Storytelling has been an integral part of human communication since ancient times. In higher education, incorporating storytelling as a learning tool offers numerous advantages.
Advantages of Storytelling as a learning tool in Higher Education:
Engagement and Active Learning: Storytelling captures students’ attention, stimulating their interest and engagement in learning. Through narratives and characters, students become active participants, exploring various perspectives and contexts. This approach enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities;
Emotional Connection and Empathy: Stories can evoke emotions and create a connection. By relating to characters and their experiences, students develop empathy and understanding of different cultures, perspectives, and societal issues. This emotional connection deepens learning and enhances intercultural competence;
Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: Storytelling exposes students to diverse cultural narratives, traditions, and values. Engaging with stories from different cultures fosters cultural awareness, challenging stereotypes and biases. Through this exposure, students develop a broader perspective, cultural sensitivity, and appreciation for diversity;
Communication and Language Skills: Stories provide rich contexts for language development. They enhance students’ vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. Additionally, storytelling encourages students to express their ideas, thoughts, and emotions effectively, enhancing their communication skills;.
Ethical Decision-Making and Civic Engagement: Storytelling presents ethical dilemmas and societal challenges, promoting critical reflection and ethical decision-making skills. By analyzing characters’ choices and consequences, students develop a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement;
Memorable and Long-lasting Learning: Stories create memorable learning experiences by connecting facts and concepts to real-life situations. The narrative structure helps students retain information, making learning more enduring;
Creativity and Imagination: Storytelling nurtures students’ creative and imaginative thinking. By envisioning alternative storylines or characters, students enhance their problem-solving skills and develop innovative approaches to complex issues;
Through the project Yes4Change. Young storytellers for social change we aim to develop storytelling skills using videos as a source of inspiration and emulation for promoting social change. The project is co-funded by European Unione through the Erasmus+ programme and implemented by six international partners: Vilnius Tech (Lead partner, Lithuania), LeLaba (France), Momentum (Ireland), Outside Media and Knowledge (Germany), European E-Learning Institute (Denmark) and i-strategies (Italy). The advantages of storytelling will contribute to a well-rounded education, preparing young and university students to become active global citizens.