Reading – The Persuasive Power of Narrative
Share how you have used storytelling to link learning in your teaching practice.
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I love to discuss my errors or even break down in communication that can occur in the workplace. Not only does it seems to strengthen the connection, but it invites others in to room to share more vulnerable moments
I always use stories (mostly from my kids!). Being relatable and human goes a long way with gen z – that or they just like to laugh at the old duck!
When I used to teach Customer Service skills, I used my personal stories from when I worked in the hotel industry and as a flight attendant. I gave examples on how I dealt with complaints; with frustrated and tired passengers and it would bring the points across. When I teach child protection/community services, I speak of how troubled kids came into our foster home and how their previous experiences made them behave at our home. Why emotional dysregulation is a common issue for these kids and how we need to look at what has happened to them to actually understand… Read more »
As a nurse story telling is a great way to teach! Telling student stories about patients or cases you have ben involved in really helps to get your points across. Highlights both good and bad experiences.
I bet you would have good stories as well!
Storytelling is at the core of my industry in many ways. Early childhood is a critical time to facilitate and encourage children’s thinking. Telling, and more importantly listening to stories is not to be underestimated in its benefit to lifelong learning.
I agree – its a great way to learn and kids have such a great imagination!
As a TAFE teacher – teaching Early Childhood Education & Care, I take the experiences of working in the sector, to the classroom. When & wherever possible, I share an example…..
Leanne i think its key – using your experience to teach others
I have found that telling my apprentices of both good and bad experiences/stories when I was an apprentice and beyond to be valuable when connecting with them. It makes it real for the apprentice.
I have found sharing my mistakes makes for an interesting and humorous class
I also agree, that sharing the instances where mistakes are made but this helps with the learning, seems advantageous in the classroom
I believe having the art of storytelling is vital to being an engaging teacher as it has the ability to captivate a student “in the moment”. It aligns with our emotional intelligence and offers the student to think creatively and uniquely. Most of all, storytelling requires time and connectedness. I believe that in this technical and speedy era, students crave this.
So true and I often give an example of what a passenger or client said and then asked them what they would have done before I tell them what I did.
It makes them think outside the box and makes for good discussions.
Whenever I can, so long as it is appropriate and relevant. I find this to be a great engagement technique. It contextualises the content and makes it relevant to their lives. Not to mention, this strengthens that human connection. So valuable.
I also find it lightens, sometimes heavy learning materials. It makes the process of exchange, more enjoyable & relatable for both ‘facilitator’ & ‘learner’.
I agree Tayce, it can also bring in an element of humour to lighten some subject matter
Hi Tayce, your correct as long as its appropriate and relevant
I agree the human connection seems to improve greatly when you include your personal experiences
I use storytelling alot in my teaching as I feel that connectedness to my student and I feel that they open up more with stories of there own and then connect stories to learning and make connection that are remembered far beyond time spent in the classroom.A very valuable teaching technique.
Totally Agree. So very important and valuable.
I feel lucky that I work in the industry and can use real life and current examples when I teach the theory. I don’t think my students would believe it just from the assessments, they need to connect with the industry through real stories.
I 100% agree, I think it also helps to take some of the mystery away from the content we teach.
Most of my students are adult migrants who are often struggling with similar issues what I had to deal with when I arrived in Australia. I share my stories of lows and highs to motivate my students. It helps me to connect to them at personal level.
And it makes you a positive role model! I think that is great.
I have used storytelling as means of encouraging a student to overcome difficulty with a practical task. Engaging different thought patterns distracted and encouraged them out of fear, failure and anxiety,
Telling personal stories of resilience can definitely encourage the students to overcome their fears, failures and anxiety. It can be life-changing for the students who are struggling with these issues.
I do incorporate lots of life stories in my teaching. As I still work in the industry I have many, ranging from situations with difficult client on a customer service level and treatments. Stories make you real and give you validation to the students.
Sounds fabulous, what great validity and reasoning proof.
it is so important to connect to the industry, not only for a teacher but also for the student.
Makes you a real person to the students with real life experiences just like them. Great connections.
Absolutely agree!
Linking to current work practices is so important for students.
Agree 100% Karen – working in industry at the same time plus the life stories is so valuable and real for the students.
Hence why in the TAFE system, we need to ‘remain current’ – well done!
Incorporating your own stories in your teaching is important as it allows students to see how the information is relevant to their story. I teach accounting and incorporate my learning journey and applying what we are learning to the workplace and the role in the workplace and where my journey has taken me. As Michael said, we need to connect our learning to other areas – and we discuss how accounting can help in other areas of life, not solely to become an accountant
The students have a greater understanding when you put it into real life experiences.
