“Let me tell you a story”

“Let me tell you a story”

Using narrative to engage in the classroomDr Elaine Clark

Manchester Business School

A story of Ali

The next day…

“ I just wanted to say that in all my time here, I have never met a lecturer who seemed so

interested in us and if this is anything to go by, I am really looking forward to the rest of the

course!”

Using narrative in teaching• Personal story – call to action• Metaphor – to enliven, engage, offer another

perspective and encourage reflection• Turning information into stories – Exemplifies– Relates to real world– Offers alternative perspectives

• Case histories• Mini, midi and maxi

Hearing student stories

• Lifelines• Reflective journals• Examples from their own lives• Pictorially

3 minutes

• There are many different types of story• In groups of 3 -4, what would you say are the

key features which they all share?

Ganz 2009

“We are the choices that we

make”

In 2s…

• Remember a challenge which you have faced.• Remember where you were, what you saw,

how you felt. Why was it a ‘challenge’?• What choice did you have to make?• What was the outcome?• Tell the story of that challenge to your partner

Listener

• Thank them for sharing their story• How did their story make you feel?• Did their story paint a picture?• Was the challenge clear?• Was it clear what the choice was which was made?• What does that choice tell you?• Do you feel that you know a little about this person

now?

Using stories…

• What stories currently exist within your discipline?

• Which stories could you use?• What would you like to know more about?• Be prepared to feedback

Elaine’s top ten…1

You all have unique stories to tell, stories which can engage and inspire our students

2. Choose your story well

• Know your audience• Be clear about your objectives

3. Resonate

4. Plan the journey

5. Paint the picture….

Good stories are specific, they paint a picture, they evoke a time, a mood, a colour.

6. Use stories to transform ideas/information into meaning

Aah…hah!!!

7. Collect suitable stories/memories

8. Develop your own skills as a storyteller

9. Use your student stories

• They have many!!!!

10. When all else fails, just breathe

Any questions?

• Elaine.clark@mbs.ac.uk

Some useful references/reading…• Barton, J (1984) Playing Shakespeare, London and New York, Methuen• Brook, P (1961) An Empty Space London, Methuen.• Clandinin, D.Jean and Connelly, M (1990) Stories of Experience and Narrative Inquiry Educational Researcher. Vol 19, No 5 pp2-14• Denning, S (2004): "Telling Tales," Harvard Business Review, May 2004, Vol. 82, Iss. 5, pp. 12-

129.)• Denning, S (2007) The Secret Language of Leadership Wiley; San Francisco• Gabriel, Y (2000) Storytelling in Organisations: Facts, Fictions and Fantasies Oxford

University Press, Oxford• Ganz, M (2005) Why David sometimes wins in Messick, D.M and Kramer, R.M (2005) The

Psychology of Leadership: New Perspectives and Research London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

• McAdams D.P (1993) The Stories we live by The Guilford Press: New York• Moon, J A (2010) Using story in Higher Education and Professional Development Oxford:

Routledge• Peck, E and Dickinson, H (2009) Performing Leadership Macmillan: Basingstoke• Parkin, M (1998) Tales for Trainers London: Kogan Page• Polkinghorne, D. E (1988) Narrative Knowing and the Human Sciences State Univ. of New

York Press: Albany• Seely Brown, J; Denning, S; Groh, K; Prusak, L (2005) Storytelling in organisations Elsevier-

Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford• Weick, K (1995) Sensemaking in Organizations: Foundations for Organizational Science

Sage: California