Slippery Rock University education students got hands-on practice in implementing a proven, forward-thinking teaching method at a recent workshop using interactive drama in the classroom, preparing them to be well-rounded educators.
Meredith Berlin, a performing arts expert and program developer from the Seattle-based educational research organization Foundry10, led an engaging workshop at SRU on April 21 using a technique that encourages learners of all backgrounds to be active participants in the classroom, bringing historically underserved students into the center of pedagogy.
Hye Ryung Won, SRU assistant professor of curriculum, instruction and educational leadership, coordinated Berlin’s appearance. Won learned about Berlin’s useful approach after seeing her speak at the 2025 National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference.
“I want students to be innovative in teaching their content,” Won said. “That is why I always try to bring them something new, and interactive drama is an innovative approach that I wanted to introduce.”
At the workshop, Berlin led students in numerous exercises that can be implemented in classrooms. This included physical warm-ups to get students mentally prepared for work and collaboration, activities that allow students to represent concepts with their bodies, and even sound and movement activities to help students to connect with one another as equals within the classroom.
“At Foundry10, we use research to identify and address gaps in education,” Berlin said. “We ask ourselves, ‘What are gaps for educators and what are gaps for youth?’ One of those gaps that we found was the performing arts. So as a specialist in performing arts, I help educators to implement performing arts in their content.”
In her presentation, Berlin stated that the value in interactive drama brings play back into the learning experiences of young children. Drama also strengthens teamwork and conflict management, the ability to think creatively and share ideas, and the ability to connect content to real life.
“Today, a lot of kids have to be adults in a lot of ways very early,” Berlin said. “What we want to do is to bring back play and to let kids be kids. Play is natural and play is how we learn.”
More information can be found on Foundry10 can be found on the organization’s website. More information about elementary education at SRU can be found on the program’s webpage.
