"story-telling" as a teaching method
I often tell stories of personal experiences of my work history to emphasize a learning point. I find this seems to work well to strengthen the point I am trying to get across
Hi Sharon,Thanks for your post to the forum. Students really learn a lot from relevant stories we can tell from our own experiences. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I agree. By sharing real life experiences we not only keep our students engaged, we also show them the relevance of what they study in class in the real world. Once students realize they can use academic concepts as problems solving tools in real world situations, their motivation level and attention span increase significantly and they begin to see true value in their education.
Hi Ali, Thanks for a very well written post to the forum! As you state, for our students, relevancy is so important. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdqynzcMGS4
Susan Polick
I believe that story-telling is a really great teaching method. If it is done correctly, all four modalities of learning can be included: Auditory (hearing the story), visual (using gestures and movements), Kinesthetic (if you can get the audience involved).
As teachers, we tend to tell stories from our own history. What I have found also works is to allow the students to tell their stories. This is specially true with adult learners. Adult learners have histories of their own also. Often when they relate their stories, other students will get involved by adding another story to the mix. It's really fun to listen to some of their stories. It also can give the instructor material that can be used in the future.
Hi Ernest, Thanks for sharing a very inspiring post! I also enjoy getting my students involved in sharing their stories. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I also use story telling as a teaching method for class. It allows my student the opportunity to learn from a personal experiance along with a resolution to a situation.
Hi Rosalind, Thanks for your post to the forum. When we share our personal experiences related to the topics at hand, our students are able to better see the relevancy of what they are learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Often tell work experience stores for two reasons, students retain the information and can learn from some of mine and other chefs mistakes, we are all human and can learn from each other.
I have been using topic related stories for some time now. When presenting technical material it helps to take a moment occasionally to allow students time to digest the information just provided. The stories provide this time while also allowing some discussion. This allows me to determine the degree that they have comprehended the data.
Hi Devon, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, admitting that we instructors have made mistakes makes us seem more approachable. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Edward, Thanks for your post to the forum. Using stories can also make the concepts more relevant for our students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I do the same thing, I teach Medical Billing and Coding and with 9 years field experience oh yea the stories get good. They with not understand what I am saying sometimes till I give that type of example then I can see the gears moving and clicking together.
I tell stories of actual situations in the work place, some with a good outcome and some with a not so good outcome.
Most students like the stories and some do not.
They are related to the subject matter.
Hi Allen, Thanks for your post to the forum. "Real" stories are the best kind! Students learn the relevance of what they are learning from actual situations/case studies. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I find story-telling to be very effective when I am teaching skills. Often when I am doing a demonstration I will take time to tell stories of how important it is to follow the steps completely. I will tell a story that had a negative outcome as a result of people not following steps. This helps the student to buy into the importance of sequence and realize that straying away for the prescribed steps may result in negative outcomes.
Hi Sonya- Thanks for your post to the forum. Hearing "stories" from their instructors helps to demonstrate the relevance of what students are learning and also increases retention. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Story-Telling is a great tool. As long as it is related to the subject matter. :)
Adding real world experiences to class topics can emphases the importance of the subject matter. When students see how they can utilize what they are learning, they will understand the importance of the material. The “I’ll never use this†mentality is eliminated.
Hi John, Thanks for your post to the forum. Absolutely! When students see the relevance of what they are learning, they want to learn! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
