Academics and Culture Through Theater (ACT) is proud to introduce its newest staff development and arts residency program, Technology Through Theater. This instructional program consists of three phases and integrates technology, theater arts, social studies, and literacy instruction into one unique curriculum.
The Technology Through Theater Program Overview
The Introductory Phase
In the introductory phase, students and teachers are introduced to plays and learn about the genre of dramatic literature. Tech Link: Simultaneously, students and teachers learn how to use the Internet to research the characters and settings of the plays that they are reading and the time periods in which those plays are set.
The Creative Phase
In the creative phase, students learn the structure of dramatic writing, and under the guidance of an instructional technology/arts consultant, collectively write a play as a class. The topic of the play will be drawn from the curriculum of that particular class or grade. For example, if the class is leaning about Italy, then the play can be set in Rome. If the class is studying Colonial America, then the class can write a play set in that time period. Tech Link: In this phase, students will apply the Internet research skills that they have learned in the introductory phase, and learn about Europe and/or Colonial America by searching the Internet for information to authenticate the plays that they will be writing. They will also learn how to use Microsoft Word and/or other word processing applications and will use these applications to write their plays. In addition, students and teachers will also learn how to create a digital director's notebook using Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Photoshop. These notebooks will contain information regarding staging, costume and scenicdesign, as well as production notes, which can be transmitted via the Internet and viewed from most all computers.
The Performance Phase
In the performance phase, the students will perform their plays, which will be simultaneously videotaped using a digital video camera. Tech Link: The students and teachers will be taught how to use digital video cameras and how to edit their videos using iMovie or other video editing applications. They will also be shown how to create class web sites and how to showcase their videos on those web sites.
About John Pititto
John Pititto has worn many hats in the world of the theater, including that of educator, director, and performer. He attended New York University, where he earned a Master's degree in educational theater and a Bachelor's degree in journalism/mass communications and sociology and is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. He is a New York State certified K-12 speech and drama teacher and has taught Drama at Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn Studio Secondary School, P.S. 229K, and P.S. 112K. He served as a Project Arts Coordinator for the New York City's Board of Education and was directly responsible for P.S. 112K being selected as the first elementary school ever allowed to participate in the City Center Encores Program. As a result of this, and for his many additional achievements in teaching English using dramatic techniques and literature, John was nominated for a 2002 Disney American Teacher Award. Before he began teaching, John performed many theatrical roles including Mike Most in the off-Broadway musical Just Another Star in N.Y.C., Rapunzel's Prince in Into The Woods, and Teen Angel in Grease. He also did a great deal of directing, most notably, the off-Broadway hit musical Audition. Currently, John is the Instructional Technology Facilitator for N.Y.C.'s Office of Adult and Continuing Education, where he is responsible for providing instructional and technical support to educators at 175 learning centers throughout N.Y.C. Many, however, will remember John from television, where he played Manny, a.k.a. Sebastian, on the N.B.C. daytime drama Another World.
Theater...The Academic Art Form
For more information, write to actt2day@yahoo.com.
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