Reflection-Storytelling

Challenge

I work as a teacher in a secondary school. Whilst  I teach geography, history and others  subjects, I have always been conscious about the role teachers have in our students'  lives  and future happiness. It is actually, a very inspirational job.

In the last years, bullying cases have become  very common amongst teenagers. I  started being worried about dangerous behaviours, and I realised I had a challenge  with the students group I was entrusted : to make them  conscious about this reality,  to help  them  to detect these  kinds of situations and make them able to take caro of  it.

Selection

I started using the Design Thinking methodology because I realised since  our challenge  was really innovative,  a really innovative methodology would be the best solution. In  fact, teachers team agreed with the use of the story telling Since  it was probably the  easiest  way to achieve the goal of arousing emotion and  helping students to connect  emphatically with those who suffer from this terrible problem.

Application

First of all, we started asking students and teachers about conflicts they perceive in  the  school environment. We used a simple survey to obtain the results. After studying  the  results (with the teachers team) we had clear evidence that bullying (especially  cyber bullying) was the issue that worried students the most.

After that, we dedicated some brainstorming sessions to thinking (creativity was our  goal) about different measures we could take in order to reduce the problem.

Finally, we thought the best option would be the storytelling. This methodology would  have possibly to our students to feel the situation in a real way,  and  become  more  conscious. Our objective wasn’t to inform or transmit knowledge. We wanted them to  experiment (in order to understand) who is?  the School bullying victim, the bullying  type, witness, friends, family, etc.

For the storytelling, we used the film “Wonder”, which  is based on the novel of the  same name by  R. J.Palacios, that allowed students to think about all the topics we  were interested on. After watching the film, we programmed sessions in small groups  that gave the the possibility to share what they were  feeling, personal experiences...

Insight and approach

Using the storytelling tool,  we were sure of have been  able to achieve our objective of  putting the human beings and their experience at the front and center-vision (as we  learned in the course). This was crucial because we wanted to experiment a  different  method.

The way and the measuring adopted to improve our school environment was  completely different to  the strategies used in the past. We used to program sessions  for  students encouraging them to adopt correct behaviours, provided   articles about  the topic and other  activities  . This was not absolutely the best way to encourage our  students to change, as we discovered using the storytelling tool. Focusing in their  personal visions we were able to create emotional connections that (we are sure) they  won’t forget.

In the last 3 months, the bullying cases have been reduced drastically and all the  community is really conscious and emphatic. The direction and teachers team are  really proud of this success, that (definitely) has been the beginning and the inspiration  of a new way to help our students to become responsible citizens and future leaders.


Reflection - Storytelling Challenge I work as a teacher in a secondary school . Whilst I teach geography , history and others subjects , I have always been conscious about the role teachers have in our students ' lives and future happiness . It is actually , a very inspirational job . In the last years , bullying cases have become very common amongst teenagers . I started being worried about dangerous behaviours , and I realised I had a challenge with the students group I was entrusted : to make them conscious about this reality , to help them to detect these kinds of situations and make them able to take caro of it . Selection I started using the Design Thinking methodology because I realised since our challenge was really innovative , a really innovative methodology would be the best solution . In fact , teachers team agreed with the use of the story telling Since it was probably the easiest way to achieve the goal of arousing emotion and helping students to connect emphatically with those who suffer from this terrible problem . Application First of all , we started asking students and teachers about conflicts they perceive in the school environment . We used a simple survey to obtain the results . After studying the results ( with the teachers team ) we had clear evidence that bullying ( especially cyber bullying ) was the issue that worried students the most . After that , we dedicated some brainstorming sessions to thinking ( creativity was our goal ) about different measures we could take in order to reduce the problem . Finally , we thought the best option would be the storytelling . This methodology would have possibly to our students to feel the situation in a real way , and become more conscious . Our objective was n’t to inform or transmit knowledge . We wanted them to experiment ( in order to understand ) who is ? the School bullying victim , the bullying type , witness , friends , family , etc . For the storytelling , we used the film “ Wonder ” , which is based on the novel of the same name by R. J.Palacios , that allowed students to think about all the topics we were interested on . After watching the film , we programmed sessions in small groups that gave the the possibility to share what they were feeling , personal experiences ... Insight and approach Using the storytelling tool , we were sure of have been able to achieve our objective of putting the human beings and their experience at the front and center - vision ( as we learned in the course ) . This was crucial because we wanted to experiment a different method . The way and the measuring adopted to improve our school environment was completely different to the strategies used in the past . We used to program sessions for students encouraging them to adopt correct behaviours , provided articles about the topic and other activities . This was not absolutely the best way to encourage our students to change , as we discovered using the storytelling tool . Focusing in their personal visions we were able to create emotional connections that ( we are sure ) they wo n’t forget . In the last 3 months , the bullying cases have been reduced drastically and all the community is really conscious and emphatic . The direction and teachers team are really proud of this success , that ( definitely ) has been the beginning and the inspiration of a new way to help our students to become responsible citizens and future leaders .