Reading – The Persuasive Power of Narrative
Share how you have used storytelling to link learning in your teaching practice.
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Storytelling is important when imparting skills, as it provides an example of how the tasks–whether theory or practical–fit into a job role in the real world. It shows that what they are learning now can be applied in the future.
Sharing stories also provides an opportunity for empathy – for students to “walk a mile in someone’s shoes”. The stories needs to be relevant and appropriate. I have used stories about other people to he illustrate an idea. A story I have heard or a story I was a part of but not the primary player. Sometime I refer back to old stories to remind students.
Storytelling is important because it helps in getting the message through. The story has to be relevant to the content being delivered so that the listeners can relate to it. Teaching through storytelling is an art and teachers need to plan well otherwise it will not have the desired effect. Having come from a different cultural background, teachers like myself might find it difficult to pick the childhood stories for their current students. However, it is possible to find stories relating to my early years in Australia. This involves re-learning almost everything to get “Australian experience”. Stories about studying in… Read more »
Sharing anecdotes from your life helps put the learners at ease, builds rapport and can set the context for the content of the session. Providing examples that illustrate particular teaching points aids engagement and understanding.
Storytelling brings examples to which the students can relate to. Stories about life experiences can transform lives and that is what the teachers are there for.
Building rapport, and showing the students that you are fallible.
Story telling from experience is gold in a trade class as it helps students connect with you and other class mates.
Brenda, you’re the expert in your field so I think it is critical that you share the wealth of knowledge that you have gained from your time in the workplace.
I totally agree that stories are a powerful way to get all ages involved. I love to use stories to explain difficult concepts. I teach a WHS subject that is heavy with government and legal jargon and concepts. I now have a story about super car racing that includes all of the “hard” stuff that appeals to my mostly teen male students. If it has wheels and an engine they love it but the story weaves through the WHS concepts with quite remarkable retention.
Well done Amanda, turning something that could be quite dry and unpalatable into something that piques teen learners’ interest.
I like to use stories to connect new learning to things the students already know. it is difficult to give an exact example as they are used in teaching moments that arise during classes. My preference is to solicit storied of lived experience from students through the use of facilitation skills and questioning. the success rate is pretty good but if the attempt falls flat i will read the room and either use one of my lived experience stories or move on. i also like to use stories to encourage perseverance because we all have experiences of learning something and… Read more »
I agree Keryn, stories are a great way to build upon existing knowledge especially coming from the student’s own experience. I am going to use your “hitting the hard point” analogy with my next class.
Yes storytelling in these instances provide a link to new learning, and provides an example why the content is worth learning.
I have found the most useful storytelling is when discussing topics such as discrimination or bullying with students in my class. Coming from a migrant family background, using those stories to help students understand how words can hurt, or how opportunity shouldn’t be taken for granted. These stories have really rensonated deeply with my students. I find if they can see the other sides persepctive through my story telling they are able to have more empathy, openness and understanding. When you share your experiences with your students there is more repsect, connection and understanding for one another.
Jessica, this is very relevant for people coming from different cultural backgrounds. Apart from generating interest in the session, such stories help students develop better understanding of others. Making people better human beings is also part of our job.
During COVID my stories about when I was learning to deliver in a connected environment were critical to ensure teachers starting down that path understand it doesn’t need to be mastered all in one go….as well as giving them an understanding that those experiences are going to bring them closer to the class if they handle them in the right way.
Jodie I totally agree. I used the same tac and earnt so much respect from students. Students are still chatting about it in class( at my expense) but creates a good atmosphere.
This is great Jodie and it lines up with the piece Michael said about authenticity also. It help the students and teacher build a relationship on helping each other through the experience and then have hundreds of stories to tell afterwards.
I continue to reiterate my struggles I had in my trade and how I wish I had learnt to understand what was happening then just parrot learn – which did me no help at all as a tradesman. I am conscious of the road ahead for them, and the mistakes I have made and that’s what makes me passionate to share these experiences so they don’t fall into the same hole or embarrassment in the future. I personally believe that this helps me engage and be authentic with my students with regards to this
Hi Paul, you make some really great points. it is worth sharing our own learning struggles with students so they understand that learning new things is challenging for everyone – not just them – but the rewards can be great if they persevere.
I think that’s great Paul. I also do the same and remind the students that you learn more from a mistake then getting it right all the time.
