A few ideas:
1. Have them sign up to tech with another show in your community or at another school that is coming up within the grading period. Something that you know the director or teacher involved and can make a stop by back stage to see how they are doing and can go see the show to see their work in action.
2. Have students sign up for a certain number of hours supporting a different event with similar work to technical theatre. In the past I have used a local library event, elementary school art showcase night, an elementary fall festival event, and church events as alternatives with enough similarities to the specific standards I am assessing when students can't commit to what is going on within our own program. If the student can explain how this work meets the same standards I am assessing via an essay, self evaluation,... and I can personally verify that they have actually done the work in a way that is safe, professional, and meets my expectations by contacting another teacher or someone in the organization they are working with then I have on occasions allowed this type of thing.
3. Depending on the standards you are assessing, perhaps make these students the publicity team for the show. Set up parameters for this and the expectations of time spent on it outside of class. This could be hanging flyers locally and on campus, designing promotional campaigns for your school (like lunch promotions, closed school tv commercials,...) and even beyond (contacting local media to set up cast going on the news, calling radio stations to ask about personalities promoting the show,...). All of this work is in preparation for the production and doesn't require after school time spent on campus or at certain set times, but allows flexibility of time spent based on the student's schedule.
4. Have the students be required to design their own alternative project. Give them a list of what you plan to assess students who are able to be there for the show on, and ask the students to design a project that you would be able to assess. Have them revise the self-designed project as many times as it takes to meet your approval, with your guidance of course. Students should always be a part of the process of creating their assessments any way and by putting it back on them, it puts the ball, and the work, in their court. Each student could come up with their own individualized plan and find some interesting or unique things to do, and of course you would have final say on approval, but as long as you are able to get the information you need to assess them, then this could work well. Some kids who might otherwise try to get out of teching the show for a not legitimate reason, may be annoyed at having to not only do an alternative project, but also having to design it themselves to meet all of the items being assessed, perhaps enough so that it's not worth it for them. That would leave you only doing this with students who really need it.
Lastly don't forget, our job is to evaluate students based on mastery of standards being assessed. Focus on how you can assess the standards for these students as you find your alternative assignment and you'll figure out the best plan.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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Kathleen McNulty Mann
mcnulkl@bay.k12.fl.usArnold High School Theatre
Panama City Beach, FL
Program Director and Thespian Sponsor
Florida State Junior Thespians
District 10 Chair
Florida Association for Theatre Education
Board Member
Membership Committee Chair
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2017 13:26
From: Robin Caporuscio
Subject: Tech Theatre "Alternate Assignment"
Students who sign up for my tech theatre class become the crew for our shows. They have to work tech week and all performances. In the past if those students couldn't commit to those dates, they didn't take the class and joined another time. For the first time my admin is not allowing students to drop the class, even those students who didn't sign up for the class in the first place. As a result, I have students who will be out of town or have jobs and won't be available after school. My admin is asking me to give them an "alternate assignment." Well, here is where I'm picking everyone's brain. How do I replace the authentic experience of teching a show for what, 60 hours? Suggestions?
I don't want to punish kids who have real conflicts, but I also don't want to see droves of students asking for this alternate assignment. I'm open to ideas. Grrr.
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Robin Caporuscio
Armada, MI
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