The Presentation & the Putz (cartoon)
http://www.pixton.com/comic/npln6t3v
This story is about a BCSA safety officer that spends only about 10% of his time delivering presentations/educating and 90% doing electrical inspections. The majority of the safety officers know their jobs and equipment inside out because they’ve been doing the job for 25 years or more so manyof their preparation steps are second nature. This story is worth telling because it reminds the officers of the importance of re-visiting a purposeful preparation process (as it pertains to teaching) and it contributes to student learning by offering three key strategies that one might add to their process. Another way I would use the tool is by leaving the story open ended and asking students to remix the story and create a series of events that would prevent the problem. They would probably come up with many more solutions/useful processes than just the 3 I was able to squish into the final square.
I think this was one of the best tools to tell the story because it offers a visual representation of a safety officer (which many would find amusing because they recognize how many of them look alike), it does (as mentioned) allow for students to be interactive with it and remix the story and it offers:
- a clear series of problems (forgeting his presentation notes, not ensuring he has the flip chart paper he needs and forgetting how to use his technical equipment)
- a climax (being embarrassed and having to apologize to the class)
- a solution (reflection on the experience and the embarrassment leads to 3 ideas of how to avoid the problems next time).
I think the above factor also speaks well to the strength of story telling as a learning tool. I think it shapes the concepts, questions or information nicely and because learners are always trying to create meaning out of new information, it inherently creates a framework inwhich that can take place. For example, they can relate to the place, the character(s) the problem or the solution and that allows them to compare their own experiences & knowledge with the new material in front of them. On the other hand, story telling can be limiting for the same reason. Because they generally have a beginning, middle and end, the linear nature of the process and be a bit restrictive. If you start telling the end and then jump to the beginning and then the middle, it can be difficult to follow along and connect the dots (if you like that style of teaching).
All in all, despite this tool being a bit ‘cheezy’ I think it brings a sense of humour and a different dynamic/variety to the learning enviroment that is refreshing to the brain. Child’s play – yes. But when did we stop using play to learn anyhow?