How do I use storytelling as an educator?

Think back to a class you were in years ago. What's the first memory that comes to your mind? Can you still remember every definition, formula, or fact you learned?

I certainly can't.

But I do remember one lesson about probability from my high school. Instead of jumping straight into the math, my teacher told us a story about a group of people who found a way to win the lottery by understanding probability and buying tickets strategically (similar to the true story portrayed in Jerry & Marge Go Large).

That story completely changed how I thought about probability. It wasn't just a chapter in a textbook anymore. It became a way of thinking about real-world decisions. Years later, I still remember the story, even though I've forgotten most of the formulas behind it.

We're naturally drawn to stories because they help us recognize patterns, connect events, understand people's actions, and make sense of our experiences.

Whether you're in K–12, higher education, or professional learning, storytelling can be a valuable skill for you to engage your audience and make learning more meaningful.

So how can you use storytelling intentionally, or design learning experiences around stories? Here are four common approaches:

1. Anecdotal interludes

2. Case studies

3. Scenario-based learning

4. Narrative-based learning

Anecdotal interludes are short stories woven into instruction to introduce a topic, explain a concept, or make a lesson more memorable. They don't require designing a complete story-based learning experience, as sometimes a brief personal story is enough to help learners connect abstract ideas to real life.

Example:

When I teach the concept of schema in cognitive learning theory, I often share a personal story about the word biscuit.

I first learned English through British English, so I understood a biscuit as a sweet baked food similar to a cookie. After moving to the U.S., I was surprised to discover that an American biscuit means a savory, bread-like food often served with meat or eggs.

This story helps students understand how our schemas (biscuit ≈ cookie) change as we encounter new experiences (biscuit ≈ sandwich).

Case studies use stories about real-world situations to help learners analyze problems, evaluate evidence, and apply knowledge. Widely used in fields such as medicine, business, law, education, and science, case-based learning helps learners connect concepts to real-world issues and practice professional thinking skills.

Examples:

• The Harvard Business School is universally known for using the case method as its primary instructional approach.

• The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science provides a collection of case studies that use engaging stories and scientific dilemmas.

Scenario-based learning places learners in realistic situations where they must make decisions, respond to challenges, and experience the consequences of their choices.

It helps learners develop problem-solving, critical thinking, perspective-taking, and decision-making skills by simulating situations they may encounter in real life.

Examples:

• In Her Shoes is an interactive learning experience with realistic scenarios about the challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence.

• Will Interactive creates scenario-based learning experiences for workplace training on topics such as harassment, leadership, healthcare, and cybersecurity. The Lab and The Research Clinic are two examples of their interactive simulations.

Narrative-based learning uses stories as the structure or framework to thread the learning concepts together.

By connecting ideas with characters, events, and meaningful experiences, narratives can make abstract information easier to understand, remember, and relate to. It's widely used in fields such as early childhood education, history, science communication, and public education.

Examples:

• Numberblocks turns numbers into characters and mathematical concepts into stories and adventures, helping kids build an intuitive understanding of maths.

• The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy uses the journey of a single T-shirt as the thread connecting complex topics such as globalization, international trade, labor, and economics.

Think about how storytelling is used for learning in the following examples. Which of these are examples of scenario-based learning?

A. A cybersecurity course asks employees to decide whether to open a suspicious email, report it, or delete it.

B. A history class reads a diary from a soldier during World War II and discusses the historical context.

C. A teacher training module presents a disruptive classroom situation and asks learners how they would respond.

D. A science video follows a scientist's journey to discover a new species.

Great educational storytellers don't simply tell interesting stories. They choose, shape, and deliver stories that help learners understand ideas and take action. Here are four steps to develop your storytelling skills.

1. Align Stories with the Learning Objectives

Before adding a story to your lesson, ask yourself:

• What do I want learners to remember after hearing this story?

• What misconception or challenge does this story help address?

• How will I connect the story back to the concept, skill, or behavior I want learners to develop?

The story should support the learning objective, not compete with it.

Learn more: Storytelling for Learning Designers Lecture.

2. Give Your Stories a Structure

Even a simple story becomes more engaging when it takes learners on a journey. A common story structure includes:

• Beginning (the context): Introduce the context, characters, or problem. Help learners understand why the situation matters.

• Middle (the challenge): Create curiosity by presenting a problem, conflict, decision, or mystery that needs to be solved.

• End (the resolution): Reveal the outcome or insight. Connect the story back to the lesson and highlight what learners should take away.

More about general storytelling techniques: Learn Storytelling in 72 Minutes — Will Storr

3. Build Your Storytelling Toolkit

Great stories are everywhere. Start collecting examples that could help you explain ideas, introduce topics, or inspire learners. These stories might come from:

• your own experiences and mistakes

• conversations with colleagues or students

• news articles and current events

• research discoveries

• books, movies, podcasts, or videos

Pay attention to moments that contain a lesson, a challenge, a surprising discovery, or a change in perspective. Over time, you'll build a collection of stories that you can adapt to different audiences and learning goals.

4. Practice and Refine

Try opening a lesson with a story, weaving scenarios into your teaching, or inviting learners to tell their own stories. Then reflect on what works well, what doesn't work well, and how to improve or adapt the story next time. With practice, you'll discover which stories illuminate the content and which ones are better left untold.

An engineering teacher wants students to learn how to use the engineering design process to solve problems. He is considering including a story to engage the students.

Which story best aligns with the learning objective?

A. A story about a famous engineer’s career achievements

B. A story about the tallest bridges ever built

C. A story about the history of bridges around the world

D. A story about a team of engineers designing, testing, and improving a bridge after discovering that their first design failed

Remember that effective storytelling isn't about being a natural storyteller. It's about intentionally designing experiences that help people understand, remember, and apply what they learn.