Using storytelling in learning
- Cathy Gillespie
- Articles, Content and instructional design
- September 24, 2020
Before the advent of pen and paper, knowledge was passed from generation to generation through storytelling. For our ancestors, they were a valuable form of record keeping and yet the art of storytelling has taken a back seat in our current everyday life. Today, we often think of stories as being made up and yet, and we also deliver our messages in less interesting or more direct ways.
We are exposed to stories every day in the papers, on social media, and on TV, with varying degrees of accuracy. Movies will have one or more strong story lines and often capture our attention with their twists and turns. The sign of a good story is that we can relate to it in some way. Often, we connect with the story through empathising with the main character or in our rejection of them. The emotions which stories stir in us, are often the reason why we remember them so well.
When is the last time you related the story line of a movie to a friend or colleague? And now think about the last time you related the full essence of an online training course you had participated in? Given the power of stories and our innate ability to remember and repeat them, it seems a natural step to include story telling into our learning experiences, so as to enhance the retention of the key points by the participants.
Stories can provide the context around the information that we are imparting. They can provide a framework that people can connect with and relate to their own experience, and most importantly, they are memorable. Each story has a beginning, middle and end which provides a structure for sequencing information, just as it is done in a movie. In learning design, we take our learners on a journey from the beginning (concepts are introduced) , through the middle (where they are support to develop ideas), to the end (where they are able to apply their learning in a real situation).
Each piece of information delivered has purpose, is meaningful and engages people through ideas and emotions. It paints a picture which encourages a change in behaviour or attitude. There are many different ways to tell a story and the easiest way to apply this to your situation is look for stories in media, TV shows or movies that apply loosely to your situation and then translate it. For example, if you want to produce light-hearted learning, then model it on comedies. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Practice by taking a story you know well and plugging it in to the structure of your favourite TV show. Have fun with it.
Spread the word
Related posts
Configuring and using the Totara LMS Recycle Bin
Deleting courses or parts of courses can be nerve-wracking and sometimes we delete the wrong thing by mistake. However, if you understand and configure your Totara LMS Recycle Bin, it gives you a safety net to avoid permanently losing your deleted items.
Three reasons storyboarding matters
Ten percent of the population is dyslexic, which is a significant proportion. And yet dyslexia is still often poorly understood and is not taken into account in the presentation of our online content.
Storyline Product Release: 360° images
Any new features built into our online authoring tools pique our interest and keep us fresh with the design and delivery of learning activities. Articulate Storyline’s new 360 image feature is no different and had to be investigated.
10 tips when writing for dyslexic readers
Ten percent of the population is dyslexic, which is a significant proportion. And yet dyslexia is still often poorly understood and is not taken into account in the presentation of our online content.
Managing conflict in a learning development team
Nipping tension in the bud! Developing learning experiences is a creative process that involves listening actively, working together as a team, and, ultimately, delivering a
Things L&D should steal from marketing
We’ve been inspired lately by some of the articles and videos that compare learning with marketing, suggesting that in the learning and development industry (L&D), we would do well to incorporate some of the core marketing concepts into our learning projects.