Improvisational theater provides us with a technology for human connection, communication, and co-creation. The field of applied improvisation uses improv techniques to enhance outcomes in business, educational, medical, and therapeutic settings. CELL is home to a number of exciting projects in this growing field.
Autism:
Camp Yes And is a summer day camp that combines social skills instruction for youth with autism and professional learning for educators.
Education:
Improv for All Students workshops provide no-cost professional learning for Indiana educators and related professionals, focusing on improv exercises that align with Indiana's Academic Standards and Social-Emotional Learning Competencies, as well as Universal Design for Learning and instructional scaffolding.
Medical Communication:
Our Improv for Dementia Care workshops support individuals living with dementia, their families, and/or professional caregivers. Our Simulated Patient Training opportunities prepare individuals with disabilities to play the roles of patients, family members, and others in the context of medical training, evaluation, and research—creating employment pathways for individuals with disabilities and improving health equity outcomes.
Mental Health:
Flipping the Script: Building Skills to Manage Emotions is a school-based mental health initiative that integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with applied improvisation methods. Improv for Art Therapy workshops support art therapists to enhance communication skills, strengthen professional identity, and develop professional competency.
Research Communication:
We offer a variety of workshops to support scientists, scholars, science educators, and public health professionals to communicate about their work to non-experts in clear and engaging ways.
Resources:
- Alana, L. (2020, February 18). The Connect Improv Curriculum. Camp Yes And: Improv, autism, and equity. https://yesand.indiana.edu/professional-dev/cic.html
- Applied Improvisation Research Library. (2020, August 28). Zotero. https://www.zotero.org/groups/2551922/airl/library
- Kasthurirathne, R., Alana, L., and Ansaldo, J. (May 2018). Improvising Social Skills For Teens With ASD. The ASHA Leader, 23(5).
For more information please contact Jim Ansaldo