Improvising With and In Higher Education

Reviews / Votes

"In this uplifting and liberating volume, we're invited to peek behind the curtains of other possible performances in higher education. The ensemble of writers show us the transformational potential of applying a performance and improvisational lens to our worlds. A long overdue text for those curious about the boundless possibilities of play, improv, and performance." (Richard Bale, Senior Teaching Fellow, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, author of "Teaching with Confidence in Higher Education: Applying Strategies from the Performing Arts")

"An inspired application of improv principles to higher education. Through their creative process in developing the book, the authors have demonstrated its very thesis - with an improv mindset and wholehearted collaboration, new and exciting ways of being in academia emerge!" (Peter Felsman, Ph.D., LMSW, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Oakland University, United States)

"A must-read for anyone invested in the future of higher education. In an era where innovation is critical, the authors make a powerful and timely case for incorporating improv across all levels of academia, from classrooms to administrative offices and beyond. They skillfully demonstrate how readers can apply the principles of "yes, and ..." to extend the book's insights, fostering collaboration and innovation." (Erik Haroldson, Assistant Professor, California State University, Sacramento, United States)

"It's difficult to write about improvisation in a way that is improvisational and yet that is what this book manages to do. In an increasingly scripted context of higher education, this transformative work offers an alternative that makes room for the vitality that improv can teach us to seek, practice, and cultivate." (Samuel Jaye Tanner, Associate Professor of English Education at the University of Iowa, United States and co-author of "Storytelling and Improvisation as Anti-Racist Pedagogies")

"At a moment when higher education desperately needs new performances that move beyond competition, atomization, and communal disconnection, this groundbreaking new book invites faculty, staff, and students to improvise their ways forward. Saying "yes, and." to the playful, emergent, and relational spaces that generate all forms of knowledge to begin with, the book's authors perform the very types of imaginative growth and development envisioned throughout. A must read for transforming higher educational contexts!" (Don Waisanen, Professor, Baruch College, City University of New York, United States; Author of "Improv for Democracy")

"This book is a tremendous offer to higher education, providing an innovative approach that redefines how we teach and learn. It introduces applied improv as not only a tool to foster creativity, collaboration, and active engagement, but also as a mindset and approach to life. By embracing this fresh perspective, we can create more vibrant, inclusive learning environments that enable people to thrive and flourish." (Jiunwen (June) Wang, Senior Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore)

"This book is a ground-breaking contribution to pedagogical discourse, redefining the role of play and improvisation in higher education. It offers practical insights that educators can implement immediately, empowering them with new teaching strategies." (Tugce B. Arda Tuncdemir, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood/Elementary Education, Penn State Harrisburg, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, Middletown, PA, United States)