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Experiential Learning Through Interactive Drama: An Alternative To Student Role Plays

EffectiveArts, Inc.

Amy E. Mickel

California State University, Sacramento

Brooks C. Holtom

Georgetown University

This article introduces interactive drama as an alterative to student role-plays. Interactive drama increases student engagement and explores complex issues in management. It features scenes from organizational life being performed live by trained actors before a student audience, stopping at pivotal points so the audience can interact with the actors. These sessions result in highly energized students wanting to participate in lively discussions. Because the vivid scenes are so memorable, the students are able later to connect them effectively to management theory or their own experiences in reflective journals or other written assessments. After describing why instructors should consider using interactive drama, the article explains how to use it in the management classroom and concludes by providing five detailed examples of interactive drama scenes.

Key Words: interactive drama • experiential learning • arts • active learning • role-play

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This version was published on December 1, 2007

Journal of Management Education, Vol. 31, No. 6, 832-858 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1052562906294952


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Boggs, J. G. Articles by Holtom, B. C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?