My Story:
Why is it worth telling?
This story contributes to the learning objectives in one of my courses. We actually do a unit on bed bugs because they are such an issue within North American cities. Many industries and condominium towers are struggling with this issue so it is very relevant at the moment.
Why use Prezi?
I wanted to stick with a presentation tool, which did things differently than powerpoint yet allowed for the same type of image and text display. Prezi was incredibly easy to use and allowed me to create a story that met the learning objectives. I also think Prezi is creative enough and different enough that students in my classes might actually enjoy using it and creating stories. After choosing my storyline I also decided to forgo audio voiceover as I don’t think I have a good bed bug voice.
What are the strengths and limitations of a storytelling approach?
It is unique and engaging. It forces students to think in a different way and be creative. I think most of the learning would take place thinking about the content of the story. Students would have to put some thought as to how best to organize the story. I would have to say the biggest limitation might be taking the time to learn and choose a storytelling tool. I think I spent more time looking through the storytelling tools than actually putting the story together on Prezi. Our learning objective was to learn a tool and tell a story. If I were to give this to my students I would make it a learning activity, yet would want them to come away with a better understanding of the content contained in the story.