The first time I experienced Drama in Education was in 2007. How was it for me? It was a re-ve-la-ti-on. Being a Mathematician, my entire life was either black or white, either right or wrong; there weren't any other shades in-between. That is why I feel very fortunate to have been trained in using the method by Avra Avdi and Melina Hadjigeorgiou, the first practitioners to bring DiE to Greece after their Master's studies in the UK under the supervision of expert practitioner and DiE theorist David Davis, one of the keenest pupils of the famous DiE pioneer practitioner Dorothy Heathcote. Ever since that first experience, I included the method in all my teaching, training, educating ventures. One thing is certain: I could never go back to the person and professional I had been before experiencing DiE.
Experiencing DiE for the first time
Links to professional networks
Personal Skills
Research Gate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christina-Zourna
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-zourna-2b682745/
ORCID:
Focused, diligent, creative, innovative, passionate, hard working, critical thinker, humorous, reliable.
Awards
Education
2017 – present
PhD Research (EQF Level 8). Department of Educational and Social Policy, School of Humanities, Arts and Education, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece.
2012
MA in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (EQF Level 7). Department of Educational and Social Policy, School of Humanities, Arts and Education, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece. GPA: 9.96/10
1988
Bachelor Degree (EQF Level 6). Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Topic: Applied Mathematics and Statistics. GPA: 7.62/10
1984
Graduation from the 17th High School of Thessaloniki (EQF Level 5). GPA: 18.5/20
2016 September
The "Drama in Education Method” was awarded with the European VITA AWARD 2016 as one of the 6 best European innovative teaching practices among 110 proposals in the European Contest “La Vita e Bella” by REVEAL Network, promoting innovative approaches of competence-oriented learning and adult educators' professional development.
Professional Experience
STUDIES, HR AND FINANCE MANAGER
(Private Tutoring School “Frontistiria Zourna”, Thessaloniki)
1993-2003
TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS
(Private Tutoring Schools “Synchrono Frontistirio”
and “Frontistiria Zourna”, Thessaloniki)
1988-2003
TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS
(Greek Ministry of Public Education, Junior and High schools
in Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki)
2003-present
ADULT EDUCATOR
(University of Macedonia, as External Collaborator in Skills Development Drama in Education experiential Workshops for pre- and postgraduate students and professionals)
2012-present
Language Proficiency
Greek (native language)
English (2017 IELTS ACADEMIC Grade 8 Very Good User, 1997 C2 Level – use of language: excellent)
French (1981 Sorbonne I - C1 Level – use of language: very good)
Turkish (2017 B2 Level. Grade: 96% - use of language: good)
German (1987 B1 Level – use of language: good)
Italian (Introductory lessons – use of language: satisfactory)
2020 March
"Drama in Education" was awarded with the first Prize as an innovative method in Career Guidance and Counselling in the European Competition for innovative career guidance services FUTURE Time Traveller 2020.
2020 May
The article «Managing Communication of Students with Cochlear Implants in Schools for the Deaf: Professional Practices», published by the SAGE Communication Disorders Quarterly Journal, was awarded by the UOM Research Committee on 08/05/2020.
2021 January
My research proposal as a PhDc «Change in a chaotic era: Multivariate mixed-methods approach to undergraduate students’ experiences of Higher Education COVID-19 changes» was awarded by the UOM Research Committee as the fourth best research among eleven candidate proposals in the university-based competition "Research on the Front Line" concerning the impact of the pandemic on Tertiary Education.
Publications on DiE
Zourna, C. (2022). Drama in Career Guidance and Counseling in Education or Drama in Education in Career Guidance and Counseling? Το Δράμα της Συ.Ε.Π. στην εκπαίδευση ή το Δράμα στην υπηρεσία της Συ.Ε.Π.; [in Greek]. In E. Kantartzi & G. Papadimitriou (Eds), The educational game in formal and non-formal Learning. Proceedings of the 2nd Panhellenic Online Conference, October 29-31, 2021 (V. 1, pp. 474-485). Available https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358227415
Zourna, C. & Papavassiliou, I. (2021). Drama in Education, Professional Development and Career Counseling: a dynamic relationship. Εκπαιδευτικό Δράμα, Επαγγελματική Ανάπτυξη και Συμβουλευτική Σταδιοδρομίας: μία δυναμικά αναπτυσσόμενη σχέση [in Greek]. Educational Review, 38(71), 11-30. The Journal of Hellenic Educational Society. Diadrasi. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357280877
Zourna, C., & Papavassiliou-Alexiou, I. (2021). Drama in Education under research: An innovative career guidance method for adolescents. Academia Letters. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4044
Papavassiliou-Alexiou, I., & Zourna, C. (2017). Drama in Education: implementation of an innovative tool for guidance practitioners. In IAEVG & UNAM, Proceedings of the International Conference of Educational and Professional Guidance 2017, pp. 201-210. Mexico City: National Autonomous University of Mexico. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321772454
Papavassiliou, I., & Zourna, C. (2016). Teachers’ professional competences: what has Drama in Education to offer? An empirical study in Greece. Professional Development in Education, 42(5), 767-786.
doi:10.1080/19415257.2015.1127270
Zourna, C, Papavassiliou, I., & Okalidou, A. (2016). How can Communication Disorders Professionals develop Personal and Interpersonal Skills? Answer: Drama in Education. Poster session presented at the 2016 ASHA Annual Convention, Philadelphia, Penn, USA
doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24352.69122
Zourna, C. (2011). Aristotelian phronesis: A lifelong philosophical practice. In V. Karavakou (Ed.), Lifelong Learning: interdisciplinary approaches. International Conference "Lifelong Learning", pp.165-178. Thessaloniki: University of Macedonia Ed. ISBN: 978-960-8396-67-8
