IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ireced/v39y2022ics1477388021000219.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Theatrical readings as a means of learning economics

Author

Listed:
  • Morroni, Mario
  • Soliani, Riccardo

Abstract

In this paper, we present the features and discuss the results of an innovative technique of teaching economics through theatrical readings, that is writing and staging plays addressing economic issues. We have applied this method to engage students, promoting the understanding of economic principles and encouraging critical reflection. Theatre is a powerful tool that favours the dissemination of economic issues, because it brings about an emotional involvement of the performers and the audience. Theatre allows emotions to improve learning; these are usually neglected in economics pedagogy. We have verified that theatrical readings represent a fruitful complement to the usual ‘chalk and talk’ lectures based on textbooks. Public readings in courses of Economics have given significant results in terms of students’ satisfaction and final marks, especially when the students’ experience encompasses writing plays and staging them. Students who participated in the activities of writing and staging economic plays have shown better knowledge of economic issues and have broadened their abilities in teamwork and public speaking. Moreover, another advantage of using theatre as a learning instrument is that it allows the performers and the audience to compare different visions in dialogical form. Finally, we explain how to introduce this pedagogical practice in courses by sharing our experience and presenting two scripts.

Suggested Citation

  • Morroni, Mario & Soliani, Riccardo, 2022. "Theatrical readings as a means of learning economics," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ireced:v:39:y:2022:i:c:s1477388021000219
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2021.100229
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477388021000219
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.iree.2021.100229?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Davis, Mary E., 2019. "Poetry and economics: Creativity, engagement and learning in the economics classroom," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Schweitzer-Krah, Eva & Engartner, Tim, 2019. "Students’ perception of the pluralism debate in economics: Evidence from a quantitative survey among German universities," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Goebel, Jessica & Maistry, Suriamurthee, 2019. "Recounting the role of emotions in learning economics: Using the Threshold Concepts Framework to explore affective dimensions of students’ learning," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Don Leet & Scott Houser, 2003. "Economics Goes to Hollywood: Using Classic Films and Documentaries to Create an Undergraduate Economics Course," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(4), pages 326-332, December.
    5. Leonid A. Krasnozhon, 2013. "Using Popular Music to Teach Principles of Economics: Beyoncé’s Take on Demand and Quantity Demanded," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 28(Spring 20), pages 139-149.
    6. Joshua Hall, 2005. "Homer Economicus : Using The Simpsons to Teach Economics," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 20(Spring 20), pages 166-177.
    7. Michael Watts & Chineze Christopher, 2012. "Using Art (Paintings, Drawings, and Engravings) to Teach Economics," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(4), pages 408-422, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniel Kuester & Dirk Mateer, 2018. "Teaching How Markets Work Using the Economics of The Office Website," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 33(Fall 2018), pages 75-91.
    2. Matthew C. Rousu, 2018. "Using Show Tunes to Teach about Free (and Not-So-Free) Markets," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 33(Winter 20), pages 111-128.
    3. Wayne Geerling, 2012. "Bringing the 'Dismal Science' to Life: Teaching Economics Through Multimedia," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 11(2), pages 81-90.
    4. Joab N. Corey & James D. Gwartney & Gail M. Hoyt, 2011. "Economics Teaching Workshops: Past, Present, and Future," Chapters, in: Gail M. Hoyt & KimMarie McGoldrick (ed.), International Handbook on Teaching and Learning Economics, chapter 76, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Diaz Vidal, Daniel & Mungenast, Kyle & Diaz Vidal, Jesus, 2020. "Economics through film: Thinking like an economist," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    6. Dalton, John T. & Logan, Andrew J., 2022. "The Man Who Discovered Capitalism: A documentary on Schumpeter for use in the classroom," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    7. G. Dirk Mateer & Brian O’Roark & Kim Holder, 2016. "The 10 Greatest Films for Teaching Economics," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 61(2), pages 204-216, October.
    8. Wayne Geerling, 2011. "Using Multimedia to Teach Economics," Working Papers 2011.02, School of Economics, La Trobe University.
    9. Marta Podemska-Mikluch & Darwyyn Deyo & David T. Mitchell, 2016. "Public Choice Lessons from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 31(Spring 20), pages 57-69.
    10. Gregory M. Randolph, 2016. "Laissez-Colbert," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 61(2), pages 217-228, October.
    11. Rousu, Matthew C. & Melichar, Mark & Hackenberry, Bailey, 2021. "Using Music to Teach Agricultural, Applied, and Environmental Economics," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 3(4), November.
    12. Charity-Joy Acchiardo & Deirdre Calhoun & Megan Kirts & G. Dirk Mateer, 2021. "A Pixar Is Worth a Thousand Words," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, May.
    13. Arthur M. Diamond, Jr., 2009. "Using Video Clips to Teach Creative Destruction," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 25(Fall 2009), pages 151-161.
    14. Joshua C. Hall, 2017. "A "Model" Model: McCloskey and the Craft of Economics," Working Papers 17-09, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    15. Emily Chamlee-Wright & Joshua C. Hall, 2014. "Some brief syllabus advice for the young economist," Chapters, in: Franklin G. Mixon & Richard J. Cebula (ed.), New Developments in Economic Education, chapter 7, pages 76-87, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Joshua C. Hall & Kaitlyn R. Harger, 2014. "Teaching Students to "Do" Public Choice in an Undergraduate Public Sector Course," Working Papers 14-16, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    17. Hall, Joshua C. & Podemska-Mikluch, Marta, 2015. "Teaching the economic way of thinking through Op-eds," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 13-21.
    18. Parrado-Martínez, Purificación & Sánchez-Andújar, Sonia, 2020. "Development of competences in postgraduate studies of finance: A project-based learning (PBL) case study," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    19. Abdullah Al-Bahrani & David Mahon & G. Dirk Mateer & Patrick Ryan Murphy, 2018. "Pokemon GO: Applications for the Economics Classroom," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 3(2), pages 218-231, December.
    20. Amanda Mandzik, 2023. "All I Want for Christmas is an A on My Econ Final: A Holiday-Themed Review Class," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 8(2), pages 72-86, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Teaching economics; Didactical theatre; Public speaking; Economics education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • A29 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Other
    • B22 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Macroeconomics
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ireced:v:39:y:2022:i:c:s1477388021000219. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-review-of-economics-education .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.