UEN Teacher Tips

Imagine a classroom buzzing with excitement, with students actively participating and demonstrating deep understanding. This vision can become a reality through the power of story-based instruction. In today's digital age, students are accustomed to engaging with information through multimedia. Story-based instruction leverages this knowledge by presenting learning in a dynamic and engaging format.

Think of a science teacher captivating students with a fascinating story about a scientific discovery. Stories, whether told verbally, shown through visuals or acted out, can make learning come alive. As Dr. Gabriel McNett from Westminster College states, “Humans have a natural disposition for interpreting our experiences as stories.”

1.  Choose a Story-Based Method:

• Case-Based: Present real-world situations with defined problems and solutions.

• Narrative-Based: Tell a linear story with a clear beginning, middle and end, with defined problems and solutions. This kind of story creates an emotional connection.

• Scenario-Based: Create interactive scenarios where students are part of the story, exploring multiple solutions and developing critical thinking skills.

• Problem-Based: Present challenging problems with no easy answers, encouraging students to investigate and find solutions.

2. Address Digital Storytelling Aspects: Identify and incorporate key elements such as purpose, plot, dramatic question, story content, economy of content and more. 

3. Outline Your Story-Based Instruction: Use a storyboard to plan your lesson, especially if creating a digital story.

4. Write Your Script: Prepare a script to guide your voice-over narration.

Choose a Digital Creation Tool: Select a tool like Canva, Adobe, Google Slides, Book Creator, etc., to create your digital story.