Narrative Pedagogy: Experience and Engagement
Steve Jobs stated in 1994 when he was the CEO of Pixar that “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come”. Knowledge was once passed down by the individuals who invested their lives in listening, learning, and memorizing oral traditions. The risk of losing such information was motivation enough for teachers and students to engage in the lifelong process of memorization. Technological advances have diminished this risk yet storytelling is still considered an effective engagement tool in the classroom. Narrative Pedagogy involves reflecting on the experiences of the teacher, student, and other stakeholders in the learning process. Narrative pedagogy promotes learning engagement strategies like storytelling to share experiences while learning through creative writing, film, blogs, and songwriting. In the k-12 classroom teachers can utilize personal narratives to connect with students or present new concepts that can be challenging to grasp. Storytelling however has not been as widely accepted in higher education as stated by Astiz (2020, p. 187). Astiz shares her experience as a college professor and immigrant exploring the impact of sharing life stories with college students. While at first reluctant she reflects and states that “…my story can be, and usually is, a means to spark students’ interest by providing a familiar face to the experiences discussed in the classroom.” (2020, p. 188).
Lights, Camera, Engagement
While most schools are seeking ways to eliminate cellphone use in the classroom, audio-visual technology can elevate classroom culture and increase student engagement. Candy Suiso shares the impact a media class made at Wai’anae High School in the late 80’s. The development of this program proved to increase student enrollment and graduation rates even expanding to career development (TEDx Talks, 2018). Keller and Deimann refer to opportunity as the “resources and information that are necessary for a person to perform a task”. For Candy Suiso and her students, the audio-visual technology was the tool they needed to improve engagement. This program allowed students to collaborate and reflect on their learning. They became directors’ editors and narrators of their learning. Keller and Deimann state that “Motivation to learn is promoted when learners anticipate and experience satisfying outcomes to a learning task.” (2018, p. 81).
This method of storytelling gave a voice to the community that has been stigmatized by low graduation rates and the perception that they could not learn, shifting their narrative to a positive experience.
A Tale of Curiosity
Storytelling in the classroom does not always need to be directly connected to the teacher or the students to improve engagement. With the use of AI tools like ChatGPT teachers and students can prompt AI to develop a story related to the content they will be reviewing in class. This can bridge the collective experiences of the individuals in the class. Thomas Bussey shares his strategy to motivate students with educators and instructional designers. He utilizes AI tools with his 5th-grade class to promote curiosity in students at the beginning of a lesson or in preparation for an assessment. Thomas Bussey states that he is on a mission to make learning fun. While students can be curious about a topic the delivery and lesson design can great affect their motivation to learn. “It is possible to be curious about the topic but so bored by the delivery method that sleep is inevitable” as stated by Keller and Deimann (2018, p. 80). He creates unique scenarios and adventures that reflect the games and interests of his students. The fictional stories also create a healthy competitive culture that motivates students who may not always be motivated by grades. Keller and Deimann state that “extrinsic motivation, when carefully prescribed, can be used to build learners’ intrinsic motivation.” (2018, p.79).
Not Just A Fairytale, It’s A Feedback Loop
“It is usually best, with regard to maintaining motivation to learn, to use feedback that is informational instead of controlling.” (Keller and Deimann, 2018, p.81). During a study on digital storytelling Hwang, Zou, & Wu found that integrating peer assessments helped support student self-efficacy and motivation while learning information literacy. Storytelling as a learning strategy offers a unique opportunity for students to reflect on their learning and provide instant feedback. Educators can also provide rubrics and assessment guides for students as they give feedback to peers. During their study, Hwang, Zou, & Wu reflect on the improvement of critical thinking and problem-solving skills while students use the digital storytelling platform Scratch. Rea Hughart, current Chief Experience Officer of the Teach Better Network developed the Teach Further Model that supports mastery-based learning. In the model, students work on their personal education plan within the same classroom. While this can seem like a nightmare for teachers concerning assessments and feedback, the model shares that responsibility with the learner. Students are motivated to learn and share their progress through weekly vlogs that are then utilized in “grading conferences”. Students’ stories of growth and needs during the learning process are shared in their vlogs.
The Happy Ending
Students and educators come into the classroom with stories to tell and stories to create. Designing an environment that allows these narratives to thrive is essential in student motivation and engagement. Each learning experience should allow for the opportunity of storytelling. Whether it be the main protagonist of the learning strategies utilized or a reflective tool that provides valuable feedback, stories matter. The human history of learning has a rich connection to storytelling that comes naturally in today’s learning environment. The use of technological advances and platforms can enhance this engagement strategy but at the end of it all the real narrative lies in the voice of the learner.
References
Astiz, M. F. (2020). Storytelling in the Higher Education Classroom: Why It Matters. College Teaching, 68(4), 187–188. https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.1080/87567555.2020.1785382
Being Mr. Bussey | 5th Grade Teacher. (2020, December 22). Boost Student Engagement with Storytelling using ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAh4M0Yv7LI
Hwang, G.-J., Zou, D., & Wu, Y.-X. (2023). Learning by storytelling and critiquing: a peer assessment-enhanced digital storytelling approach to promoting young students’ information literacy, self-efficacy, and critical thinking awareness. Educational Technology Research & Development, 71(3), 1079–1103. https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.1007/s11423-022-10184-y
Keller,J.M. and Deimann, M.(2018).Motivation, volition, and Performance. In RA Reiser & J.V. Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (4th ed.) (pp.78-84). New York, NY: Pearson
Rae Hughart [raehughart]. (2022, August 25). In a mastery learning #classroom, determining student quarter or final grades can be difficult. [Post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChsiasmPnzT/
TEDx Talks. (2018, November 27). Student Engagement Through a Different Lens | Candy Suiso | TEDxFargo. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTylVjogiI
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The power of "Storytelling" can be an incredibly effective tool for engaging humans in the learning process. I'm glad you brought up pedagogy, as I recently learned about it and watched a few videos regarding it. When you share personal stories, it can definitely enhance the connection with anyone, as it could be relatable, understandable, and invoke curiosity to motivate learners today. It's still mind-blowing that storytelling isn't widely accepted in higher learning, as you said. I think incorporating storytelling into higher education could greatly benefit students by making the learning experience more engaging and memorable. It's important for educators to recognize the value of storytelling and its potential to create a more enriching and effective learning environment. Storytelling has…