Description

This roundtable will explore the intersection of storytelling and pedagogy. Teachers have been sharing stories throughout the ages. African griots preserve oral histories of entire communities through storytelling. Indigenous storytellers connect the past, present and future tightening familial and tribal bonds. Culturally, storytelling is important for passing on oral tradition, knowledge, history, and moral lessons. Pedagogically, storytelling serves as a tool to educate, increase knowledge, create meaning and improve society. Stories serve multiple purposes in the classroom. This storytelling immersion invites participants to engage the following pedagogical purposes for the classroom:

• Storytelling for creative expression
• Storytelling for empathy
• Storytelling for influence
• Storytelling for coming to voice
• Storytelling for collective communal wisdom sharing

Questions

Our work together will be guided by questions such as:

• What is the role of storytelling in course design?
• How do you define storytelling?
  • What is the purpose of storytelling (in general and in the classroom)?
  • What are the ways that storytelling and narrative can positively transform course design and classroom engagement
• How do we develop the skills to tell stories and invite storytelling in our classrooms, as opposed to only critically dissecting/reflecting on/analyzing stories?
• How do we cultivate new storytelling skills/practices in our teaching, scholarship and service?
• What is the value of curating a list of resources on storytelling and pedagogy? What items are on your list? What resources would you recommend to the roundtable?
• Of the storytelling purposes mentioned above, which ones resonate with you? Which ones present an area for growth?
• How are learning activities or assignments that use storytelling or narrative approaches developed or implemented?