Slippery Rock University education students got hands-on practice in implementing a proven, forward-thinking teaching method at a recent workshop using interactive creative drama in the classroom, preparing them to be well-rounded educators.
Meredith Berlin, a performing arts expert and program developer from foundry10, a Seattle-based educational research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and creating direct value for youth, led an engaging workshop at SRU on April 21. She used techniques that encourage learners of all backgrounds to be active participants in the classroom, bringing historically underserved students to 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 approach after seeing her present at the 2025 National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference.
“I want SRU preservice teachers to approach teaching with creativity and innovation,” Won said. “Creative drama offers a powerful way to do this, helping future teachers grow in their own practice through meaningful and expressive activities. If we want future teachers to create engaging and purposeful classrooms, they need opportunities to experience this kind of learning themselves.”
At the workshop, Berlin led students in numerous exercises that can be implemented in classrooms. These included physical warm-ups to help students prepare mentally for work and collaboration, activities that allow students to represent concepts with their bodies, and sound and movement activities to help students connect with one another as equals in the classroom.
“At foundry10, we’ve discovered that many teachers are comfortable incorporating visual arts and music into lessons, but may feel hesitant to integrate drama activities and need support and resources. I hope future educators leave this workshop feeling confident in their ability to use drama activities with their students to make lessons more engaging and accessible for all learners.”
In her presentation, Berlin stated that interactive drama can center play in the learning experiences of young children. Drama also strengthens teamwork and conflict management, the ability to think creatively and share ideas, and helps youth to connect to academic content in new ways.
“Today youth face a lot of pressures to grow up fast and they may not have as many opportunities to play as they need to thrive. The drama activities we explored in this session today allow educators to introduce concepts and practice skills through play.”
More information on foundry10 is available on the organization’s website. More information about elementary education at SRU can be found on the program’s webpage.
