“Storytelling was a social institution, an “oral university” that taught people young and old about being “human” (MacLean & Wason-Ellam, 2006, p.9).
Storytelling_As_An_Instructional_Practice (1)
This report contains valuable information about storytelling as an instructional practice. It is noted that sharing stories builds classroom community by creating a relationship between the storytellers and listeners (MacLean & Wason-Ellam, 2006). In the study conducted, the research team interviewed seven classroom teachers of First Nations or Metis ancestry, from two Saskatchewan school divisions, who use storytelling in their professional practice. The following research question was studied: How do First Nations or Metis teachers use storytelling to create a more culturally relevant and empowering learning environment?
An idea that piqued my interest from this report is that “storytelling is never the same twice, even when the same words are used, because the dialogical relationship is always shifting” (MacLean & Wason-Ellam, 2006, p.9). This idea urges me question the reliability of oral storytelling. So much meaning can be lost in translation as we move from generation to generation. I can see how digital storytelling practices could help preserve the original story.
MacLean, M., & Wason-Ellam, L. (2006). When Aboriginal and Métis teachers use storytelling as an instructional practice. Aboriginal Education Research Network.