Pukekohe High School
NCEA Level 3 Drama
Course Description
Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Mrs V. Moore-Allen.
Drama is concerned with communicating and interpreting - through workshops, devising, performance, discussion and writing about our own and others’ work, as well as through the study and performance of play scripts.
This is a practical course that explores four areas: the purpose of Drama in our lives and communities; developing understanding and use of the elements, techniques, conventions, and technologies of Drama; developing ideas through innovation, imagination, and the use of personal experiences. Students learn how to co-operate and collaborate with others to execute these ideas into action.
What will I learn and How will I learn?
This Level 3 course extends students' abilities from foundational to complex skills in Drama. Students must be willing to actively participate in all activities. You will work in groups, learning to co-operate and collaborate. You will extend and refine your knowledge and awareness of dramatic techniques, elements and conventions and how to use these to create performance pieces. Students will develop their acting and theatre skills. You will learn how to devise drama, how to interpret a script, and how to perform in front of others using different theatre forms, elements and conventions. Preparation for an external standard is done in class time as part of the course.
There are many ways in which Drama education leads to your success:
Social Awareness - Legends, myths, poems, stories, and plays used in drama teach students about social issues and conflicts from cultures – past and present – all over the world.
Self-Confidence - Taking risks in class and performing for an audience teaches students to trust their ideas and abilities. The confidence gained in drama applies to school, university, careers, and life in general.
Imagination - Making creative choices, thinking of new ideas, and interpreting familiar material in new ways are essential to drama. Einstein said: ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge’.
Empathy - Acting roles from different situations, time periods, and cultures promotes compassion and tolerance for others’ feelings and viewpoints.
Cooperation & Collaboration - drama combines the creative ideas and abilities of its participants. This cooperative process includes discussing, negotiating, rehearsing, and performing.
Communication Skills - Drama enhances verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas. Listening and observation skills develop by playing drama games, being an audience, rehearsing, and performing.
Concentration - Playing, practicing, and performing develop sustained focus, body, and voice, which also helps in other subjects and courses, and, again, life in general.
Problem solving - Students learn how to communicate the who, what, where, and why to the audience. Improvisation fosters quick-thinking solutions, which leads to greater adaptability in life.
Fun - Drama brings play, humour, and laughter to learning; this improves motivation and reduces stress. Emotional Outlet - Pretend play and drama games allow students to express a range of emotions. Many drama activities reduce stress by releasing mental, physical, and emotional tension.
Self-discipline - The process of moving from ideas to actions to performances teaches the value of practice and perseverance. Drama games and creative movement improve self-control.
Course Overview
Term 1
AS 91512 - Interpret scripted text to integrate drama techniques in performance. 4 credits. Internally assessed.
In this unit of work students will use and extend important drama skills using voice, body, movement and space. They apply these techniques in performance of an excerpt from a scripted play , working in small groups, pairs or solo. Students annotate scripts, develop and portray convincing characters and portray an intention in their performance work.
Term 2
AS 91515 - Select and use complex performance skills associated with a drama form or period. 4 credits. Internally assessed.
In this unit of work students will learn about a specific theatre form, such as Elizabethan or Absurdist theatre. Students will develop their knowledge of the selected theatre form and apply that learning to their performance work.
Term 3
AS 91513 - Devise and perform a drama to realise a concept. 5 credits. Internally assessed.
In this unit of work students will expand on their knowledge of drama conventions and use these effectively in performance work. Conventions are techniques used in creating a drama that enable a story or ideas to unfold. Examples of drama conventions are slow-motion, flash back, still-frame, narration, split stage, aside, monologue, chorused movement. After learning about how to apply these in performance, students will create their own short performance work in groups, pairs or solos.
Term 4
AS 91518 - Demonstrate understanding of live drama performance. 4 credits. Externally assessed.
This is a formal written exam based on students' understanding of a live theatre performance they will have have been to see during the year as a class. At the time of going to see the play, students will discuss and analyse the performance, learning how to talk about it in written form, ready for this end of year exam.
Recommended Prior Learning
It is preferable for students to have successfully studied Year 12 Drama and/or have experience in performing. If not, please discuss your readiness for this course with HOD Drama Ms Taylor, or with Kaihautu for the Arts - Mrs Moore-Allen.
Pathway
Drama is a powerful subject for developing a diverse range of personal and interpersonal skills essential in many career pathways: communication skills, creative thinking, empathy, collaboration, confidence, literacy skills. Career pathways specifically linked to this course include, but are not limited to Communications, performance work, media, film, radio, advertising, leadership, education.
Assessment Information
Students are assessed once per term using NCEA Achievement Standards. Assessments take the form of performance as solo or small group works. Performance skills and knowledge of Drama will be assessed.Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
This course is approved for University Entrance.
External
NZQA Info
Drama 3.1 - Interpret scripted text to integrate drama techniques in performance
NZQA Info
Drama 3.2 - Devise and perform a drama to realise a concept
NZQA Info
Drama 3.4 - Select and use complex performance skills associated with a drama form or period
NZQA Info
Drama 3.7 - Demonstrate understanding of live drama performance
Approved subject for University Entrance
Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 17
Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.
Pathway Tags
Personal Trainer/Exercise Professional, Counsellor, Trainer, Interpreter, Musician, Early Childhood Teacher, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Primary School Teacher, Nanny/Child Carer, Private Teacher/Tutor, Youth Worker, Secondary School Teacher, Teacher Aide, Actor, Dancer, Journalist, Artistic Director, Author, Media Producer, Lighting Technician, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Artist, Entertainer, Advertising Specialist, Copywriter, Communications Professional, Model, Photographer,
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