Stories are the vehicle where we link new learning. As an adult educator, my students have their own stores and experiences that they can link new learning s to. their experiences of successes and failure allow for opportunities of exploration and problem solving applying new techniques and positive learning experiences. I use my own stories to show experiences of positive learning as well as how to overcome negative learning experiences (changing negative learning by understanding its value as a learning experience and using it to improve or change learning).
Kay, i like how you use the vehicle analogy, guessing the vehicle has it’s problems as well as its advantages….. and i guess it’s important to try and listen to their stories as well as sharing your own ….. life is kind to us when we have experienced both the good and not so good
I continually use stories from my experience to demonstrate examples of what I am teaching. It is very powerful because it is real. I don’t use the negative experiences very often but after listening to this advice I will try this.
Hi again Tracey, I use negative experiences I have had to prove that everyone makes mistakes and I also use them to show that we learn from negative stories, of course, these are not stories that will, or could, cause stress or discomfort. It shows that we are human and as humans mistakes are made and that we learn from these mistakes. I often tell my students it’s great that you know what you know, but mistakes are critical as it is these experiences where the learning happens,
I tell stories about how I have struggled to access websites that haven’t considered accessibility and the needs of their audience. And I usually explain how, with technical tricks and hacks, I can work around these. But I also explain that many users with special needs won’t be able to overcome these as easily and may abandon the site, and how this will impact their lives.
This is really relevant John. I often use the story of my student who was blind and using a screen reader to access online learning resources. I describe the experience of simple things like telling her to “look” for something. We always laugh about that. It makes it very real for students who are deigning these tools in the future to think about how to use something.
I teach photography and i often tell stories of my own career as a photographer which started in 1982 and continues to this day. Of course i relay stories of success but i think they get more from my stories where everything went wrong and mistakes i have made. I always say to them ” I made these mistakes so you dont have to”
Those “cautionary tales” are usually the most impactful I find!
Always good to show our human side 🙂
yes, its these struggles we learn the most, and to allow our students to be aware that life doesn’t always go to plan
Great way of phrasing it Adam….although I also like to tell me failures to show what I actually learnt out of them.
I share stories all the time to relate the content I’m delivering to the workplace. The examples I provide help the students to understand the context of the content. Students are also invited to share their experiences as all workplaces are different. I have learned from their examples and stories.
It definitely makes it ‘real’ for students.
And how great is it to hear other peoples experiences too if not only to re-enforce that what you are teaching is important.
I found when teaching TVET students that in the majority of cases they do not have a great deal of “life experiences” to share (some more than others). On a number of occasions when endeavouring to assist students to understand a particular concept or task I have shared a life experience of my own and this has added to the relevance of the topic and they were better equipped to understand and learn. I often use the analogy that much of what they are learning are “transferrable skills” in life and can be used in so many career pathways and… Read more »
Agreed, our young people think they know, telling them about our own experiences outs learning into real contexts and they can unpack and explore our experiences to develop strategies on how to handle a similar situation of they themselves come across in life or work, or even learning.
This is great to remember that what they are learning are “transferrable skills”. I think it is so important for us as educators to help our students realise that all the different skills they accumulate throughout their lives can serve them in so many different ways. It only adds to their abilities and experience and is never a waste of time.
Part of my subjects covers food allergies. I haven’t had any allergies but when I told them my story of an unexpected anaphylactic reaction I had recently, I had their undivided attention! It certainly was real and they could see the relevance and seriousness of why they would need to know this sort of information and how to apply it.
Brigid, great for me to hear as i can see the students responded positively to your vulnerability and real life situation.
Stories that are literally a matter of life and death would certainly grab my attention!
When discussing the use of food additives, in particular thickeners, I told my students about my work experience testing different thickening agents in chocolate topping formulations including the reasons for the investigations and my observations. I think this gives a good context for applying knowledge of food additives
Being able to share my experience in industry certainly helps students see the relevance of what they are learning.
Bringing stories or real life experiences into the classroom is so important to connect the learner to the subject and for them to see a use for the subject matter and how to apply it in their daily activities.
