Forum Theatre – an effective method to work with SPs in larger groups of learners
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Description
Introduction/Overview/Purpose
SP methodology is an important practice in medical education. However, traditional one-to-one or small group activities require many resources (time, money, personal, etc.), preventing many institutions from offering more teaching formats involving SPs. "Forum Theatre" is a new teaching format which allows for interactive, experiential learning with SPs in larger groups of learners.
Description of Innovation/Discussion Topic
Forum Theater was developed from the Theatre of the Oppressed described by Augusto Boal (1). Recently, more and more institutions are adapting the format for the use in health care providers education (2, 3). The main concept of Forum Theater is that the spectators can intervene directly in a given scenario, which is initially presented by actors or SPs, respectively. The scenario is then repeated, and learners are invited to guide the SPs, deciding what action to take, thus changing the outcome of the scenario. The learners, who are spectators during the initial presentation of the scenario become co-creators of a different sequence of events. Different approaches to solving a problem can be tested and the consequences of the strategies are experienced.
Discussion
In our experience Forum Theatre is a demanding format for SPs. It requires precision in preparing the initial scenario and a lot of improvising skills in order to react authentically not only to one learner, but to the input of a large group of learners. Once this challenge can be overcome i.e. by hiring professional actors as SPs, the approach offers a wonderful opportunity for larger groups of learners to experiment with a variety of ways to (re)act in difficult and conflictual situations and experience the consequences.
Conclusion
Forum Theater is an effective method to work with SPs in larger groups of learners. When new courses are implemented, the method should be considered as one of the possible ways to work with SPs.
SP methodology is an important practice in medical education. However, traditional one-to-one or small group activities require many resources (time, money, personal, etc.), preventing many institutions from offering more teaching formats involving SPs. "Forum Theatre" is a new teaching format which allows for interactive, experiential learning with SPs in larger groups of learners.
Description of Innovation/Discussion Topic
Forum Theater was developed from the Theatre of the Oppressed described by Augusto Boal (1). Recently, more and more institutions are adapting the format for the use in health care providers education (2, 3). The main concept of Forum Theater is that the spectators can intervene directly in a given scenario, which is initially presented by actors or SPs, respectively. The scenario is then repeated, and learners are invited to guide the SPs, deciding what action to take, thus changing the outcome of the scenario. The learners, who are spectators during the initial presentation of the scenario become co-creators of a different sequence of events. Different approaches to solving a problem can be tested and the consequences of the strategies are experienced.
Discussion
In our experience Forum Theatre is a demanding format for SPs. It requires precision in preparing the initial scenario and a lot of improvising skills in order to react authentically not only to one learner, but to the input of a large group of learners. Once this challenge can be overcome i.e. by hiring professional actors as SPs, the approach offers a wonderful opportunity for larger groups of learners to experiment with a variety of ways to (re)act in difficult and conflictual situations and experience the consequences.
Conclusion
Forum Theater is an effective method to work with SPs in larger groups of learners. When new courses are implemented, the method should be considered as one of the possible ways to work with SPs.
Date of Publication
2025-06-02
Publication Type
Conference Item
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Additional Credits
Institute for Medical Education, Education and Media Unit (AUM)
Institut für Medizinische Lehre, Unterricht und Medien, SP-Methodik
Title of Event
Access(Rights)
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