The digital transformation of drama : Learning opportunities and obstacles

Abstract: The purpose of this master thesis is to increase knowledge of facilitators´ and participants´ learning experiences in online drama. Semi-structured interviews with 14 informants were conducted. After that an analyzation based on Mezirow´s transformative learning theory was carried out. By using an abductive approach and a thematic analysis, the results show that the informants have experienced both opportunities and obstacles in learning. The opportunities that are being mentioned are around individual-, team-, and collective learning, methodology and technical developments. The obstacles that are being mentioned are within methodology and technical developments. Some examples that come up as both learning opportunities and learning obstacles are around time, amount of people and attention span, how to use the camera, accessibility and connection, bodily aspects, safety, security and confidentiality, knowledge, and possible bias around technical developments. To create learning opportunities in online drama, facilitators need to have instrumental learning around the methodology, setting, and what artefacts-, technical applications- and other technical features to use. Traumatic and embodied learning can create further learning opportunities that can lead to a transformation in online drama. Online drama can be viewed as an emancipatory education and a sustainable transformative pedagogy where mind, body and spirit can connect. The results are reasonably consistent with previous research. The discussion problematizes the need for further research to develop the domain of online drama further.