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

2024 Drama for Schools Summer Institute Offerings

  • 2024 Drama for Schools/Creative Learning Initiative Summer Institute - June 10-12, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the F. Loren Winship Drama Building
  • 2024 Drama for Schools/Planet Texas 2050 Summer Institute - June 17-18 and 20, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the F. Loren Winship Drama Building

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.

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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.

I was very appreciative to work across disciplines and grade levels to collaborate with other educators and to feel like an artist myself!

 - 2023 Summer Institute 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.

We were given many opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, take risks, reflect with our colleagues and the facilitators. I loved being a participant and leading a microteach with my co-facilitator. There is a great balance of high expectations and high support for our work/learning.

- 2023 Summer Institute Participant