Maicol Toro

Reflection - Storytelling

Challenge & Selection:    I am currently working in a social service dedicated to helping women understand powerful  computer tools like coding. The girls I work with are usually from low-income families and do  not have access to many resources. For many of them, it is the very first time that they use the  tools we are teaching them about, so it is important for me to explain them in an easy and  comprehendible way. It is also important that I connect and build a relationship with them in  order to motivate them and to better understand what’s the best method to teach them. It is  important for me to use the storytelling tool in order to accomplish the goals I have because it  helps me understand the girls and create a cause for which to work towards together.    Application:    When I was first introduced to the girls, I applied the storytelling tool by telling them a story  about how the tools and resources I would teach them about had helped me solve many  problems throughout my life, I also gave them examples of how other people I know had used  the tools and resources to their advantage. I then talked with them and told them to tell me  ways they could use these tools and resources to their advantage, after this they were more  excited about learning to code and use the resources, we would provide to them. It got them  thinking about all the possibilities, once we got to work, they finished all their work and lessons  before the deadlines. They finished early and worked hard because I had connected with them  and they understood how this could help them later on.    Insight and Approach:    The challenge helped me learn how just connecting with people through stories can change  their whole approach to something and can greatly motivate them to work a lot harder because  it opens their eyes to how this is beneficial for them in the long run. By using the storytelling  tool, I was able to change the way they viewed the classes, instead of seeing it as a chore that  their parents and teachers forced them to do, they were able to see it as something that would  benefit them in the future. The next time I use the storytelling tool, I would change several  things. I learned that it is important to connect emotionally and logically with people and that  can mean talking about them, others or yourself. Next time I will have to be more conscious of  their response in order to see which stories are working and which are not.


Maicol Toro Reflection - Storytelling Challenge & Selection : I am currently working in a social service dedicated to helping women understand powerful computer tools like coding . The girls I work with are usually from low - income families and do not have access to many resources . For many of them , it is the very first time that they use the tools we are teaching them about , so it is important for me to explain them in an easy and comprehendible way . It is also important that I connect and build a relationship with them in order to motivate them and to better understand what ’s the best method to teach them . It is important for me to use the storytelling tool in order to accomplish the goals I have because it helps me understand the girls and create a cause for which to work towards together . Application : When I was first introduced to the girls , I applied the storytelling tool by telling them a story about how the tools and resources I would teach them about had helped me solve many problems throughout my life , I also gave them examples of how other people I know had used the tools and resources to their advantage . I then talked with them and told them to tell me ways they could use these tools and resources to their advantage , after this they were more excited about learning to code and use the resources , we would provide to them . It got them thinking about all the possibilities , once we got to work , they finished all their work and lessons before the deadlines . They finished early and worked hard because I had connected with them and they understood how this could help them later on . Insight and Approach : The challenge helped me learn how just connecting with people through stories can change their whole approach to something and can greatly motivate them to work a lot harder because it opens their eyes to how this is beneficial for them in the long run . By using the storytelling tool , I was able to change the way they viewed the classes , instead of seeing it as a chore that their parents and teachers forced them to do , they were able to see it as something that would benefit them in the future . The next time I use the storytelling tool , I would change several things . I learned that it is important to connect emotionally and logically with people and that can mean talking about them , others or yourself . Next time I will have to be more conscious of their response in order to see which stories are working and which are not .