Searching for Authenticity in Student Understanding of Leadership: An approach using the methodology of Forum Theatre

Abstract

This article reports the use of Forum Theatre as a methodology to uncover young people‟s understanding of leadership. Thirty high school students (Years 9 to 11) participated in a process of collaborative inquiry using the method of Forum Theatre. Participants enacted two types of challenging classroom situations (student-student and student-teacher conflict) and explored alternative approaches to their resolution. Students enacted and evaluated three basic approaches to each situation: what typically happens, what they imagine is expected by authority figures, and what they consider to be an effective response. Peers generally evaluated their peerappropriate strategies as more effective and demonstrative of leadership. However, they evidenced more difficulty in managing vertical (student-teacher) than horizontal (student-student) interactions. General principles for „student leadership‟ were identified from the data. Participants evaluated the Forum Theatre method as a very engaging, safe and productive research method.