​ Reflection- Storytelling

Challenge and selection:  The tool that I use the most as a highschool teacher is storytelling. The class is called

creative thinking and during a whole year we guide the students through a process of design

thinking. First, they learn about different tools that they can use to create things: 3D, 2D,

CNC, laser machine, arduino/programming, among others. After that, we show the students

the steps for a design thinking process: understand, define, ideate, prototype, test and

refine. When we are done with this second part, students are given a necessity/general

problem and they need to pass through all the design thinking process to develop

empathy/awareness of their surroundings and a solution.    Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools that as a teacher I have. This is because during

the design thinking process I show students stories… Not only my stories, but stories about

people/situations that they are working with, to find a solution.     Application:  Last year, students had to find solutions for people with autism in different scenarios

(stadium, store, hospital, museum, bank, school, etc.). As a teacher, storytelling was a

fundamental tool to show my students about empathy and to catch the attention for the

future project they will work on.. We had a guest, with autism, that gave a talk to all, also a

week earlier we watched videos about different aspects of autism. This helped a lot for

students to get involved in the topic, some felt identified. Students needed to find

associations, investigate, interview, brainstorm, prototype, test the prototype, get feedback

from the consumers, etc.     Insight and approach:  After going through the design thinking process and with their minds set to find a solution to

their different scenarios for people with autism, results were amazing. First of all, students

were more sensible and empathic with people with autism. Second, brilliant, functional and

of course creative ideas/solutions were made at the end of the project. Third, the feelings of

me as the teacher and the students were: proudness, happiness, satisfaction, etc. Some of

them came to me at the end to thank me/the class about this experience, about how they

were moved to find a solution after hearing and watching all the storytellings.    Design thinking process not only uses storytelling, it uses all the tools mentioned in this

course. It’s a great satisfaction to reaffirm that as a teacher I’m giving the best knowledge to

my students. This tool of storytelling will help me again this year now to have a different

project with another approach, to continue developing students to be empathic in the world,

as aware of their surroundings and needs of people, also problem solvers in a creative way.     Definitely, storytelling impacts people in a powerful way, I’ve learned not to subestimate this

tool and also to complement it with other tools/strategies to always have the attention

needed.


​ Reflection- Storytelling Challenge and selection : The tool that I use the most as a highschool teacher is storytelling . The class is called creative thinking and during a whole year we guide the students through a process of design thinking . First , they learn about different tools that they can use to create things : 3D , 2D , CNC , laser machine , arduino / programming , among others . After that , we show the students the steps for a design thinking process : understand , define , ideate , prototype , test and refine . When we are done with this second part , students are given a necessity / general problem and they need to pass through all the design thinking process to develop empathy / awareness of their surroundings and a solution . Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools that as a teacher I have . This is because during the design thinking process I show students stories … Not only my stories , but stories about people / situations that they are working with , to find a solution . Application : Last year , students had to find solutions for people with autism in different scenarios ( stadium , store , hospital , museum , bank , school , etc . ) . As a teacher , storytelling was a fundamental tool to show my students about empathy and to catch the attention for the future project they will work on .. We had a guest , with autism , that gave a talk to all , also a week earlier we watched videos about different aspects of autism . This helped a lot for students to get involved in the topic , some felt identified . Students needed to find associations , investigate , interview , brainstorm , prototype , test the prototype , get feedback from the consumers , etc . Insight and approach : After going through the design thinking process and with their minds set to find a solution to their different scenarios for people with autism , results were amazing . First of all , students were more sensible and empathic with people with autism . Second , brilliant , functional and of course creative ideas / solutions were made at the end of the project . Third , the feelings of me as the teacher and the students were : proudness , happiness , satisfaction , etc . Some of them came to me at the end to thank me / the class about this experience , about how they were moved to find a solution after hearing and watching all the storytellings . Design thinking process not only uses storytelling , it uses all the tools mentioned in this course . It ’s a great satisfaction to reaffirm that as a teacher I ’m giving the best knowledge to my students . This tool of storytelling will help me again this year now to have a different project with another approach , to continue developing students to be empathic in the world , as aware of their surroundings and needs of people , also problem solvers in a creative way . Definitely , storytelling impacts people in a powerful way , I ’ve learned not to subestimate this tool and also to complement it with other tools / strategies to always have the attention needed .