Storytelling

When I worked for the Center for Teaching and Learning one of the instructional designers, Jessica, often talked about the importance of storytelling as an instructional method. When I first heard this I didn’t have an immediate “Ah ha!” reaction. But the more I thought about it and paid attention to the way I learn the more I think Jessica is right. If we can wrap concepts up in stories to deliver them to learners it is possible it will be easier for them to process new knowledge. It’s not just the entertainment factor, though it probably doesn’t hurt, but stories have a better chance of connecting with prior knowledge.

One of the most effective techniques for me to acquire new knowledge is through simile, metaphor, and analogy. In some cases could these be considered stories? Albeit very short story but a story none the less. In my work we often use the process of construction as a simile for software design. We tell each other short stories about home building to get across concepts, to explain where we are in the process. Last week we were discussing the best time to do a second round of testing. To come to a decision we mulled over a short story, “If we do bug tracking right now it’s like doing a second walk-through after only the dings in the paint job have been fixed. What about the missing light bulbs and outlet coverings? Do we want to come and do an inspection after each ding has been repaired and each light bulb is installed, or do we want to wait until the whole list from the first inspection is done?” We came to a decision to wait and test after further work was finished. Talking in “story” helped us all relate and better understand the issue before us.

Christijan, Jered, and Danny made a good presentation about the importance of story. Nearly everything they said resonated with me. One point that didn’t resonate with me was to refer to storytelling as a  technology. This may expose a basic lack of understanding on my part on something I should understand by now. Isn’t storytelling more a method than a technology? Is there really a difference? Is this question going back to the Clark/Kozma debate (not sure which side I’m on since earlier I talked about stories as a delivery mechanism. Hmmm, sounds familiar)? Better go refresh my memory with notes from the beginning of the semester.

I wish I was a better storyteller. I trip over myself. I could take advice from Ira Glass:

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