Hector Solis-Ortiz, Resident Director, UCLA The Art of Improv: Learning to say, “Yes, and” as Student Affairs Professionals Tuesday, March 12, 2019 | 11:15 – 12:05 p.m. LACC, 403 B Hector Solis-Ortiz, Resident Director, UCLA INTRODUCE YOURSELF!!

Learning Outcomes Gain an understanding of the basic tenants of improv comedy. Gain an understanding of how to apply the ideas of improv to build leadership skills & foster creativity within ourselves and our students. Learn the ways that engagement with improv can impact student engagement.

Who am I?

What is improv? A form of live theatre in which the plot, characters and dialogue of a game, scene or story are made up in the moment from a suggestion. Improv starts with two key words: “yes, and.” Short Form vs. Long Form Usually a group activity. Striving to build the “group mind”

A Few Things to Remember Don’t think just do. There are never mistakes in improv. Just opportunities to grow and create together. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE FUNNY. It’s all about having fun/playing.

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

The Value of Play & Cognitive Development “Play can have a significant role in the development of a child’s creative abilities. The development of creativity is also related to cognitive development because creative thinking contributes to problem solving” (Ahmad, Hussain, Batool & Sittar, 2016, p. 73).

“The Godmother of Improvisation” Viola Spolin “The Godmother of Improvisation”

Conducted Story

New Choice

Improv and Leadership Intersect Stewart (2016) states, ”Improv comedy has the potential to develop college students' confidence, by being fearlessly true to themselves. College students constantly receive messages about who they should and should not be from friends, family, and the media. Participation in improv comedy may allow college students to try on different parts of themselves while creating new aspects of who they are as individuals" (p. 233).

Making Connections Learn to work effectively within a team. Active listening, being in the moment, supporting your teammate. Committee work, program planning, creating new campus initiatives. Play opens doors to new/creative ideas. Challenging the status quo, trying something different. Provides opportunities to build others up. Not judging yourself or others, words of encouragement, supporting student ideas.

Improv Resources Truth in Comedy By Charna Halpern, Del Close & Kim Howard Johnson Improvisation at the Speed of Light: The T.J. and Dave Book By T.J. Jagodowski & David Pasquesi Bossypants By Tina Fey

Questions?

References Ahmad, S., Hussain Ch, A., Batool, A., & Sittar, K. (2016, November 28). Play and Cognitive Development: Formal Operational Perspective of Piaget’s Theory. Retrieved September 01, 2017, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1118552.pdf Cherry, K. (2019, March 01). What Are Piaget's Four Stages of Development? Retrieved March 01, 2019, from https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive- development-2795457 Spolin, V. (1963). Improvisation for the theatre. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. Spolin, V. (1999). Improvisation for the theater: A handbook of teaching of directing techniques (3rd ed.). Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. Spolin Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2019, from https://www.violaspolin.org/bio Stewart, C. (2016, March 2). Effects of Improv on College Students. Retrieved August 31, 2018, from https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1601&co ntext=etd

See you next year in Austin, Texas! Thank you! See you next year in Austin, Texas!