Get Your Students Hired
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
How Storytelling Benefits Learning --> Cautions in Using Storytelling
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
I think that audience is critical when determining what to share about yourself. If you're in a room of middle schoolers for example, stories about your time as a teenage student are more appropriate and interesting than, for example, middle age parenting stories.
I think storytelling is important for teachers to relate to students but I agree that too many personal details is not a good idea,
I have learned I need to be more cognizant of my students level of interest in class storytelling.
Storytelling can be very beneficial, but make sure to include everyone, have the story appropriate to the topic and don't offend others.
Storytelling is often a double edged sword. If wielded incorrectly, it can often disrupt the lesson being taught and even turn students away from the learning material. It is important for instructors to continually remind themselves that, when telling a story, that they are instructors. Over sharing personal details (i.e. politics) or using inappropriate humor will dissuade students from wanting to come to class or taking the lesson as seriously as they should be.
I often use storytelling to relate with the content being taught. I have caught myself beginning to give personal information and stopped myself. This caused students to enquire and ask more questions, which I advise that information is irrelevant and we get back on point.
I had not previously entertained the idea of the value of story telling to create a relaxing learning environment.
I find learning and listening to your students can be helpful when using a story. I have found that diversity can be touchy during current events. I have learned how to use such topics to help students stay focus on their class work instead of the current event.
Being cautious about when and how you use humor in storytelling can help include your audience and incite their emotions without unnecessarily disclosing too much personal information about yourself.