Educational drama in the teaching : A qualitative study of what educational drama brings to four selected teachers and how they make use of educational drama in the teaching

According to the curriculum for primary schools, pre-school and after-school Lgr11 says that students should experience different feelings and moods using different forms of expression including drama (Lgr11 2011:10). The purpose of this study was to examine how educational drama is used in three elementary schools and for what purpose in teaching. The aim was also to examine the four teachers' perceptions of what educational drama means to them.I have used a qualitative approach with interviews and contacted four teachers from three different schools to get different information for my study. Three of them were educated teachers and one of them was an actor. The information provided in the interviews was analyzed using educational drama theory and previous research. The interviews with the teachers and the actor showed the use of different methods of educational drama in education. It turned out that the teachers even if they have different views on educational drama significance they are using the same methods which are contained in the work of educational drama. The most dominant purpose of using educational drama proved to be the personality development perspective and the students´ learning development. The purpose of this perspective is that the students through various role plays to develop awareness, self-reflection and learning to work in groups. Through my study I found out that the educators are using educational drama in the teaching: To produce a theater performance and play it in front of an audience In order to resolve conflicts in the teaching and As a tool in the order instruction to teach something to the students. My conclusion is that educational drama is used in education for personal development and as a tool in the regular curriculum