​Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

Storytelling is a powerful tool of emancipation, revelation and discovery to makers and viewers  alike. Most stories are short: up to two and a half minutes long only, comprising not more than  200-250 words. In effective stories of any media there is usually a sense of causality and  development or progression from one point somehow to another and completion. The  importance of having a story at the heart – with a beginning, an end and some development and  interest between those points – is vital. Those stories which lack this characteristic are essential  descriptive, and while they can be interesting they are generally much less compelling for the  listener. It is important, however, to note that without feedback from the participants it is  impossible to gauge whether the process of making the stories was in itself useful or even  transformative regardless of the end result.     Selection     CPeople tell stories to make sense of experience and to teach beliefs and values to others.  Narratives in most manifestations usually carry a moral message from the maker / writer to the  audience or reader; this affects digital storytelling too. Hence, selection should be based on the  audience and motive of the occasion.

Application

I have a story about using storytelling. In discussing policy changes with a social service  agency, I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach,  among other things, and in particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and  addressing their individual needs first and foremost. The agency was in the grip of a  “compliance culture” and its clients were failing in this non-empathetic, rigid structure. I was also  explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the  better, even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary. I told a story about when I ran an  emergency shelter after a natural disaster. Everyone was doing really well except for one  woman whose stress was making her very emotionally volatile. I could tell she needed attention;  in my mind I decided she would be “Princess for an hour.” I made her a cup of coffee and sat  down with her and let her talk. It turned out that her mother, who was with her, had survived a  brain aneurysm and she was terrified that she would fall or that some other crisis would befall  her during this disaster while in the shelter.

Insight

Well, wow, that was an eye-opener. Her mother was a calm presence and doing very well.  Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story. I told her how scary it was when my father  had his brain aneurysm in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult  and scary that all was. I shared how he recovered well, and then tied us together, by noting how  she and I both have parents who survived brain aneurysms. This worked really well. She really  needed individual attention for that brief time, and she ended up with that and a true support.  She calmed down, her mother, who had become worried about her, calmed down, and  everyone around them calmed down. Peace reigned again in our little shelter. So I told this story  to the agency, and I think it had a big impact on people there. The policies are being  reevaluated and the caseworkers are going through new training. Sometimes a little story can  do a lot of good. This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. When I've done it before  it was really "ad hoc," but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in  presenting my ideas and best illuminate them. I have a design background, but I ended up as  an entrepreneur in business. I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset, but I am so  very grateful that it is!

Approach

Storytelling offers many possibilities within and beyond education.The technique also provides a  vehicle for the use of relevant media literacy skills already possessed by many students. The  effectiveness of the form varies hugely, and depends on it being used for suitable subjects by  students who have clear motivation to produce the story and through a clear, meaningful task.


​Reflection – Storytelling Challenge Storytelling is a powerful tool of emancipation , revelation and discovery to makers and viewers alike . Most stories are short : up to two and a half minutes long only , comprising not more than 200 - 250 words . In effective stories of any media there is usually a sense of causality and development or progression from one point somehow to another and completion . The importance of having a story at the heart – with a beginning , an end and some development and interest between those points – is vital . Those stories which lack this characteristic are essential descriptive , and while they can be interesting they are generally much less compelling for the listener . It is important , however , to note that without feedback from the participants it is impossible to gauge whether the process of making the stories was in itself useful or even transformative regardless of the end result . Selection CPeople tell stories to make sense of experience and to teach beliefs and values to others . Narratives in most manifestations usually carry a moral message from the maker / writer to the audience or reader ; this affects digital storytelling too . Hence , selection should be based on the audience and motive of the occasion . Application I have a story about using storytelling . In discussing policy changes with a social service agency , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The agency was in the grip of a “ compliance culture ” and its clients were failing in this non - empathetic , rigid structure . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when I ran an emergency shelter after a natural disaster . Everyone was doing really well except for one woman whose stress was making her very emotionally volatile . I could tell she needed attention ; in my mind I decided she would be “ Princess for an hour . ” I made her a cup of coffee and sat down with her and let her talk . It turned out that her mother , who was with her , had survived a brain aneurysm and she was terrified that she would fall or that some other crisis would befall her during this disaster while in the shelter . Insight Well , wow , that was an eye - opener . Her mother was a calm presence and doing very well . Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story . I told her how scary it was when my father had his brain aneurysm in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was . I shared how he recovered well , and then tied us together , by noting how she and I both have parents who survived brain aneurysms . This worked really well . She really needed individual attention for that brief time , and she ended up with that and a true support . She calmed down , her mother , who had become worried about her , calmed down , and everyone around them calmed down . Peace reigned again in our little shelter . So I told this story to the agency , and I think it had a big impact on people there . The policies are being reevaluated and the caseworkers are going through new training . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see this as a tool in a new way . When I 've done it before it was really " ad hoc , " but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . I have a design background , but I ended up as an entrepreneur in business . I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset , but I am so very grateful that it is ! Approach Storytelling offers many possibilities within and beyond education . The technique also provides a vehicle for the use of relevant media literacy skills already possessed by many students . The effectiveness of the form varies hugely , and depends on it being used for suitable subjects by students who have clear motivation to produce the story and through a clear , meaningful task .