Work In Progress for a Project on Engaging Adult Learning Communities in Using the Principles of Theater Arts to Prepare Them to Create Social Change, Phase H
(excerpt - Introduction only)
Title: “Recapturing the Joy of Adult Education Through a Theater Arts Perspective of Learning Toward a Renewed Purpose of Social Change”
A Revolution in Fun
Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom, waiting patiently for a lecture to finish while the minutes tick along on the clock. You have been paying attention throughout the class, and you have dutifully taken notes and raised your hand to answer a question and make a comment or two. You feel great because you managed to stay alert enough throughout the class to scribble down some notes, and you think that that you understand today's topic. Class is almost over, and already, your thoughts are beginning to turn toward the trip home. There is bound to be a lot of traffic today, and you are supposed to stop by the grocery store...what was it that you needed to pick up? You'll probably remember later. You hope that it doesn't snow again tomorrow—how many times have you shoveled the sidewalk this month?
“See you next week.”
The instructor's voice trails off as just manage to return your attention back to the classroom. At least you heard those most important last words, you think to yourself, as you spring up from your chair and direct your eyes and body toward the door as you move. Yes! It's your favorite time of day and finally this last class is over and you get your freedom back. Until tomorrow, at least.
This is not the way that adult education is supposed to work.
Rather than feeling the rush of relief as we leave the classroom, shouldn't we feel at least the slightest twinge of disappointment? Why can't our learning experiences enthrall us and allow us to recapture the joy that we once felt so easily? There is a natural sense of fun in learning that involves exploring our curiosities, playing with new ideas, discovering humor in our own knowledge (or lack thereof), and give ourselves and others permission to try, fail, succeed, become confused, and become enlightened—often? Children seem to “own” this sense of fun, which is then systematically stripped away as we move toward adulthood. The secret of adult education, though, is that enjoyment in learning actually belongs to everyone—learners of all ages, and this represents a gap between the way that adult education works today and the way that it could work. Make no mistake though—the joy of learning is not a “game” or just a way to make us “feel good.” As adults, we must both once again accept this joy while channeling our learning toward a purpose that might give us something more than just a credential, a job, a promotion, or a new hobby...”