| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 x 1 hour lecture/seminars |
| Practical | 10 x 2 hour workshops |
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Workshop development and progress | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | 1 x Solo Improvisation and Reflection | 15% |
| Semester Assessment | 1 x Group Improvisation and Reflection | 15% |
| Semester Assessment | 1 x 3,000-word Reflective Journal | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary examination and assessment, where necessary, will be arranged and timetabled individually with staff and other students involved. | 100% |
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Apply a knowledge and understanding of improvisation through participation in practical workshops.
2. Produce working notes that document workshop processes and procedures.
3. Critically reflect on the inter-relation of theory and practice through post-performance reflection and the creation of a reflective journal.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of key improvisation techniques through the creation of two short pieces (6-8min) of improvised performance.
This module will explore the theory and practice of improvisation as a mode of performance. It will enable students to develop a practical understanding of solo and group improvisation methodologies and to place these in a historical and theoretical context. Students will be introduced to key theoretical issues of embodiment, intentionality, and agency and a strong emphasis will be placed on students' critical reflections on their own experience of workshop activities through the creation of a reflective journal. As an integral part of the assessment for this module students will also be given an opportunity to reflect on the efficacy of their improvised performances in response to questions by departmental examiners.
This module will provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques involved in improvisational performance. Improvisation is an established form of performance that has developed over the past forty years through the work of dancers, theatre makers, and arts therapists. The skills involved in improvised performance are not currently addressed in the department's portfolio of modules. Through combining practical workshops with theoretical readings and lecture/seminar discussion this module will also enhance students' ability to identify and analyse the complex interrelatedness of theory and practice.
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Each student's ability to articulate and communicate their ideas is explicitly developed throughout this module. All forms of assessment include a consideration and evaluation of effective communication. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will be required to critically reflect on their own creative development and achievement in both individual and group activities. |
| Information Technology | Although not explicitly developed, students will be required to use IT resources in their own research and in the creation of a reflective journal. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Through participation in workshops and use of positive feedback methods individual students will develop an awareness of personal skills and aesthetic interests. |
| Problem solving | The identification of problems, the development of creative approaches to solving problems, and the evaluation of potential solutions is an integral part of this module and will be assessed through individual student's reflections on solo and group improvisations. |
| Research skills | The use of appropriate and effective research methods is implicity encouraged through this module and is assessed through the submission of appropriate written work. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The module is an investigation and exploration of a range of solo and group improvisation methodologies. |
| Team work | Workshops will involve group improvisation and collaboration. Each student will play an active part in group activities. |
This module is at CQFW Level 5