Article Two: Theoretical Compasses

“With a developed imagination there’s no place you can’t go.”

-Sanford Meisner

There are many theoretical frameworks for education and learning more about them has helped
me determine more of what I believe when it comes to accommodating different learning
styles. the more information we can learn about our students and how they learn best, the better
we can facilitate their knowledge and metacognition. After learning about many theories
and finding ways in which they might be used in a classroom, there are a few theories that have
stuck with me as I further develop my own style of teaching as well as my ability to foster
students’ use of imagination and creativity in the classroom, as well as onstage. Constructivist
Theory lays the groundwork for many of the theories I am drawn to as a future theater and
English educator. constructivism promotes student-centered learning and suggests that students
should feel a sense of ownership in the classroom as learners. Tracey and Morrow state,
“Constructivism is a theory of learning that emphasizes the active construction of knowledge by
individuals” (57). In order to fully understand and gain knowledge, our students need to be
actively engaged in learning. this dispels the traditional “banking system” of education where
students are merely vessels for the teacher to deposit knowledge. Rather, students learn how to
create the knowledge through experiences and interactions within the classroom. I believe that
Constructivism is the most important theory of education because it sets the tone for the
foundation of the classroom in order to facilitate student-centered learning. I am especially
drawn to Constructivism as theater educator because of the focus on student discovery. I believe
that young artists should search for the answers to character motivations, and their own artistic
development within themselves instead of seeking right or wrong answers from the director or
teacher. Our classrooms should be supportive spaces in which students feel free to play and
discover, while stepping outside of their comfort zones to gain new understandings of the world
around them.