Drama Series: Thought Mapping

From an educators’ perspective there is one Drama strategy that lends itself to diagnostic assessment, referred to as Thought Mapping/Positioning. In order to dispel any myths, this is not the same as mind mapping (a written strategy used to organize thoughts). Thought Mapping/Positioning is used to demonstrate the student’s comfort level when starting a new subject. A chair (or any other object) is placed in the centre of the room and the more comfortable the students feel with the subject the closer they stand to the chair. An example of an appropriate question would be: “how comfortable do you feel teaching drama?” The reaction was mixed within my classroom when this question was asked, as some of us were practically sitting on the chair, while others were nearly out the door. This visual cue gives a clear indication as to the comfort levels of the students, and how quickly/slowly the subject should be approached. It may also be an opportunity to address any underlying concerns before they become an issue. Thought mapping remains an appropriate strategy for any age-range or subject, and it will become a useful tool for any educator to have in their back pocket.