Example Reflection- Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a tool I have unknowingly used for a long time. Storytelling for students have always  proved useful, creative stories pique the interest of the novice mind into applying and learning  challenging concepts in various domains. These stories ignite a light that form lasting memories so that  they could be applied to solve everyday problems, ensure survival, and pass on this wisdom to other  generations.

I have worked with underprivileged children a lot. Many of these kids have faced difficulties to get good  schooling. I have taught them some concepts of science, chemistry and math too in the forms of stories.  Sometimes I have made and played out stories by them being a part of it. Placing them in the lens can  teach them how they would apply something they have learnt when they are faced with such a  situation. It is fun for them because we start off with music or singing, something that catches their  attention.

Application & Approach

In one of my story, I was trying to explain a concept of emulsion, An emulsion is a mixture of two or  more liquids that are normally immiscible (unmixable or unblendable) owing to liquid-liquid phase  separation. The concept is daunting to children that don’t have the basic facilities of a blackboard, so in  order to explain the concept I gave them a task to find a plastic bottle, some water and oil. They were  excited because it was time to go out from class, they did the task in a small amount of time.

After they were done, I told them my story when I was a child, when I accidently spilled some oil in a jar  of water. I instructed them to play my character, like in movie. They were really excited to act. One of  the kids filled up the bottle with water. And the kid that played my character put some oil in the water  filled bottle. It was visually appealing as they saw that the oil floated up in the water and didn’t mix well.  This is how I told them that water and oil are two different substances that don’t mix with each other.

Insight

By this exercise, I had visual factors that helped kids engage in the conversation. Kids love visuals and  stories. They were excited because they pictured me as a kid and acted out a scene. Teaching helps me a  lot with learning new things about storytelling and what is engaging to people. These kids loved the idea  of me as a kid, just like them. Thinking like them will help in building stories. This course made me see  this as a tool in a new way. When I've done it before was really simple, now I can prepare ahead and  think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and illuminate them. The conventional method  of teaching does not work every time. Stories engage our thinking, emotions, and imagination all at  once. As listeners we participate in the story with both mind and body as we enter the narrative world  and react to it.