I agree David. This is so important for their learning.
yes I would agree I teach nursing and you increase your street credibility with real and current examples of near misses
Appropriate shoes for work! As a girl I grew up with my mother telling me that when your outside, out working with the horses you need to have appropriate shoes on, always telling me every time I went to go outside. I did like a good girl I put on the right shoes for the job. Then one day came where I was on my way out to put the horses out and I had a friend with me, I was in thongs…… and I said to her my mother taught me better than to go outside to the horses… Read more »
Great story Adora.
Sharing an experience with the students that relates to them and the same industry is quite effective in getting their attention and keeping them engaged. If you have built a good relationship, they are always interested to hear your stories.
Totally agree Carol, sharing those experiences is a valuable learning tool and one that fosters respect and develops a rapport with our students.
I agree, sometimes its those personal touches or personal stories that are so intriguing to students. Giving them the opportunity to see that even their teacher has made mistakes and showing them how you have learnt from it is very powerdful.
I think learners like to hear about someone else’s life – and the successes and failures. Isn’t this the way we learn ‘we are not alone’…
Agree, we don’t want to feel alone but on the same page no two lives are the same and so this is where we use the right words when communicating.
Life experiences whether positive or negative in their outcome are the way we all learn from each other and value the lessons learnt.
Not only that it builds connections with your students as well.
I teach Project management units and I always share stories of my past projects and thus bring interest and relevance to their learning. Students learn more when they listen these stories and they are able to make better connection to their learning.
Agree Sujeet, they will likely use your stories to reflect on.
Real life stories bring authenticity to the subject. When students can relate they learn.
Excellent conclusion Sujeet, some concepts can be difficult to grasp and it is often the use of a personal experience that can provide a simpler explanation and lead to a much better understanding of the topic by the student.
As a first aid teacher I find the best way to engage the students is by telling my first aid stories. The most common question I get from students is “have you ever done CPR”. When I say “yes” and then relay the story I see that they become more attentive. Because this course is related to events that can happen in anyone’s life having my own stories to tell can make the learning more real and students will know what to expect if faced with a first aid situation.
That’s true, stories about past experiences help students to learn better and also they are engaged in their learning
I guess you might have lots of interesting stories to share in first aid
Im impressed Jackie. Your post makes me want to take your first aid course.
By sharing my personal experiences through story telling with students gives them a deeper understanding of how lesson content over time relate to the trade skills that they are learning. People remember stories and experiences better than a set of facts especially if told honestly. By sharing ,i find that class trust and interest builds quickly .
Interesting comment about building trust! So true. By sharing stories the learners feel a part of something, and included.
i share stores when reading to students with intellectual impairments. so that they can grasp the reality of the topic. usually this story will related to real life situations. eg… use of money and not receiving the correct change when purchasing from food shopping.
By sharing experiences and story telling brings relevance to the learning material and allows the learner to connect. It becomes real and personal. It creates discussion and cohesiveness in the class.
This is good because (the story) relates to real life reality. I feel most teachers know this any way.
By sharing my story first, it encourages students, even the quieter ones, to share theirs.
Story telling in class is not new. In fact, story telling predates any class! Story telling has been the means by which pre literate people shared history and knowledge for aeons.
In a ESL class, the students learnt more language by listening and sharing stories than by writing word lists.
Context is key!
So true, I teach special Education and i am constantly referring back to a comparison story to support the student to grasp the meaning. Totally agree with you
Agreed, we have all been using stories but making it relevant to their learning brings more engagement in the class as well as aids to their learning
I often tell stories of patients I have looked after or experiences I have had nursing to illustrate a point.
So effective in linking new knowledge to known experience through your examples
I have told stories about my first aid experiences and how I have felt when injured myself and I think this gives a better understanding of the subject matter. Everyone experiences things differently so this can open up a conversation.
I use stories in my classroom everyday, in vocational education I relate experiences both positive and negative that I had in the workplace to engage and encourage discussion, to provide relevancy to the learning and to develop the relationship with my students as an authentic person who makes mistakes and learns from them
Yes; students love to hear anecdotes that relate to what they are learning – it makes it more applicable to them.
I teach Medical Administration and have found that students benefit from hearing about the experiences that I have whilst working in a Medical Practice as it demonstrates the relevance of the the content which is being delivered within their course.
Great example Sylvia, I relate to this and agree that students get many benefits from hearing about our experiences in the workplace and often a negative experience is a good learning opportunity and it builds on our authenticity and relationshp
I teach Early Childhood Education and Care – our students enjoy hearing of experiences of my interactions with children in services and how even though times may change the level of play and care reman the same.
