Department of Curriculum and Instruction

The “Creative Drama for Communication and Education with Children Workshop,” organized by the Educational Coordination Office of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University and conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergin Erginer, a faculty member of our department, was successfully completed.

The workshop, organized for students of the Child Development Program, focused on the practical use of creative drama in supporting children's learning processes, enhancing communication skills, and enriching educational environments through a variety of experiential activities. Throughout the program, participants had the opportunity to experience the significance of play-based learning in facilitating children's acquisition of knowledge and skills.

During the workshop, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergin Erginer demonstrated a range of practical applications illustrating how abstract concepts and academic skills can be taught to children through creative drama and play-based instructional methods. Particular emphasis was placed on teaching concepts encountered in children's everyday lives, such as the seasons, through gamified learning activities.

Throughout the program, students actively participated in and experienced various creative drama techniques firsthand. The “Bird Cage” activity demonstrated how number concepts and basic addition can be effectively taught through game-based learning, while the “Spaghetti” activity introduced strategies for helping children express emotions such as happiness, sadness, excitement, and surprise, thereby fostering emotional awareness. Participants also engaged in a variety of warm-up activities based on rhythm, movement, and group interaction, enabling them to experience the fundamental stages of creative drama practice.

The workshop emphasized that creative drama is not merely an enjoyable activity but also an effective educational approach that supports children's cognitive, social, emotional, and language development. Students gained valuable insights into instructional practices that encourage active participation and promote meaningful and lasting learning experiences.

At the conclusion of the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergin Erginer shared his professional experiences with the participants and highlighted the importance of continuous self-development for future child development professionals. He encouraged students to pursue undergraduate education, participate actively in professional development activities, and embrace the principles of lifelong learning. Furthermore, he emphasized that guiding children's developmental processes constitutes a significant professional responsibility.

At the end of the workshop, certificates of participation were presented to the students who successfully completed the program. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and practical experience in the fields of communication with children, education, and creative drama.