Rosalind Flynn's
DRAMATIZING THE CONTENT WITH CURRICULUM-BASED READERS THEATRE - FAQs
Who is the creator and presenter of these online workshops?
What is Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre?
What experiences led to the development of the online workshops?
What is the format of the online workshops?
What is the best way to become familiar with the format of the
online workshops?
What is the topic of each online workshop session?
How long does each online workshop session run?
What is the relationship between the book and the online workshops?
Do I need to have a copy of the book in order to participate
in the online workshops?
How do I order the book?
How do I know that my computer will be able to access the
online workshops?
What if I encounter a problem viewing the Free Introduction
to the Online Workshop Series?
Are the online workshops the same as an online course?
Who can benefit from the information provided in these online
workshops?
How were the online workshops designed to be used?
Can teachers receive professional development credits for the
online workshops?
What are the purchase terms for the online workshops?
Are group subscription rates available?
How do I purchase the online workshops?
Why is this online workshop series so reasonably priced?
Can the online workshops be presented as live broadcast sessions?
Can I take notes online during a broadcast?
Can I adjust the pace of the online workshops during the broadcast?
Can I skip slides and advance to slides that come later in the
broadcast?
Can I communicate with the presenter?
How do I offer feedback on the online workshops?
What other resources are available to me as I view the broadcast?
Is it possible to view the broadcasts on a MAC?
What do I do if I follow all of the instructions above and I cannot
get the online workshops to work for me?
Who is the creator and presenter of these online workshops? | Return
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Rosalind Flynn is an educational drama consultant whose national touring workshops
for teachers were developed in collaboration with the Education
Department of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 1995
she completed her dissertation on the use of drama as a learning method and received
her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.
At The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Rosalind is the head
of the Master
of Arts in Theatre Education (MATE) degree program. Her courses include “The
Teaching of Theatre” and “Drama in Education.”
Rosalind’s articles on educational drama have been published in Dramatics,
Youth Theatre Journal, Language Arts, English Journal, Teaching Artist Journal,
and The Reading Teacher (“Curriculum-Based
Readers Theatre: Setting the Stage for Reading and Retention,” The Reading
Teacher, Vol. 58, no. 4, Dec 2004/Jan 2005.)
She is also the author of two books on the educational uses of drama—A
Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension (Heinemann, 2006; co-author
Lenore Blank Kelner) and Dramatizing
the Content With Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre, Grades 6-12 (The International
Reading Association, 2007).
Since 1994, she has conducted workshops
for students and teachers from 41 states and the District of Columbia and
developed hundreds of CBRT
scripts made available on her web site for classroom use.
What is Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre? | Return
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Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre (abbreviated CBRT) is a classroom learning activity
that directly addresses standards of learning and increases reading fluency—and
therefore comprehension—as students participate in an authentic purpose
for reading and writing across the content areas.
CBRT merges writing, reading, speaking, drama, theater, and content learning.
An entire class can participate simultaneously.
Students use their voices and facial expressions to communicate the content information
in a script that they hold in full view of the audience. They do not memorize
the lines that they speak. Physical movement is minimal because Readers Theatre
emphasizes spoken words, not staged scenes. There are no elaborate props, scenery,
or costumes. Students read, recite, and repeat the lines of a script multiple
times as they rehearse.
The repetition of content information required by CBRT rehearsals enhances students’
retention of facts and their reading fluency. CBRT is an arts-integrated instructional
activity with the potential to increase students’ academic achievement while
motivating and engaging them in a positive learning experience.
What experiences led to the development of the online
workshops? | Return To Top
Rosalind developed her Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre work largely in association
with her work for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners
in Education Program. She has traveled around the United States presenting her
professional
development workshops for thousands of teachers and conducting classroom residencies
and modeling sessions since 1994.
This body of work has been so enthusiastically greeted by educators that Rosalind
decided to embark on this attempt to reach far more teachers than she as an individual
live traveling presenter can reach.
The goal of this project is to make the CBRT process widely available to teachers.
Workshops offered online have the potential to reach teachers worldwide, thus
affecting affect the practices of great numbers of teachers and therefore students.
What is the format of the online workshops? | Return
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Four online workshop sessions detail the process of using Curriculum-Based Readers
Theatre in classrooms with students.
The online workshop sessions include slides, photos, video, graphics, key words
and phrases, examples, and full audio narration.
Developed to support all the methods and ideas documented in the book, the online
workshops are an audio-visual step-by-step guide to the CBRT process complete
with references to specific pages, figures, and appendixes.