I agree Marney, student love to hear these stories and it makes the learning real and relevant.
Teaching Finance & Accounting I tell different kinds of stories to suit the circumstance. It is a useful for demonstrating the application of concepts. I also relate incidents of unsuccessful endeavors both in industry and as a new teacher to walk the talk of my view that it’s ok to make mistakes because that is how we learn’. Then students feel comfortable to take the risk and ask a question in front of peers and this enhances everyone’s learning. The other situation for stories is after 8 pm when I can see the poor evening students struggling to stay awake.… Read more »
A good example of sharing with students, your comment links directly to the information just provided about sharing stories -thanks for sharing.
Hi Mary, I like the authenticity that you demonstrate when sharing your stories with students. it really does make a big difference to helping students feel more connected.
Definitely: concrete examples solidify abstract practices in accounting and the reasons for them.
As a VET trainer in Accounting & Finance I use work stories lots to tie the theory to the practical applications of Accounting – whether this be about the technical topics, or discussions around workplace issues / politics in the workplace etc.
We have a similar approach Leona. We can use our stories in so many ways; as an application of theory, as a tool of engagement and to let students know everyone makes mistakes!
I am a Registered nurse you has been lucky enough to work in this profession both here and overseas. My current role is also a TAFE teacher in Health. I find that by being to put the theory into practice by relating that theory to my own experiences in practice, that student are so much more engaged bring the theory that they learn to life. By telling your story that incorporates theory and practical that students are learning makes their learning more real, tangible and relatable. This assist with student engagement and adds to the quest for even more knowledge.
Maryanne, I agree that providing your own experience helps students make the connection with the relevance of the teaching.
I also think by telling your own stories it makes you more real instead of being seen as that person at the front of the room who probably doesn’t have a life (students view of course).
I use my stories to illustrate a point as I am in vocational learning. I have had compliments from students as being the “teacher who listens to me” as many vocational students have personal issues that get in the way of their learning. When I can relate to them with a story about my experience in the workplace, how I felt etc they feel a connection and that I am not perfect and can see their side. When trying to get a point across or a teaching new piece of learning, I find a story is so powerful that there… Read more »
I totally agree with you Trish. It can be very difficult to engage some students and I feel that you have successfully made this connection with your students by making yourself relatable and closing the gap between learners and facilitators. Well done.
Learners definitely connect with the story telling and it brings down barriers.
I have been fortunate to live in a number of different countries from adolescence to adulthood and now I have experience having taught in a number of different schools. I find that I can tell many stories and relate them back to the subject matter I teach, especially in the Creative Arts and Humanities subject areas. By storytelling as well as covering subject content, it is evident in my teaching experience that the students engage and connect with both you and the narrative with respect and emotion, therefore building relationships and interest within the lesson time.
Rebecca you are clearly a great teacher. I can validate your experiences that you have expressed with you students as they are very similar to my experiences with students when experiences are shared. It is so beneficial as this sharing generated communication and interaction not only with the facilitator but with each other in class, giving rise to basic networking skills that will be so important in their future careers.
Starting from very low levels Storytelling is a great resource.I start every class with my own story -they also have a written version then every student tells their own , and it’s great as they develop their speaking & listening skills as well as their confidence in English. We can then use the narrative in reading and writing.Narrative is the text that can connect all 4 macro skills.
I agree very much Marina, that we are further developing students speaking and listening skills, a great commodity once they themselves enter and engage in society.
Hi Marina
This is a great engaging way to begin a class thank you for sharing your experience that engages the student with their link to the class
I use personal stories when modelling particular text types, for example anecdotes or short stories or when teaching creative writing. This usually works well and engages students.
I agree, that using your own personal stories when delivering content helps students make the connection and engage within the classroom.
Listening to this session and reading the comments has inspired me. Relationship is so important as is facilitating rather than dictating. I love the quote referenced – No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Students respond to a genuine, open teacher that genuinely values them. They are open to learn from someone they respect and trust.
I am also inspired by this session as I felt I was possibly wasting time with stories.
I agree with this too Kirsten. I wrote this quote down as well – it sums up the importance of relationships within the classroom.
When I started teaching I was told to use my experience to explain learning, good experience or bad
This seems to give context to the lesson. What I have noticed is that students remember the stories more than the lesson content.
