How do you use storytelling to create a sense of community and interaction among your online students?

One thing I found useful for students is to turn each of the learning outcomes (which tend to be dry and dull) into mini stories. It helps the module's/ unit's purpose come to life. Students can see what success during and after looks like as well make note of the typical obstacles. But I note that I'm able to do this because I went on a two day story telling course. I learned story telling techniques from a top drama school in London. However, other lecturers could seek support from colleagues in their own drama, humanities or languages faculties, for tips on integrating the story arc so the create more engagement and deepen learning.

Using storytelling in online physics courses can effectively explain complex concepts while fostering a sense of community. Start by weaving narratives that connect abstract ideas to relatable, real-world scenarios e.g. telling the story of a scientist’s discovery or using an engaging analogy to illustrate a principle. Incorporate students into the narrative, encouraging them to share personal experiences or perspectives related to the topic. Facilitate discussions and collaborative storytelling, where students build on each other's ideas, creating a shared learning experience. This approach not only makes the material more memorable but also promotes interaction & a stronger sense of belonging within the virtual classroom.

Storytelling can motivate action & build community in online learning by sharing inspiring narratives that connect course content to students' goals & values. Begin by telling stories of real-world impact or personal transformation related to the subject, highlighting how taking action can lead to meaningful outcomes. Encourage students to share their own stories, challenges & aspirations, which fosters mutual understanding & connection. Use collaborative activities where students co-create stories or solve problems based on the narratives, promoting teamwork & a shared sense of purpose. This approach motivates students to engage more actively & also strengthens the sense of community through shared experiences & collective storytelling.

Story telling is a great way to engage any group in relational understanding, problem solving, creative thinking. Relational understanding, which I define as, being able to gain an understanding by relating oneself to certain events and characters in the story, and experiences. A group can listen to a story (e.g. an event that happened) and engage in what if, why, and how of different aspects of the story. It enables creative thinking and problem solving of issues and problems faced by people in different societies and times. Corporate story telling enables understanding of successes in the workplace and how goals were achieved and milestones reached through team work, time management, good communication, process improvements etc.