Summer Institute: Activating Learning through the Arts

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to host the Summer Institute: Activating Learning through the Arts in partnership with the Austin Independent School District Creative Learning Initiative


Program Overview

The Summer Institute is a research-based comprehensive pedagogical exploration and immersion training experience in the use of drama-based instruction across the curriculum. This three to four-day intensive arts integration training program is co-facilitated by faculty and graduate students from the Department of Theatre and Dance and the College of Education. The Institute provides an opportunity for educators and working professional from across the country to gather and explore the power of learning in and through the arts.

a large paper containing a drawn tree covered in sticky notes

During the Institute, participants:

  • Explore drama-based strategies from the student's perspective;

  • Reflect on how the strategies might apply in your context;

  • Work in professional learning communities;

  • Develop and redefine new arts-integrated curricula and/or peer training modules, and;

  • Have the opportunity to observe and facilitate drama-based mini lesson plans.

The Institute concludes with the sharing of multiple drama-based lesson plans for peer review. Ongoing support for participants is provided after the class through the DBI Network website. In-service participants are also eligible to receive follow-up and support from University of Texas at Austin faculty through the Drama for Schools program model.

The structure was AMAZING -- it was a wonderful flow. I connected with other teachers and with the facilitators. The instruction and reflection was very helpful. I noticed that there was a strong focus on SEL both for my students and even for myself...and that made my heart happy.

 - Summer Institute 2022 Participant

Tuition and Fees

Summer Institute: Activating Learning through the Arts tuition for non-AISD participants: $400-550 sliding scale.

AISD participants' tuition is provided by the Creative Learning Initiative.

Contact Lara Dossett at laradossett@utexas.edu with any questions. Fees include course texts used in the Institute.

Drama-based pedagogy is a very impressive and flexible teaching method that covered so many teaching strategies in a way that makes sense to me.

- Summer Institute 2022 Participant