Professor Lib Taylor, School of Arts and Communication Design
l.j.taylor@reading.ac.uk
Year of activity: 2012-13
Overview
The project explored how tablet technologies can be applied for teaching contemporary performance, through the creation of a Digital Performance Lab for use as part of the optional Part Three Contemporary Performance modules (FT3COA and FT3COB).
Objectives
- Develop student employability and professionalism through creative research, group work and proficiency in digital media.
- Encourage sophisticated student engagement with the creative industries’ use of digital media.
- Enable students to explore issues of performance through practical, creative experimentation.
- Provide students with the means to experiment in a creative way in the Contemporary Performance module, and in their individual research projects.
- Set up a Digital Performance Lab for use as part of Part Three Contemporary Performance modules.
Context
The project to incorporate the use of tablet technologies into FT3COA and FT3COB grew out of a previous project which had experimented with the use of Bluetooth technologies. Much current experimental performance makes use of digital technologies, so it was imperative that students were provided with the opportunity to study this aspect of contemporary performance, and it was felt that the versatility of tablet technology would allow students to explore issues of performance through practical, creative experimentation.
Implementation
To aid in the set up of the Digital Performance Lab, Dr Lisa Purse, who has expertise in the use of digital technology, acted as an adviser on the project.
The Department acquired seven 32 GB iPads and covers. These were loaded with a number of appropriate apps, which were added to over the course of the academic year as familiarity with what was available increased, with students also making suggestions for apps that they had found useful. Several connectors were also acquired for projects to allow the screening of several images simultaneously.
To allow them to make best use of the technology, students were trained in the basic use of the equipment and the apps most appropriate to the early stage of the work. Once trained, students were able to use the tablets for a number of module-related activities, including:
- Collecting material for class workshops.
- Filming and editing material for multimedia experimentation
- Accessing performances available via digital technologies in class workshop to assist in the analysis of performance
- Developing individual and small group presentations.
- Recording performances in class.
- Experimenting with ways that tablet technology might enhance the experience of a performance for the audience.
- Developing methodologies to enhance the documentation of performances.
In order to encourage the use of the tablets, their use was incorporated into some student assessments:
- In Autumn Term all students were required to participate in a group assessment in which at least one iPad was used.
- In Autumn Term all students were required to collect gestures, sounds, and potential performance sites using the visual and sound facilities of the tablets.
- In Autumn and Spring Terms all students were required to give a presentation on a defined topic using an iPad.
- In Spring Term all students were required to complete an application for arts funding on their iPad.
- In Summer Term students had the opportunity to make use of the tablets as they wished in their final performance assessments.
Impact
On the whole the project exceeded plans. The project objectives were achieved and the tablets became an integral part of most seminars and workshops as students became more adept in manipulating the resource. As students became more confident in the use of tablets, they were able to use the technology in a sophisticated way to support their work, experimenting with functionality and this being disseminated across the group.
Student attainment on the module was high, and the use of the Digital Performance Lab contributed to this. Presentations in seminars improved as students became more adept in their use of presentational tools. Documentation and analysis of work was improved by the opportunity to capture and record practice in development. The Lab enhanced student experimentation with the potential of the digital in performance, and enabled greater understanding of the theories and practices that are central to contemporary performance art.
Reflections
While it had been anticipated that the tablets would primarily be used for the Part Three Contemporary Performance modules, students also used tablets for the development of other areas of their study, in particular their Independent Projects. Independent Project supervisors noted that students with access to this facility brought research for their performances to tutorials on their tablets which they could manipulate to demonstrate their ideas and plans in a very effective way.
The benefit of using tablet technology for the teaching and learning of Contemporary Performance was that it allowed students to get quick results: for eample, students found that they could create sound effects or add music for a performance piece in a matter of seconds. By opening up opportunities to students, tablet technologies enhanced their creativity.
Follow up
Since the conclusion of the project, the Digital Performance Lab has continued to be utilised for the delivery of the Contemporary Performance modules. Beyond the Contemporary Performance modules, tablet technology is now used across the Department of Film, Theatre and Television in a number of contexts, including use in interviews for prospective students, and in outreach events such as summer schools held within the Department. Student response to the use of tablet technology continues to be overwhelmingly positive.
Tablet technologies have also been used by students with Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Home Theatre project, in which University of Reading students work with artists from the Theatre Royal Stratford East to develop a show to be performed in the home of a London resident.