To Improv, or Not to Improv:
Improving Economics Teaching and
Learning with Improv Theater
Simon Halliday, Smith College
shalliday@smith.edu
James Tierney, Penn State University
jtierney@psu.edu
Introduction
• Who are these yahoos?
• What teaching have they done?
• How have they been involved in theatre?
Motivation
• For instructors
– Improv can help you be more comfortable in front
of the classroom
– Improv can help you with colleagues and
administration that may be hard to work with…….
Motivation
• For students
– Improv can teach them that failing is ok
– Improv can teach them problem solving skills
– Improv can teach them valuable communications
skills needed for today’s business world
Participation
• Zoom, Schwartz, Profigliano
– Failing is O.K.
– Being comfortable with failing will lead to taking
bigger risk taking
Participation
• Fortunately, Unfortunately
– Be able to think on your feet.
– Solve problems fast and think outside the box
Participation
• Spotlight
– Makes you feel comfortable in front of strangers.
– Teaches how to support your fellow colleagues
Participation
• Backwards Interview
– Teaches listening skills.
– Exercises different parts of the brain.
Reflection
• This is just the tip of the iceberg
– There are dozens of exercises like these that can
help both instructors and students.
– Maybe next year we can do more!
Reflection
• How can you take this back to your students?
– Speak with your theatre group on your campus.
Most will have an improv troupe and will be
willing to hold workshops.
Questions
• We are more than happy to field any
questions with the time remaining.