To Improv, or Not to Improv: Improving Economics Teaching

and Learning with Improv Theater

Simon Halliday, Smith College shalliday@smith.edu

James Tierney, Penn State University jtierney@psu.edu

Introduction

• Who are these yahoos? • What teaching have they done?• How have they been involved in theatre?

Motivation

• For instructors– Improv can help you be more comfortable in front

of the classroom– Improv can help you with colleagues and

administration that may be hard to work with…….

Motivation

• For students– Improv can teach them that failing is ok– Improv can teach them problem solving skills– Improv can teach them valuable communications

skills needed for today’s business world

Participation

• Zoom, Schwartz, Profigliano– Failing is O.K.– Being comfortable with failing will lead to taking

bigger risk taking

Participation

• Fortunately, Unfortunately– Be able to think on your feet.– Solve problems fast and think outside the box

Participation

• Spotlight– Makes you feel comfortable in front of strangers.– Teaches how to support your fellow colleagues

Participation

• Backwards Interview– Teaches listening skills.– Exercises different parts of the brain.

Reflection

• This is just the tip of the iceberg– There are dozens of exercises like these that can

help both instructors and students.– Maybe next year we can do more!

Reflection

• How can you take this back to your students?– Speak with your theatre group on your campus.

Most will have an improv troupe and will be willing to hold workshops.

Questions

• We are more than happy to field any questions with the time remaining.