For Educators

Some reflections on the pedagogical approach used by Tarnival

Because of our understanding that each learner responds to both the method by which information is relayed and the information itself, we have chosen to use three different modalities (technology, theatre, and hands-on science and math based activities), each addressing separate but overlapping concepts.

On the web site we have games, diagrams, opportunities for writing and reading about experiences related to tobacco as well as access to much of our research and links to sites that provide follow-up curricula on a multitude of related subjects. The dominant focus of the web site is to provide health information and information about the Tarnival project.

In the festival there is access to the web site, as well as games, activities, stories and pictures of people affected by tobacco visual displays and live demonstrations. All of these techniques are used to explore the health implications of tobacco and the advertising tactics used by the tobacco industry.

It has been our experience that interaction is critical to engaging learners, and so the theatre has audience improvisation, all of the festival stations require the active participation of the student, and the web site has interactive games and places to post individual stories or ideas.

Within the theatrical component of Tarnival, a number of different techniques have been used to relay factual information, encourage an affective, emotive response and to incite curiosity. An original sound score engages aural based learners, while unique colorful masks, costumes and puppetry are arranged in stage pictures to relay concepts to visually based learners. The text is a fictional story based on factual research, and the speech of the character of the CEO of Big Tobacco is entirely crafted from tobacco industry quotes.

The positive role the arts can play in education was recently well documented in a national study by a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the U. S. Department of Education, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). It is entitled Champions of Change. The executive summary can be viewed at http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/champions/exec_summ.html. From there the entire report can be accessed as well as links to many other research projects that document the effect of arts on students. Our empirical observations and evaluation tools over the last 12 years of using theatre as a teaching tool indicates that it can be a powerful way to inspire curiosity and behavioral change.