AOT 690 Storytelling Institute (Previously ILS 690)
Course Description: This course examines the art of storytelling and explores the range of theoretical and practical methods and adaptations of storytelling techniques.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:
Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the historical background of the oral tradition and trace its development from 2000 B.C.
- Describe the purpose and value of storytelling.
- Select stories for specialized audiences.
- Prepare stories for specialized audiences
- Deliver stories to specialized audiences.
- Develop and administer storytelling programs and special events.
- Review and critique the literature related to storytelling.
- Describe state, regional, and local initiatives in the area of storytelling.
The art of storytelling came alive in AOT 690. My initial expectations led me to believe that developing an ability to develop and administer storytelling programs would contribute to my professional development as a school media specialist. As we progressed through the practical steps of storytelling, I realized that this art had implications beyond reading stories to young audiences; it could magically engage audiences of all ages and create lifelong learners. Storytelling is an effective method to deliver information to an audience in an engaging and supportive way.
In addition to the practical experience gained in storytelling, I have revisited the many best practices derived from our experienced storytelling instructors. These qualities and words of wisdom by instructor Carol Birch have helped me understand the necessity of continually improving my delivery of service to my patrons and to use whatever teaching methods available to me to create a community of lifelong learners in my school, thus supporting core competencies 7A and 7B.
Qualities of Good Storytelling:
1. It conveys a perceived attitude.
2. You must learn the story picture-by-picture, not word for word.
3. Treat your audience as though they are at parody with you. Do not speak down to them.
4. Choose a story appropriate for your audience.
5. Don’t use an unnatural accent in your voice to portray characters. It weakens your integrity.
6. You don’t need to see the story happen first-hand; you just need to be present at its retelling.
7. You must play with the characters to practice your attitudes until you are happy with the picture you create.
8. You can change stories written in the first person to a story written in the third person if the first person narrative doesn’t work for you.
9. Storytelling communicates respect and pleasure with a story and its characters.
10. When a story goes flat, dig deeper and make the story more personal.
11. Unlike acting, storytelling requires the presence of the storyteller who may infuse their own judgment of the story and its characters into the story.
Storyteller Carol Birch's Words of Wisdom:
1. Art (storytelling) is a means of undoing the damage of haste.
2. The only way to maintain balance is to risk imbalance.
3. Only tell stories that you love to tell. No others will work well for you.
4. Storytelling is like asking your listener to dance with you or to peek through a window with you. It is an invitation to join you; but not every person in the audience will accept your offer.
5. People will not remember what you said, but will remember how they felt after their storytelling experience.
6. Kids live in their hearts; not in their heads.
7. Storytelling is an appropriate level of intimacy in a society of casual strangers.
8. Do not assume that all listeners will hear the same message. It is the right of the storyteller to add attitude, but the right of the listener to take what they want from the story.