Berlin, December 2008 - Storytelling, described as the ancient art of conveying events in words, images, and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment, is becoming increasingly popular in the world of online learning. During this presentation session of ONLINE EDUCA Berlin, followed by an open discussion session on the same topic, several practitioners showed how they are use storytelling.
The Oslo University College uses storytelling to teach elderly people how to live a meaningful and active life. Prof. Grete Jamissen from Oslo University College in Norway is convinced that people learn much easier from the experience of others, as they are used to this form of learning. "Crucial is the quality of the story; dramaturgy is the main challenge", says Jamissen. From experience, she knows that the technical environment is very easy to handle, but still, "If you don't have a good sound track, and the quality of the whole product isn't professional and convincing, you'd better leave it."
Generation Y Storytelling
Matthew Murray, Senior Manager and eLearning Team Lead in the Instructional Design and Technologies team at the US firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, is focused on applying new storytelling forms to create engaging and effective learning designs for Generation Y. Murray believes that this particular generation gets bored by presentations and traditional lectures very easily. They live and work in rapidly changing environments, which demands a different form of learning.
As young people are used to switching from one medium to another, it is crucial to jump into the scenario and the problem directly, advises Murray. Producers have to grab their attention quickly and design stories around their life situation - it shouldn't feel like learning. "Stories should be funny and ironic (not corny or preachy); then the idea behind them really sticks in their minds", believes the PWC consultant.
Encouraging young people
The stories of art and design students and graduates about the journeys they have made from school to their current course or employment form the main content of a website called "A Student Art and Design Virtual Information and Communication Environment (ADVICE)" at the University College Falmouth, UK. It is designed to help art and design students find their routes through education and view examples of work and the experience other students have had during their paths from education to employment. Presented is work by graduates who have gone on to employment to help others understand the rich variety of art and design.
"Stories of other designers or artists motivate and encourage some students to take the risk of choosing their own way", says Simon Thompson, who is responsible for the website. The site is mainly driven by students and recent graduates who have helped design the look and interactivity and suggested the content that would be most helpful to others.
Storytelling has a high emotional impact
"Everybody says that interactivity is a good thing, but how can you teach young kids about faith, belief, love, and happiness in an interactive environment. Make them click faith?", moaned Adam Salkeldis, Head of Programs at Tinopolis, right at the beginning of his presentation "A New Video Approach to an Old Problem".
Adam Salkeldis is passionate about bringing high-quality video and storytelling to eLearning, believing it to be one of the most potent ways of engaging learners. He believes that storytelling can transport emotions much easier than an interactive application, and that it is the appropriate medium to teach religious about issues at school. In his storytelling presentation, kids and young adults explain their ways to happiness. For example, a young Indian man detailed the story of his journey to becoming a holy man, helping schoolchildren experience what it means to embark on a journey to transformation.