What is the best way to become familiar with the format
of the online workshops? | Return
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Please connect to the FREE
Introduction to the Online Workshop Series. It is a 30-minute online broadcast
that describes and highlights all aspects of the 4 CBRT workshop sessions. It
also provides the capability to test your connection to the workshops from your
home or school computers before you purchase.
The FREE Introduction to the Online Workshop Series provides the best overview
of the format and style of the online workshop series.
Click on the box that reads: “Click to Watch a FREE Introduction.”
IMPORTANT NOTICE—Please follow
the webcast site’s directions for allowing pop-ups during broadcasts! Failure
to do so may cause some viewing problems.
For directions, see the Technical requirements box to the right of the “Click
to Watch a FREE Introduction” button.
What is the topic of each online workshop session? | Return
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Session 1: Beginning Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre with Students
Session 2: Collaborating with Students on an Original CBRT Script
Session 3: Involving Students in Independent Scriptwriting
Session 4: Staging a Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre Performance
How long does each online workshop session run? | Return
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Each session runs for 30 minutes to one hour, but a session can be viewed partially
and then restarted any time during the period of availability. With each access,
you can begin at the start of the workshop or at the point where you stopped during
a previous viewing.
The exact length of time of each workshop appears above the TV screen as does
the elapsed time of the workshop as it progresses.
The teachers that Rosalind consulted about the best length for the sessions recommended
keeping them within a time frame conducive to use by teacher study groups that
meet for an hour at a time. The teachers also felt that a session that took less
than an hour to view would be more inviting to view on their own.
What is the relationship between the book and the
online workshops? | Return
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The book supports the online workshops and the workshops support the book.
The book provides:
• comprehensive text and explanations
• sample CBRT scripts
• CBRT script sections
• CBRT in Action classroom vignettes
• Reproducible CBRT Assessment Checklists
• Reproducible CBRT Script Planning Sheet
• Reproducible CBRT Script Templates
• Computer Formatting Instructions for CBRT Scripts
The online workshops provide:
• hundreds of photos illustrating the book’s ideas
• author narration that elaborates on the CBRT process
• video clips of students performing or rehearsing portions
of CBRT scripts
• graphics from the book identified with coordinating page numbers
for easy reference
• an audio-visual approach to the process described in the book
Do I need to have a copy of the book in order to
participate in the online workshops? | Return
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It is best to order the book prior to experiencing the online workshops and have
it available while viewing the sessions which guide teachers through Chapters
2, 3, 4, and 5 of the book. The book serves as the only written material for the
online workshops. No part of the online workshops may be downloaded and saved
as a computer file.
How do I order the book? | Return
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You may order it from the publisher at www.reading.org.
Click on Publications, Books and videos, and Browse by title or author (Flynn).
You may also want to check on pricing and availability through Amazon.com
or BarnesandNoble.com
or any other online retail book source.
How do I know that my computer will be able to
access the online workshops? | Return
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The best way to test your computer or any computer you plan to use to access the
online workshops is to view the FREE Introduction to the online workshop series.
Use this web address:
http://webcast.you-niversity.com/youtools/companies/viewArchives.asp?affiliateId=96
Click on the box that reads: “Click
to Watch a FREE Introduction.” []
What if I encounter a problem viewing the Free
Introduction to the Online Workshop Series? | Return
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If the program does not start immediately, you will be directed to use the links
on the screen to check that your system meets the technical requirements.
Click on the underlined word wizard (in the paragraph just above the box containing
the titles of archived programs) to test your system compliance. Simple instructions
will tell you what to do if you need to make any adjustments.
You will be ready to view programs once you receive a message in blue font with
a paragraph beginning with the words: “Your system current basic configuration
meets webcasting requirements.”
Then click on the box that reads: “Click to Watch a FREE Introduction.”
If you can watch that program, you will be able to watch all the online workshop
sessions.
Note: In some school settings, your I.T. Department may need to help configure
your computer access.
Are the online workshops the same as an online
course? | Return
To Top
No, the online workshop sessions are designed as workshops or tutorials. They
are not traditional online course sessions and there are no assignments to complete
and submit.
Who can benefit from the information provided in
these online workshops? | Return
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Reading teachers Reading
coaches Classroom
teachers
Literacy specialists Media
specialists Librarians
Content area teachers Special education teachers
Pre-service teachers
Drama teachers Drama
specialists Drama
teaching artists
ESL teachers
How were the online workshops designed to be used? | Return
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The online workshops were designed:
1.) for individual use by interested teachers to view on their own,
2.) for use by small groups of teachers who work together on professional development
goals, or
3.) as a component or assignment for university course work.
