"story-telling" as a teaching method
I often tell stories of personal experiences of my work history to emphasize a learning point. I find this seems to work well to strengthen the point I am trying to get across
Hi Phyllis, Thanks for your post to the forum. Stories are so effective because they usually demonstrate the relevance of what students are learning Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I agree 100% I tell a lot of stories, and they may be very funny or very sad, they are related to the material and students often tell me I remember the answer because of the story you told us.
Hi Autumn, Thanks for your post to the forum. Great illustration of the effectiveness of story-telling! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I frequently use story-telling as an effective teaching strategy in my classes. Even if the students do not remember the specifics of a certain disease process (I teach sonography) they are frequently able to remember a scenario and patient specifics that I have told them in class. Specifically about a patient that I have performed an exam on with that same disease in the past at the hospital. This also reassures the class of the relevancy of the material to their future careers.
I agree also. It seems to increase attention.
Hi John, Thanks for your post to the forum. Absolutely! When students see the relevance of what they are learning, they want to learn! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Adding real world experiences to class topics can emphases the importance of the subject matter. When students see how they can utilize what they are learning, they will understand the importance of the material. The “I’ll never use this†mentality is eliminated.
Story-Telling is a great tool. As long as it is related to the subject matter. :)
Hi Sonya- Thanks for your post to the forum. Hearing "stories" from their instructors helps to demonstrate the relevance of what students are learning and also increases retention. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I find story-telling to be very effective when I am teaching skills. Often when I am doing a demonstration I will take time to tell stories of how important it is to follow the steps completely. I will tell a story that had a negative outcome as a result of people not following steps. This helps the student to buy into the importance of sequence and realize that straying away for the prescribed steps may result in negative outcomes.
Hi Allen, Thanks for your post to the forum. "Real" stories are the best kind! Students learn the relevance of what they are learning from actual situations/case studies. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I tell stories of actual situations in the work place, some with a good outcome and some with a not so good outcome.
Most students like the stories and some do not.
They are related to the subject matter.
I do the same thing, I teach Medical Billing and Coding and with 9 years field experience oh yea the stories get good. They with not understand what I am saying sometimes till I give that type of example then I can see the gears moving and clicking together.
Hi Edward, Thanks for your post to the forum. Using stories can also make the concepts more relevant for our students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Devon, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, admitting that we instructors have made mistakes makes us seem more approachable. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I have been using topic related stories for some time now. When presenting technical material it helps to take a moment occasionally to allow students time to digest the information just provided. The stories provide this time while also allowing some discussion. This allows me to determine the degree that they have comprehended the data.
Often tell work experience stores for two reasons, students retain the information and can learn from some of mine and other chefs mistakes, we are all human and can learn from each other.
Hi Rosalind, Thanks for your post to the forum. When we share our personal experiences related to the topics at hand, our students are able to better see the relevancy of what they are learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I also use story telling as a teaching method for class. It allows my student the opportunity to learn from a personal experiance along with a resolution to a situation.