Being a slow learner I have many good and bad stories to tell. I like to use the ones where I have messed up as learning experiences. I ask what did I do wrong? How could I have prevented this? While we can learn from all experiences, I am careful when it comes to teaching safety. Sometimes a story told in the wrong way can give the impression safety is a joke or not practical. Sometimes its hard to come back from. Students love telling their stories. When a student tells a story that is relevant to the days subject,… Read more »
Amazing, Bringing real world, real life into the classroom!
True, I used to teach airline safety too and there is a fine line between something being funny and having huge repercussions if it goes the other way. Good point.
Storytelling is a great way to share human experience. Also great to ask for students’ stories about a similar situation, so you can make it really personal.
It is amazing how much we value being heard and have others learn from our experiences good or bad.
Its a great way to open up discussions and enter into a collaborative learning environment
I agree Nicola, done right, it can also foster inclusivity.
I have noticed the importance of telling stories to back up course information. It helps students to connect with the content and help seeing the importance in knowing and understanding what we are saying.
It totally does, as long as you keep it relevant to the course information, like you said.
Agree Belinda – It makes it real for them and not just theory!
I often tells stories of my experiences – good and bad – students do appreciate knowing you are a real person. As a VET teacher I have many experiences from previous employment that add to content delivery.
Yes, I think also sharing bad experiences is a great way to humanise experiences, always great is someone can learn from your negatives.
As a TAFE business teacher, I found that sharing my many years of work experiences
interest the students more than just providing them information from a textbook.
It creates great class discussions. The students that work can relate to my stories as they provide the class with their own experiences as well.
It also ensures you are continuing to seek out and ensure your classroom practice remains industry current
I agree Jeanette – students can relate more with the sharing of our stories. It makes what we are teaching more real and relative.
I agree, sharing work experience stories helps to connect with the adult learners. It also provides the students an insight into the workplace which can not be gained through the textbooks.
Terrific points below.
Some of my most enjoyable moments teaching is when students are felling comfortable to share their experiences – and they are actually relevant! The other students really take it in.
Stories and sharing experiences is a great way to introduce and reinforce content
I agree Daniel. It makes you feel that not only do they understand the course content but they are interested in the topic you are discussing.
As an online learning designer, scenario-based learning is one of my favourite approaches to making learning engaging. Knowing that the online learners will not be in a classroom or with a teacher in person, using relevant stories and characters to build connection to the content and its relevance is vital. Creating simulated organisations that reflect real organisations, populating them with realistic workers and clients and giving the student a trainee role in that organisation sets the scene to build virtual relationships with co-workers and engage with clients is various related situations across multiple units in a course. Given the increasing… Read more »
After reading your post it made me realize scenarios are a tool I do not make use of as much as I should. I think I should look at how I can implement them more in the future,
As a learner myself I can recall stories my teachers have told much more easily than facts and figures. I can recall the reasons for the stories and the understanding that came with it.
I use the same idea with my students to illustrate how the content is relevant to our experiences. These are not generally stories of success but where I have learned lessons from something gone wrong. I agree that students see you as human and real if you can admit that you aren’t perfect, and it helps them remember the content of the lesson.
Hi Julie, I agree that stories of difficulty and hardship often seem more relatable and ways to overcome these more useful and relevant.
Hi, I totally agree with you Julie when I was a learner and still am
I had a great teacher who not only provided the facts but linked it
to real-world experiences which she faced. It made learning that subject
much more interested.
Nicola. So true, it links the learning to tangible and ‘real’ things that move beyond concepts
I too remember stories my teachers told more that a specific lesson that they may have taught.
I teach at TAFE and also Le Cordon Bleu, including both domestic and international students. I find that the students definitely need to understand the relevance of what they are learning to their own goals as adult learners. It is essential to use my own experience and examples to earn their respect and to demonstrate that I am “current” in the industries in which they are working or seeking employment. We have some great class discussion with students offering their own insights and experience to each other, so yes being “flexible” is so important and being a “facilitator”.
Discussion is one of the best ways of learning, it leads to sharing of so many great ideas that the students come up with, and gives them more ownership of their learning as well. It also builds a connection between students, as well as with the teacher.
That is so true. The story helps to make the teaching relevant!
I am an ESL teacher at TAFE, and I often use anecdotes to introduce topics and use my personal stories to expand on them. This allows learners to relate more to , and engage with the topic, while creating a sharing environment, as learners will often feel confident to tell their own stories.
