Research group Drama for learning

The research group Drama for learning is linked to the didactics of aesthetic subjects and is the largest drama research environment in Sweden. Research on drama for learning is a growing field and studies show how drama can increase students' study motivation and contribute to fewer dropouts in high school. Meta-studies from the USA and the OECD show that drama in education has positive effects on students' language development, reading and writing skills. Given the increased evidence for benefits of drama in important areas such as students' language and school motivation, an overarching purpose for us as teacher educators and researchers is to give pre-service and in-service teachers sufficient skills to use drama in their own teaching.

Key questions are:

• Which contextual aspects are vital in order to facilitate drama in education?
• What does it take for educators at all levels to be able to apply drama in a qualified way in their own teaching?

The research group strives to contribute to the dissemination of current drama research and the development of the research field. This is mainly done through regular higher seminars and an annual conference for Drama Research in Sweden - DiS. Current research includes several areas such as: drama for sustainable development, children and youth theatre, arts based educational research, drama in psychiatry, process drama in preschool and drama and role-play in higher education. Ongoing research also concerns drama in specific school subjects such as chemistry, language, social studies, and drama for continuing professional development.

The research shows a breadth regarding theoretical and methodological orientations, including arts-based educational research. We continuously collaborate with internationally renowned drama researchers and a number of colleagues from different parts of the world have spent periods of time together with us at Stockholm University.