February 2002 | Labs in Learning: Clown Competency
for Teacher Educators with the Hogeschool, Amsterdam
Following the pilot Lab in Learning, PAL and Lab Director Caroline Nevejan of the University of Professional Education of Amsterdam, (Hogeschool van Amsterdam) agreed to work as partners on the Labs in Learning programme, initially on the development of Clown Competency.
“Clowns love to fail because they get a chance to have another go”
This pilot Clown Competency Lab was run with the Hogeschool, led by internationally renowned clown Angela de Castro. Participants were teacher educators from the Hogeschool.
Key elements shared by clown competency and teaching were identified as:
• The need to be focused, open, and on the ball; an energised and vital conduit between the subject (of study) and the class / audience.
• The need to be genuinely interested in students / audience and to show this.
• To find a persona that will provide the resources to be an inspiring, charismatic teacher / performer, whatever the circumstances.
• To enjoy being the focus of attention.
Lab co-directors
Angela de Castro
Caroline Nevejan
Lab participants
Maarten van der Burg - filmmaker and teacher educator
Otto de Graaf - teacher educator
Samatha Grootfaam - teacher educator
Vivien Harris - Director, PAL Labs in Learning
Ronald Hueskens - teacher educator
Marianne Kok - teacher educator
Michael Nieweg - teacher educator
Anke Stienissen - teacher educator
Funded by
NESTA
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Hogeschool, Amsterdam
