In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Chen Yang speak with Dr Ewa Krolikowska-Adamczyk and Dr Robert Arnett Robson about drama-based teaching techniques for higher education. They define drama-based techniques as using elements from acting—such as voice, body, classroom space, props, humour, and performance skills—to enhance teaching and student engagement, emphasising that attention is a key resource for lecturers. Ewa outlines three focal techniques from their work: sketches (short humorous scenarios), soliloquies (voicing a character’s internal thoughts aloud), and storytelling delivered with dramatic elements to create a memorable “wow factor.” They stress inclusivity by depicting relatable scenarios that do not alienate diverse students and explain their focus is primarily on lecturers using these techniques rather than requiring students to perform. Ewa shares her drama and theatre undergraduate background, while Rob describes an informal performance interest developed through corporate training and his doctorate in education on drama-based techniques; they explain how they connected with colleague Kevin Williams and now collaborate as “Act One Education.” They discuss applicability across disciplines (including nursing, science, engineering, and medicine), advise hesitant or introverted educators to start with small performance tools and remain authentic. They position drama as one tool within a broader teaching toolkit and plan to write more due to a gap in higher-education-focused research, and future research on barriers and fears that prevent educators from adopting these techniques.

01:09 What Are Drama-Based Teaching Techniques?

01:46 The Real Reason Drama Works: Winning Student Attention

03:05 The Big 3 Techniques Explained: Sketch, Soliloquy & Storytelling

05:39 Do Students Have to Perform? ‘Acting for the Non-Actor’

06:34 Workshop Storytime: The Skit That Hooked the Room (No More Death by PowerPoint)

08:23 How Ewa, Rob & Kevin Found Each Other (and Built Act One Education)

11:32 From Corporate Training to Global Classrooms: Drama Across Cultures

14:39 Can Drama Work in Any Subject? Real Classroom Examples

16:50 Nervous or Introverted? Start Small with Props, Space & Baby Steps

22:30 Making Learning Memorable (and Not Over-the-Top): Drama as One Tool in the Toolkit

26:39 Workshops Beyond Greenwich + Building a Community of Practice

28:59 What’s Next: Future Research, Barriers & Spreading the Word

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr. Elisa Pannini to discuss labor unions, employment legislation, and workplace conditions. Dr. Pannini shares her journey into labor market research and talks about the significance of platform work as a major shift in the labor market. The conversation explores how unions are adapting to represent precarious and marginalized workers, the evolving landscape of labor regulations, and how technology is influencing labor dynamics. Dr. Pannini also highlights her upcoming research on the use of AI and algorithmic management in call centers and its implications for workers.

01:06 Dr. Pannini's Research Journey

03:02 Impact of Platform Work on Labor Markets

04:19 Union Efforts in Organizing Precarious Workers

05:15 Challenges and Opportunities in Worker Organization

10:08 Education and Workers' Rights

17:48 Global Labor Market Dynamics

21:40 Unions and Democracy

24:12 Future Research and Conclusion

In this episode, Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen are joined by Dr Laura William, an Associate Professor of Employment Relations and Equality. They discuss the employment challenges faced by disabled individuals, exploring why disabled people are more likely to be made redundant and how they struggle to re-enter the labor market. Dr William shares her personal and research experiences, highlighting the substantial employment gaps and legal barriers, including the 'medical model' of disability and the lack of legal representation in employment tribunals. The discussion also touches upon Dr William’s book, 'Claiming Disability Discrimination: Assessing Barriers to Justice,' and her groundbreaking database that maps out patterns in employment tribunal judgments. The episode concludes with insights into Dr William’s future research on intersectional discrimination.

00:51 Dr Laura William's Journey into Socio-Legal Studies

02:12 Evolution of Disability Law

02:56 Employment Gaps and Discrimination

04:14 Barriers to Justice for Disabled People

10:49 Challenges in Proving Disability

18:12 Mental vs. Physical Disabilities in Employment

20:44 Importance of Disclosing Disabilities

25:23 Creating a Disability Discrimination Database

26:14 Future Research Directions

Read Laura's new book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-74387-0