We all can…supporting diversity through enhancing the general self-confidence
of adolescents in secondary education
Aikaterini Asimidou, teacher, Music School of Piraeus, Greece
Antonios Lenakakis, Professor of Theatre Arts and Education, Department of Preschool Education Sciences, Faculty of Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Angelos Souliotis, music teacher, Music School of Piraeus, Greece
WORKSHOP
Athens International Conference "Theatre/Drama & Inclusive Education"
Athens, March 21-23, 2025
Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr)
Language: Greek
Limited number of participants
Keywords: adolescence, self-confidence, diversity, school bullying
Short Workshop Description
One of the most common problems faced by adolescents in Secondary Education is, among others, encountering peer pressure and aggression, manifested through various forms of bullying. A major factor contributing to these behaviors is the perceived diversity of the victims, which can be based on nationality, social background, unique talents, physical characteristics, etc. This diversity, inherent to adolescence can be exacerbated by low self-confidence, both general and specific. Theater education provides a modern, pedagogical approach to addressing these issues by strengthening self-confidence.
Thus the aim of the workshop is to empower adolescents by fostering self-confidence, enabling them to accept their unique identities, and consequently use these traits as strengths against bullying.
The workshop will utilize theater-education techniques such as the “thought corridor”, frozen images, role-playing games, group activities, teacher-in-role methods, and storytelling.
Primary materials for the activities will include texts, music, narratives, and personal reflective writings. Following the exercises, a reflection and discussion session will help participants process their experiences.
By the end of the workshop, the participants will have hands-on experience with theater and drama techniques to help them create classroom environments that celebrate diversity and foster “self-confidence”. This training aims to support teachers in guiding students to embrace individual differences, combat school bullying, and reinforce positive self-perception.
This workshop is designed for teachers who wish to broaden their understanding of student motivation and creatively empowerment with the ultimate goal of reducing and managing school bullying.
Katerina Asimidou is a graduate of the Department of Music Studies at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a diploma holder in classical guitar. In 2020, she obtained a master’s degree in "Dramatic Art and Performing Arts in Education and Lifelong Learning" from the Department of Theater Studies at the University of Peloponnese. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Preschool Education and Educational Sciences at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Since 1996, she has been working as a secondary education teacher. Her research interests focus on enhancing adolescents' self-confidence in school through theater-education techniques. She has actively organized school theater performances at her school since 2000 and has published scholarly articles in scientific journals on theater education.
Antonis Lenakakis is a Professor of Theater Arts and Education in the Department of Preschool Education and Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Education of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has studied Educational Sciences, Culture, Sociology, Intercultural Education, Play, and Theater Education at the Schools of Educational Sciences of the Universities of Crete and Essen, Germany, and at the School of Performing Arts of the Berlin University of the Arts. He has taught at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels at the Universities of the Arts in Berlin, Vienna, Cyprus, Crete, Thessaly, Athens, and Peloponnese, and has organized numerous theater-education workshops for primary and secondary education teachers. He has participated in international research programs on theater, puppetry, and arts in education. His research covers theater education theory and practice within formal, non-formal, and informal education, as well as the professional development of teachers. His papers have been published in Greek and international journals, conference proceedings, and collective volumes.
Angelos Souliotis has been a music teacher at the Music School of Piraeus since 2015. He graduated from the Department of Music Studies of the Philosophical School at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He holds a master’s degree from the Department of Music Studies in Athens, a master's Degree from the Department of Music Studies at Ionian University (Composition for Cinema, Theater, and Performing Arts), and a master's Degree from the Department of Business Administration (Management of Educational Units).
| Action Category | - Seminars - Workshops
- Conferences
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| Facilitators | - Lenakakis Antonis
- Ασημίδου Αικατερίνη
- Σουλιώτης Άγγελος
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