I agree. Building that confidence with international students is so important! I also teach at TAFE and positive student feedback on teachers is often related to the teachers’ different experiences and that they shared their stories with them.
I agree to build confidence with international students is vital to reach their personal and educational goals. The international students have enough challenges settling into a new culture and surrounding making the learning more interesting by telling your own experiences is a great way to connect with them.
I worked in China for many years when I tell the students about my own experiences they realise they are not alone. The students really appreciate it.
I enjoy story telling and sharing my life experiences as a way to engage the students. Life experiences are both the successful and not so successful stories. This strategy helps to open discussion in a classroom.
It is also more fun than death by PowerPoint 🙂
Hi Caterina, I think because it takes courage and shows vulnerability to share stories of ourselves, especially of failures and not-so-successful experiences, that that encourages students to do the same.
As an English language teacher, i am always helping my students understand our language and culture by telling stories about myself, experiences and my family so the students can relate more easily to things. It often generates questions and further interest.
Hi Alanna, i agree, it is a very beneficial way to promote student conversations.
I feel sharing our own stories with students allows them to see that we as teachers are real too. It also models that we all need to continue to reflect upon our practices to develop our skills.
Cassie, this is so true and great reminder that we are real too and have our own range of emotions that require authentic expression.
Story telling to link learning material to real life circumstance is easier with today’s “connected” students because they are in fact often aware of the practical application of the learning material. I teach accounting and there are plenty of real life stories of companies applying what we are learning. Often I tell the students stories of the real life application of what we are learning. Often students have stories of their own to contribute to the class discussion. So do both – Tell stories, also ask for stories.
I totally agree Dylan. I use my own stories and experiences when I can, but sometimes you may not have a relevant story or experience and by opening it up to the students’ own experiences, we can get some great discussion going.
I teach students how to become trainers so using storytelling is a great way to impart my real world experiences of what had worked well and what hadn’t worked well for me in the classroom. It adds real world examples and context to the lessons and normally creates lots of questions and discussion.
So true Lorraine, a real life story generates so much more discussion and further questions.
I love to use the concept of storytelling and since I am working in the early childhood field, sharing stories from the practice is always appealing to the students. Similarly storytelling with pre school age children that I also teach is beneficial too.
As a teacher, teaching adults, I use storytelling of my own experiences in class to help frame the learning and teaching experience that my students are receiving, but, more importantly, my storytelling adds real life context and scenarios to the lesson. It also makes in more personal and real, and students love to hear about my mistakes, so they learn from that, and hopefully do not make the same mistakes I did.
Chris I agree that using story telling with adults helps to add real life context to teaching and makes it more meaningful to the subject matter.
Hi Lorraine, yes I have found that contextualising through story telling, allows learners to make sense of, and relate more to topics taught.
On meeting a class in a small city school for the first time students asked “Where are you from?” They corrected me – “Not where you live”. The next day another class asked the same question and this time I could answer “England, Ireland and Scotland”. I was lucky. They wanted to know my story and they then launched into sharing their own stories with gusto. I took this learning to my first country school class and took the initiative to launch with where my family came from. This group was more interested in where my relatives from Ireland (1800s)… Read more »
Alison, i completely agree with you that storytelling can support learning goal, I see that when I am working with my preschool group.
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.
So true Sheila, story telling brings a real life perspective to what we are learning about.
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.
Julie-Anne I think telling stories like the ones you’ve mentioned is important. I shared Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream…” with students and I was surprised they hadn’t heard it and were engrossed by it. It was a great discussion starter.
I agree, it easy to go off track and the information that you are imparting is lost. Stories, while they can be very beneficial need to be relevant.
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 »
Amir, I agree that the story has to be relevant to the content when being delivered so that students can relate to it. I find sometimes that students then go on a tangent in another direction which in a way it helps them to open up and participate in class discussion.
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.
I agree Amir storytelling brings examples to the students then they share their life experiences in a short story.
Building rapport, and showing the students that you are fallible.
So true about storytelling and real life examples. Through storytelling you can easily connect with your students in particular if they are coming from different cultures then the sharing and learning is richer and more vibrant.
Yes it does Joy. It makes it seem more real for the learner.
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.
What a great way of using story telling Amanda, making it relevant to your student group.
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.
Real stories stop and make them think and relate to you and realise they aren’t the only ones that struggle to get where they’ve gotten.
True – its a great foundation for vocational education
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!