An investigation into Dorothy Heathcote's Dramatic Mantle of the Expert Approach to teaching and learning, with focus on In-Role Methods, and their potentially beneficial place in Cross-Curricular Scottish Education for developing the Four Capacities within school children as laid out by the Curriculum for Excellence.

Abstract

This study explores whether a dramatic learning methodology can be used to compliment the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. This exploration will take into consideration the framework of the Curriculum and the aims and strategies within. This will be compared with the ideologies of Dorothy Heathcote's Mantle of the Expert and In-Role Drama methodologies, which fall under her overarching Process Drama Framework. This study will focus on the merits of Mantle of the Expert as a learning tool within schools and the social and academic benefits of In-Role in terms of teaching and learning. This thesis ties together the theory with practice, reflecting on the researcher's Mantle of the Expert and In-Role workshops within a Primary 6 class in an Edinburgh School. A series of 4 workshops were conducted with encouraging results, despite challenges being met. This practical research, corresponding and extensive academic reading allied to professional insight from an 'In-Role' facilitator within East Lothian, create the foundation of this study, investigating both the theoretical and practical aspects of this dramatic methodology. This study aims to highlight the benefits to young people within the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland if the Mantle of the Expert Approach was implemented within classes