Abstract

Students need to practice using their voices in a safe and nurturing classroom environment in order to learn about themselves and others in a mature and compassionate way. By providing opportunities for students to listen and dialogue with their peers, the potential for learning to consider the needs of others can develop. Drama and democratically based theatre models such as The Forum Theatre provide tools that the educator can use to incorporate dialogue and experiential learning into each classroom and subject area. By examining the importance of experiential learning and making the link between experiential learning and drama/theatre as tools to be used for learning in classrooms, this thesis provides a foundation that can assist in the development of democratic learning