Improvisation and Pedagogy
We believe that our tenets and the disciplined practices of improvisational theater have much to teach us about teaching and learning.
All four of the founders of Happy Valley Improv share an interest in teaching and learning in formal and informal settings. We have a wealth of experience teaching improv, but also teaching academic disciplines to middle school students through university students.
Each of the four founders of Happy Valley Improv is connected with teaching and school and university settings in unique ways. While Happy Valley Improv is not affiliated with any university, all four Founders are faculty or staff at Penn State University:
All four of the founders of Happy Valley Improv share an interest in teaching and learning in formal and informal settings. We have a wealth of experience teaching improv, but also teaching academic disciplines to middle school students through university students.
Each of the four founders of Happy Valley Improv is connected with teaching and school and university settings in unique ways. While Happy Valley Improv is not affiliated with any university, all four Founders are faculty or staff at Penn State University:
- Andrea McCloskey and Sam Tanner are tenure-line faculty members of Education;
- James Tierney is a lecturer of Economics;
- Nate Rufo is a communicator and speechwriter for the Office of Global Programs and holds a Masters' degree in Global and International Education
Education-focused Workshops
Photo Credit: Jessica Buterbaugh, College of Education
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Happy Valley Improv offers unique workshops that explore what improvisation might have to teach us about the work of teaching and learning. People often say that teaching well is improvisational work. We believe that people can refine and develop their ability to improvise well, and that doing so transforms all of our participation in learning environments. Simply put, the exploration of improvisation helps us to imagine and enact how we might transform our ability to teach and to learn together.
An education-focused improv workshop will:
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Click Here for a Sample Workshop Syllabus
Literature on Improvisation (link)
As individuals and as a company, we are dedicated to contributing to the research knowledge base through practice, reflection, and writing. Follow the link above for a list of improv-related scholarship. Feel free to add to our knowledge through the "Contact Us" form!