Storytelling

Challenges and selection

What does happen when asking consumers about using a product? They usually start to tell about  their experience in the form of a story. They describe the events they went through and the  lessons that they faced at each stage. As a designer, I used to find this method an interesting one  to learn about the consumer experience and then reflect it into an outcome solution of the design  process. There is nothing better than hearing about the product from the mouth of the consumers  or see then use in real life. During the design process, storytelling is used to understand the  underlying problems that consumers face when using a product or a service, and then use this  knowledge in reflective practice to formulate the solution which is tested by the consumers.  Hence, storytelling contributes to the different stages in the design process for different purposes  in each step.

Application

I have read somewhere about the application of storytelling in education system. The high school  history class was still, for the most part. Pencils scratched here and there against the paper as  some of the student’s half -heartedly copied notes from the board. At the front of the classroom,  the teacher droned on, periodically pausing to add information to the growing list of facts we  would be responsible for knowing. Were there slides or any type of visual aid?

Honestly, I don’t remember. I was one of the pencil scratchers with one key difference: I was  intensely focused on reaching my goal of becoming ambidextrous. It was the perfect class in  which to practice this skill — since I’d read the assigned chapter of interest the night before, I  was already familiar with the material. And as the teacher wasn’t presenting anything that wasn’t  in the reading, the notes were simply a review.

As I said, it was the perfect time to practice writing with my left hand — perhaps not the best use  of my time, but who could blame me? I was bored out of my mind.

Now, the sad part is that I actually love history (and I even loved it while I was in that class). I  love the stories and the characters that show up throughout time. I enjoy reading and learning  from biographies, autobiographies, and historical fiction novels. But I did not enjoy that history  class.

On the other hand, I do not enjoy grammar. Yet there was one particularly memorable class in  middle school in which grammar suddenly became more interesting. Yes, we were learning  about the parts of speech was boring. But the teacher, who was also our drama instructor, had us  do something creative with each part of speech. After presenting the material, Mrs. Taboo would

divide us into groups with the assignment of writing and presenting some kind of story that  included a certain number of nouns, adjectives, etc. In short order, the class covering this odious  subject became much more fun because it introduced an element of creativity. Two classes. Two  subjects. One subject I liked, but I did not like the class; the other subject I did not like, but I  liked the class. The difference was Storytelling.

Insight and Approach

From the above mentioned I have learned a lot. Aside from being a great way to grab the  attention of your students and engage them in the lesson, stories also:

  Give students a way to understand their world. Even fantasy stories, which on the surface  appear to have nothing to do with reality, are able to present truths that apply to students’  lives.

  Better enable students to remember facts. Stories connect the emotional with the logical. This  utilization of multiple areas of the brain strengthens the ability to recall the facts embedded  within a story.

  Have the ability to calm and focus the minds of our students. And in this state, a student’s  mind is much more receptive to new information.


Storytelling Challenges and selection What does happen when asking consumers about using a product ? They usually start to tell about their experience in the form of a story . They describe the events they went through and the lessons that they faced at each stage . As a designer , I used to find this method an interesting one to learn about the consumer experience and then reflect it into an outcome solution of the design process . There is nothing better than hearing about the product from the mouth of the consumers or see then use in real life . During the design process , storytelling is used to understand the underlying problems that consumers face when using a product or a service , and then use this knowledge in reflective practice to formulate the solution which is tested by the consumers . Hence , storytelling contributes to the different stages in the design process for different purposes in each step . Application I have read somewhere about the application of storytelling in education system . The high school history class was still , for the most part . Pencils scratched here and there against the paper as some of the student ’s half -heartedly copied notes from the board . At the front of the classroom , the teacher droned on , periodically pausing to add information to the growing list of facts we would be responsible for knowing . Were there slides or any type of visual aid ? Honestly , I do n’t remember . I was one of the pencil scratchers with one key difference : I was intensely focused on reaching my goal of becoming ambidextrous . It was the perfect class in which to practice this skill — since I ’d read the assigned chapter of interest the night before , I was already familiar with the material . And as the teacher was n’t presenting anything that was n’t in the reading , the notes were simply a review . As I said , it was the perfect time to practice writing with my left hand — perhaps not the best use of my time , but who could blame me ? I was bored out of my mind . Now , the sad part is that I actually love history ( and I even loved it while I was in that class ) . I love the stories and the characters that show up throughout time . I enjoy reading and learning from biographies , autobiographies , and historical fiction novels . But I did not enjoy that history class . On the other hand , I do not enjoy grammar . Yet there was one particularly memorable class in middle school in which grammar suddenly became more interesting . Yes , we were learning about the parts of speech was boring . But the teacher , who was also our drama instructor , had us do something creative with each part of speech . After presenting the material , Mrs. Taboo would divide us into groups with the assignment of writing and presenting some kind of story that included a certain number of nouns , adjectives , etc . In short order , the class covering this odious subject became much more fun because it introduced an element of creativity . Two classes . Two subjects . One subject I liked , but I did not like the class ; the other subject I did not like , but I liked the class . The difference was Storytelling . Insight and Approach From the above mentioned I have learned a lot . Aside from being a great way to grab the attention of your students and engage them in the lesson , stories also :  Give students a way to understand their world . Even fantasy stories , which on the surface appear to have nothing to do with reality , are able to present truths that apply to students ’ lives .  Better enable students to remember facts . Stories connect the emotional with the logical . This utilization of multiple areas of the brain strengthens the ability to recall the facts embedded within a story .  Have the ability to calm and focus the minds of our students . And in this state , a student ’s mind is much more receptive to new information .