Learning Stories

I’m a fan of story telling as a method of delivering messages. Partly because it’s to do with how I learn. Partly it’s because of the natural engaging style of story tellers. Partly it’s because of the morals often attached to the story. Partly it’s because of a desire to lose myself in a form of entertainment. There’s a lot to story telling, and some of us do it really well.

Technological advances over the last 200-300 years have also meant that we can share stories in a myriad ways. From the printing press, to radio, to television to the internet to iPods to smartphones and devices and apps. They all help spread a story in unique and interesting ways. I give full props to Creative producers and directors who have the wherewithal to pull productions together. To have a clear idea, a clear direction, and the support of resources to make it happen. Just, brilliant.

Have you ever considered what it might be like to do something like this? To produce something?

What about in L&D? What do we do to share stories? How do we create these stories? Do we consider ourselves to be producers?

Do you want to be a producer of a story?

I would like to invite you to produce a learning story. Here’s the brief:

In the learning and development space, we deliver content in a number of ways which are primarily focused on the face to face interaction. We use techniques such as instructor-led training, facilitative learning, and experiential learning. We use delivery methods like e-learning to deliver discrete pieces of learning that are in the main compliance led. And in some cases we make interesting use of video clips from films, or from books to provide a different perspective on what we’re delivering. What we don’t make enough of is the art of story-telling.

Choosing a delivery method of your choice, produce a learning story. The story is yours to craft. The aim of the production is to inspire the audience to act. This inspiration to act should be in the form of behavioural change. Sharing the story will be a secondary function of the story-telling.

If you want to take part, I have no resources to directly offer you other than my support, and my time.

If you want to take part, there are some interesting ways I would like to see the story told:
– a short film
– a song
– a podcast/radio transmission
– a story (short story/children’s story/adult writing)

If you want to take part, the deadline for submission will be 21st March 2013. I will curate these and make them available in one space on 1st April 2013.

If you want to take part, you have complete autonomy and control. If you choose to share your production, that’s up to you. If you choose to involve others, that’s up to you. If you want to submit anonymously, that’s up to you.

I’m excited by what this could be. It’s unknown. It’s fresh. It’s challenging.

The stage, it belongs to you.