Abstract:

Drama in Education (DiE) is an innovative pedagogical method for teaching and learning based on theater techniques, living-in-person experiences, and personal involvement; its efficiency has been proven along the years in various typical and non-typical educational environments as well as in a vast variety of applications addressing different age ranges, competence levels, and most diverse kinds of professions of the participants. In the current proposal it will be claimed that DiE is most suitable for developing transferable career skills. This claim will be supported by the recently announced results of an ongoing PhD research in Greece: in an innovative research approach based on mixed-methods methodology it was investigated whether DiE is appropriate for enhancing career self-efficacy and career decision-making skills among teenagers. Data analysis was facilitated by both qualitative and quantitative ICT-enhanced multivariable analysis methods. The research findings support previous studies claiming that the Arts can enhance transferable skills obtained through artistic and living-through experiences; moreover, due to the pandemic and the unexpected, unprecedented, even chaotic conditions we have lived in since March 2020, similar conclusions are supported in the cases of face-to-face and virtual teaching and learning on online synchronous platforms available worldwide. The study has interesting implications for international career counselors as it suggests that DiE be introduced as an efficient group career guidance and counseling method aiming at developing transferable personal and social career skills.

Keywords:

Drama in Education, career skills, teenagers, multivariate analysis methods, mixed methods approach.