Can teachers receive professional development credits
for the online workshops? | Return
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Schools and school systems may choose to approve these online workshop sessions
for professional development credits. The author/instructor, Rosalind
Flynn, has a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. The online workshops follow
the same process she uses when she conducts live professional development workshops
for teachers.
The online workshops are based on a book published by The International Reading
Association.
Participant attendance can be verified via a system usage report which records
the number of minutes each attendee was logged onto the online workshops.
What are the purchase terms for the online workshops? | Return
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You can purchase access to all four CBRT sessions for one low price of $40 (USD)
as one subscription.
The subscription provides access to the online workshop series for a period of
30 days or 12 hours of total elapsed connection time.
You can also purchase access to any of the four sessions individually at a cost
of $15 (USD) each. Purchases of individual sessions provide access to the online
workshop for a period of 10 days or 3 hours of total elapsed connection time.
For both subscriptions and individual workshop purchases, access expires when
either the period of availability or the total elapsed connection time has been
reached.
Are group subscription rates available? | Return
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Yes, group subscriptions for a school, school district, or other organization
can be arranged by sending an e-mail request to Rosalind at RMCFlynn@aol.com.
Purchase terms and payment options will be determined according to the size of
the group and the desired amount of access time.
How do I purchase the online workshops? | Return
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CLICK HERE
Within one business day after purchase, you will receive an e-mail which includes
access instructions as well as your username and password. It will also include
the expiration date for your access. It will also include support information
such as PC requirements and directions if support is needed.
Why is this online workshop series so reasonably priced? | Return
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These sessions are priced well below current standards to accommodate individual
and group access for classroom teachers and school groups. This access includes
use within a setting of continuing education, universities, and local organizations.
A workshop delivered using technology to facilitate learning minimizes the limitations
of time, place, and expense. In other words, teachers can learn the CBRT process
at a time and in a location convenient to them. The price of the online workshops
is purposely affordable so that greater numbers of teachers and organizations
that support their professional development will use this online delivery method.
Can the online workshops be presented as live broadcast
sessions? | Return
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Yes, the sessions can be conducted live and real-time. These same sessions can
also be recorded and made available on the web site in the future to interested
parties. In the live sessions, the participating teachers can communicate with
the presenter by typing in questions. There is also full audio, so that the presenter
can speak to the teachers and address their particular questions and needs.
For more information or to set up a live broadcast, please send an e-mail to RMCFlynn@aol.com.
Can I take notes online during a broadcast? | Return
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Yes—at the top left of the screen, click on Notes and then on Write Notes.
Use the icons above the notes you type to print them out of to e-mail them to
yourself or someone else. Having a copy of the book, however, diminishes the need
for note-taking because it contains all of the information in the online workshops
and more.
Can I adjust the pace of the online workshops during
the broadcast? | Return
To Top
Yes, use the arrows at the base of the TV screen for the option to Slow Down or
Speed Up. The recording recommendation was to keep each slide in view for at least
10 seconds. This time allotment is meant to accommodate the streaming to different
computers.
Can I skip slides and advance to slides that come later
in the broadcast? | Return
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Yes, use the box labeled Contents at the bottom left of your screen. Click on
the slide that you wish to advance to and wait a few moments for the program to
adjust itself.
There is an icon to the left of each of the Table of Contents slides in the box
at the bottom left of the screen. Clicking on this icon allows you to see a small
version of its coordinating slide.
Can I communicate with the presenter? | Return
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Yes—Rosalind’s e-mail address appears on the screen beneath the slides.
You may also communicate with her via the brief questionnaire that appears when
you sign off a broadcast. (See question and answer below.)
How do I offer feedback on the online workshops? | Return
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When you have completed a session by clicking on the Close button at the bottom
right of your computer screen, a brief questionnaire will appear on your computer
screen. Respond to the questions and click on Submit. Your responses will be sent
to Rosalind.
What other resources are available to me as I
view the broadcast? | Return
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A tab at the top left of your screen that reads Help leads to a drop down menu
that contains the word Manual. Clicking on Manual brings up a page full of topics
and links that answer a wide variety of questions. Please note that some topics
apply only to live, not recorded, broadcasts.
Is it possible to view the broadcasts on a MAC? | Return
To Top
The current IE browser for MAC does not support the slideshow visuals, but a release
in the fall of 2007 will support it.
What do I do if I follow all of the instructions above
and I cannot get the online workshops to work for me? | Return
To Top
Contact Rosalind at RMCFlynn@ aol.com. Describe
the problem and she will respond with a solution or refund your money.