Using drama in a life skills course : a social constructionist exploration

Abstract

The field of interest in this study focuses on exploring a life skills course in which drama was used, and how first year drama students at Tshwane University of Technology constructed their experience of this, as well as what informed their experience. This research was conducted within the framework of social constructionism, which allows the space for the co-construction of knowledge and meanings. The research questions for this project are thus, how did the first year drama students construct their experience of the life skills course where drama was used as a medium? What informed their experiences? Written accounts were made use of as a form of data collection. Themes were identified in their texts and this was then taken back to the participants to check the meaning generated in the analysis. The findings are relevant to those who deal with life skills in higher education. The aim of the research study was not to find a final answer for the questions posed but rather to provide an interpretation, or analysis, of the constructions contained in the texts. It has provided an alternative body of co-created, co-constructed knowledge. Copyright