Photo credit: Marc Productions

The week we covered exploration of multimedia and learning design inspired me to rethink how I can enhance student engagement and creativity in my drama, dance, and musical theatre classes. By thoughtfully integrating tools like digital mood boards, educational videos, and/or images, I can see how I would be able to create dynamic and immersive learning experiences.

For many years, I have been OBSESSED with creating mood boards and collages on Pinterest and Canva to figure out, process, and convey my theatre design ideas. I think that this would be useful in my career as a teacher as well. For example, when my students are designing costumes for a production, they can create digital mood boards as visual references. These boards can include a mix of images, textures, colours, and even historical or cultural inspiration to guide their designs. Below is an example of a mood board I created for my dance students, who will be doing a piece-together costume (meaning they must source most of their own costumes from their closets or friends’ closets). This is a great way to visually represent the aesthetic that I hope to convey on the stage.

Photo credit: Emily Eymundson

Theatre production students can use these boards to articulate their own visions, and they serve as collaborative tools when working in groups or presenting to the class. I can show my students how to utilize platforms like Canva or Pinterest to make this process accessible and easy to use, even for beginners.

Photo credit: Pinterest mood board by Emily Eymundson

Moving forward, I plan to continue to incorporate multimedia tools like digital mood boards into my teaching practice. I might also experiment with creating or curating videos!

Multimedia and thoughtful learning design allow me to meet students where they are and inspire them to push their creative boundaries. Whether they’re crafting costumes, choreographing a dance, or blocking a scene, these tools will empower them to bring their artistic visions to life. Beyond the classroom, knowing how to design using digital tools is a valuable skill that my students can take with them into any field, whether they pursue a career in the performing arts or not!

Photo credit: Edho Pratama