The Power of Storytelling in Education – in the age of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and the lasting impact of human connections.

As we continue to move into the world that also integrates A.I. into various aspects of our daily living, education is definitely going to have a huge, if not the largest, impact on our children’s lives thus affecting their futures. 

Regardless of the technical advancements, soft skills are increasing in demand for the workplace, in educational spaces, as well as relating to others in the world.

The reports show that: 99% of working American adults report working with at least one person who isn't self-aware. 61% of employers are more likely to promote workers with high emotional intelligence over candidates with high IQ.

A simple yet effective way to respond to the concerns of the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in schools is to teach and encourage learning through stories and storytelling.  

It’s been studied and reported that students can effectively demonstrate understanding, empathy and compassion through the ancient art of storytelling. 

We always encourage educators to cultivate their student’s love to embrace stories by employing this age-old technique as a uniquely powerful practice.

Learning from our Past to Grow and Build a Better Future

In our history of humankind, storytelling served as a primary focus for teaching, nurturing and community building. Educators, mentors and the wisdom of the elders utilized oral traditions to narrate ethical principles, historical events and cultural values. These traditions, facts and heritage was passed down from generation to generation.  

It’s very easy for children to absorb information in a memorable and engaging way. Look at the ways a young mind lights up when their favorite song and or TV show or character from a movie appears on screen. You can visibly see how engaged and excited they become. 

Storytelling is a lifelong skill that provides children with the ability to construct a compelling narrative that resonates in the hearts and minds of an audience by strengthening their emotional connection, emotional intelligence and while also increasing their understanding of the bigger picture and how the smaller pieces impact the whole. 

Storytelling also provides a healthy manner in which children can develop a stronger internal dialogue that also encourages them to look at the world from a different point of view. 

We all have a voice and deserve to be heard, and when children are encouraged to explore other aspects of their imagination, they have the ability to unlock their minds and creatively problem solve more effectively. 

Tried and True Methods We Encourage and Use

One of the most effective ways to engage a young mind is entertainment. With humor being a top contender.

Humor, when properly conveyed, enhances the connection between individuals and larger audiences. Humor is so powerful, it has the ability to break through tension whenever there is conflict. (see our presentation on: How and Why Children Should Learn to Embrace Conflict and Confrontation, and ways to unlock and harness the power within healthy discourse) .

Storytelling With Stop Motion, a podcast

Children have the ability to engage their minds in humor about themselves, which is an important skill to have since the ability to laugh at things in life keeps you from taking things too serious or thinking that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. For students, engaging in humor around popular topics (a favorite Book, TV Show, Movie) is a great way for them to build connections.

When you tell a story with humor by using a powerful, inspiring or memorable message, it engages the mind as well. 

While storytelling seems to be the  most natural in subjects like English, Reading Comprehension or Foreign Languages. Yet following a narrative also improves content learning in other subjects, like science, social studies and math. 

For example, students can learn geometry by taking a story-themed map that guides them while on a walk from school campus ( or home, for you homeschoolers) to Starbucks and calculating the distance and efficient timing. While also learning how and why “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line” and why this is important. 

Throw in some humorous experiences, like finding a group of dandelion flowers along the way, they stopped to make a few wishes for fun. When you all arrive at Starbucks, not only will the treat they receive will be the perfect reward for them, they will also have the ability to compare notes and share things they learned along the way.

The Power of Science and The Mind

Have you ever wondered why storytelling works so well in learning, especially when it comes to new information? 

The scientific answer: Mirror Neurons. 

Mirror neurons are a class of neuron that modulate their activity both when an individual executes a specific motor act and when they observe the same or similar act performed by another individual.

In simpler terms: Mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action.

With storytelling, Mirror neurons create alignment and connection between the speaker’s and listener’s brains. 

The importance is the replication of emotions and actions of the lived experience allows listeners to empathize and emotionally connect and create a bond with the narrative. As children hear a story, their mirror neurons simulate the experiences described, fostering a link between the story, storyteller, themselves and their peers. 

This anchors them not only the storyline, also the themes, values and morals of the story. This anchoring allows the children to form and solidify their values, morals and ethics. 

This neurological mirroring demonstrates how deep engagement occurs when individuals are immersed in a compelling story. Educators who understand this cognitive connectedness can transform the way they communicate with their students, creating a more profound and lasting learning experience. 

Fun fact, when a captivating story is told, specific areas of the brain light up on an MRI in both the storyteller and the listener. 

This dives deeper into the connection between science and storytelling and shows that by teaching in a more humanized way, it increases the ability for children to learn about mirror neurons and pair bonding as sharing stories has a much more memorable and profound impact than learning through straight facts. Which helps their minds develop. 

This is because both the storyteller’s and the listener’s brains demonstrate synchronized activity. It’s as if the listener is living the narrative themselves, creating a deep and lasting impact as they listen to the character’s and their journey. 

Stories offer a uniquely powerful way to engage children’s mind because immersing their minds in a vicarious experience (which is what our brains tend to do, whenever we put ourselves in the shoes of a character and their position) is where all the magic happens. 

Reaching more children’s minds while Inspiring with Heartwarming Messages

Another important component of impactful storytelling involves constructing an inspiring and/or heartwarming connection. These kinds of messages, when rooted in authenticity, reliability    and sincerity, create a profound connection within children’s minds, fostering an environment where they hang on every word as they follow along with the storyline. 

When mentioned earlier the power of incorporating humor along with an inspiring message elevates the message and leaves a lasting impact. It transforms the act of speaking into a shared experience, creating a bond between the speaker and the audience.

 Educators have have positive outcomes with incorporating storytelling into the classroom will enhance the learning experience.

Educators can also captivate students’ attention by sharing personal stories or integrating narratives into lessons, making complex subjects more relatable and memorable.

A more holistically balanced process of educational assessments of student’s understanding will continue to increase in value, as we look for ways to counter, work with and leverage A.I. for its suitable purpose while expanding children’s learning, how A.I. impacts their learning environments as well as ways it can enhance their day-to-day activities that provide a well-rounded educational experience.

It’s a fact that the power of a well-told story has the potential to influence, inspire and leave a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of listeners (i.e. young children). 

When children harness the power of storytelling to express themselves, it builds their confidence and connects them with others. As we are now in the post-pandemic world, the loss of social developmental exchanges makes this even more valuable for our children to master.

It is what makes us human that will carry them into the next century equipped with the tools and resources, in order for them to shape and mold their worlds that align with their desired outcomes.

If you’ve been looking for something new to cultivate lifelong skills that encourage #empathy, #compassion, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence and psychological self-esteem™.

Check out our website: storytellingwithstopmotion.com to learn more about our curriculums, courses and educational events. 

What is Storytelling With Stop Motion?

It's unique“Edu-Tainment” that studies have shown to hold children’s attention spans while also adding value to their education. 

This is the perfect curriculum addition to your child(ren's) homeschool or traditional school curriculum. 

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