Abstract:
William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are among the most influential in the English language,
touching on timeless themes and emotions. As such, Shakespeare’s plays are standard in many
high-school English classes, but too often students fail to connect with these stories through
traditional classroom methods. Shakespeare theaters with active education departments work
to develop programming that facilitates personal connections with Shakespeare’s plays through
performance- and language-centered instruction, sharing their best practices with students and
educators. However, the educational landscape is changing. Technology and digital media play
an increasingly important role in K-12 education with an emphasis on building 21st century
skills and integrating technology that students use in their daily lives. This document explores
the role of new media in Shakespeare education, including a review of the literature grounded in
both best practices for Shakespeare education and technology in education, as well as findings
from the 2012 Shakespeare Theatre Association Conference. These elements contribute to the
overall conclusions that new media is effectively integrated in Shakespeare education when it
supports active, theater-centered learning, without impeding the live theater experience.