I think stories have such a huge impact throughout life. A story stays with you and allows you to learn, interpret and apply to your own unique situation.
I have always brought my own work experiences into the classroom to demonstrate things, and to show what can happen when things are not done correctly (I’m an accountant). i admit though, that i rarely share experiences of when i made an error in the workplace – although I have retold one particular story, but tried to do it in a way that didn’t make me look too incompetent!!!
Agree Fran – we can bring accounting concepts to life simply by relating our own experience in industry. I find the story telling also gives everyone a mini-break from technically heavy content and allows time for processing.
As an integral component of my teaching in VET Community Services I use some of my own experiences (both positive and challenging) from when I was a case worker to help provide the students with an understanding of the more practical components when working with people who have complex needs.
Hi Christine,
Stories from when you were a case worker would be a really powerful way to engage students. I like to do this too but with nursing stories which my students love.
Discussing personal experiences relating to work and education are really good at breaking down barriers to younger generations who may feel they are struggling to achieve course competency. They often assume as a teacher that you did well at school / uni etc. Gen Y find it interesting when I discuss my challenges going through school / TAFE / Uni. Also issues faced early in my career both in industry and early teaching years. It helps in this respect to be teaching in the same area of TAFE I studied!
I totally agree Dan! Discussing your own experiences in relation to both work and education helps build rapport with the students as well as assists them in understanding that you as the teacher are a person as well, facing challenges and struggles.
As part of my teaching I introduce to students a real life scenario where they can use what is being taught in a common activity in their lives. For example in teaching areas and ratios I discuss with students how I have built an above ground plant box and how I worked out the dimensions and the areas required for each of the plants and how much soil would be needed and the number of sleepers required – including lengths and depths. This gave them a real life example of how to apply spacial quantification and dimensions in a real… Read more »
Belinda, what a great example! its something tangible and real that they can relate to, and provides a practical way the learning can be used! It might just inspire them to have a go at a home garden as well.
I work in the VET sector teaching Community Services and the sharing of stories from my work experience and personal experiences are invaluable for students, when trying to understand how complex humans can be.
I agree Renate, sharing stories and experiences certainly adds clarification to the theory that working with people is not textbook.
Renate, i can imagine how rich the stories you have must be! Those real-life experiences that you have dealt with would be invaluable for the students and would make for some very interesting class discussions!
So true. It’s the practical application that is so meaningful rather than just learning with no context to place it in.
Coming up through the ranks of HR when I was young and then shifting to being self employed in another industry, I like to use my stories about customers, my experiences as a customer (got a good one about my vaccum cleaner & the ACL) the challenges I have faced in small business and the changes. I like to throw in one about workplace discrimination when I was pregnant and overlooked for promotion and now often include my family in my stories.
Liza, I agree and have found myself in a similar situation when discussing stories and experiences that have come about from the small family business my husband and I are involved in. How to overcome challenges are positive stories for students to ponder.
Teaching Retail and Hospitality I have had many stories to tell. Plenty that are fun but some that have been sometimes even hard to tell. It gets the student so captivated while you are telling the story. I have been training for many years and have been grateful that I have had many experiences to share with students but the best thing for me is to see students employed that never thought they would ever have a job or the ability to get a job.
Kathryn I can totally relate to the stories in retail and hospitality about customer service, how to attract sales and WHS etc etc. Students love hearing about the good, the bad and the ugly and it often encourages them to share their own experiences.
Teaching business administration, with students, I like to share stories of my work experience – good and bad. But what I like more is when they open up and share their own stories and experiences, and everyone can learn from them, including me.
Hi, Lee, this is why I think for so many students that we need to keep face to face training as you learn so much in a classroom.
Agree Lee I like to share stories of my work experiences as I believe it is a valuable way for all to learn. It encourages self reflection too and personalises the context which is great for relationship buliding.
Thanks Lee – I feel that sharing our stories of challenges and adversity throughout our careers and study help to build stronger relationships in the classroom. More relatable than discussing success and superiority to a student challenged in the moment.
This is when building a relationship really works – when students will also share their stories!
Hi Lee, yes it does open up the gate of stories from students and I do share some of the student stories with new learners. Very healthy learning.
Shared experiences help all students to gain a feeling of being normal.
Absolutely, Karen, shared experiences are great as a classroom/online activity for any level/generation.