppetry, with its inherent capacity for storytelling and expression, can navigate the intricacies of emotional education. As Ainsworth presents evidence of the symbiotic relationship between object puppetry, emotional intelligence, and inclusivity, participants are invited to explore the artistic and therapeutic potential embedded within this evocative art form.Helen Ainsworth's poster emerges as a compelling exploration into a unique project in a inner city primary school and how puppetry becomes a nuanced tool for both emotional education and artistic self-discovery.

Network: Applied Theatre

From the Local Stage to the Global Platform

Session Chair: Jo Beth Gonzalez

Global competence is an imperative 21st Century skill. Teens gain global competence by participating in activities, assignments and projects that strengthen their ability to communicate ideas, investigate the world, recognize perspectives, and take action. Theatre work inherently aims teens toward these goals. This virtual workshop, "From the Local Stage to Global Platform", explores ways that teens can use theatre to develop global competence. Participants will be guided by a demonstration of a  2023 collaborative project, supported in part from a grant from the U.S. Department of State, that was developed and carried through by the two session presenters, one of whom represents a small village in Burkina Faso, West Africa and the other a college town in the Midwest. Session participants will compare the given circumstances of their students’ communities to those of countries much different from their own, and brainstorm how theatre-making helps students discover commonalities and differences with communities on the other side of the world. Session presenters will suggest resources that connect theatre educators with partner teachers around the world. Together, participants will outline action steps for bridging teens from their local stage to a global platform.