A scoping review on applied drama methods used in social work education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v21i2.2078

Keywords:

applied drama; social work education; theatre of the oppressed; pedagogy; systematic review, Ireland, practice teaching, field education

Abstract

This article presents the findings from a scoping review on the occurrence of applied drama used in social work education. Evidence from the last decade has highlighted the efficacy and use of simulation-based learning and role-play in social work education to prepare students for practice, but less is known regarding applied drama methods. The review focused on identifying the use of applied drama and interdisciplinary learning that exists in social work education. There were fifty-three articles retrieved and forty-eight papers in total included in the review but only nine used applied drama techniques and five of which evaluated or specified the use of theatre of the oppressed. This paper will focus on the methods and findings of the application of drama in social work education, as this area has had less attention than simulation-based learning and role-play methods, which the other thirty-nine articles reviewed addressed. This paper only focuses on the findings relating to applied drama methods and the small but burgeoning interest in the use of theatre of the oppressed approaches developed by Augusto Boal in the 1970s. The review identifies a gap in current research on the use of applied drama and how it might potentially enable further development of skills and competence for social work students.

Author Biographies

Cheryl McMullin, Ulster University

Cheryl McMullin is a Lecturer in social work and a PhD researcher at Ulster University.

Thomas Maguire, Ulster University

Tom Maguire is Professor of Contemporary Drama and Performance and Head of the School of Arts and Humanities. He teaches, researches and supervises doctoral projects in Drama and Museum & Heritage Studies.

Paula McFadden, Ulster University, Senior Lecturer in Social Work

Dr Paula McFadden is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Ulster University. Her research expertise is on workforce wellbeing, coping, resilience, and burnout. Dr Mc Fadden’s practice background is in children’s and older people’s social work.   

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Published

2023-12-17

How to Cite

McMullin, C., Maguire, T., & McFadden, P. (2023). A scoping review on applied drama methods used in social work education. The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 21(1-2). https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v21i2.2078
Received 2022-11-29
Accepted 2023-03-30
Published 2023-12-17