Is this course right for me?

Target Audience: Teaching & Professional Services staff with a relevant role and interest

Participants will discover the profound impact of narratives and their historical significance, aiming to cultivate a deeper understanding of how storytelling can be harnessed to enrich the educational process and enhance the overall student experience. 

One of the central themes under examination is the relationship between 'The Hero's Journey,' a timeless narrative structure, and the learner journey. By dissecting the structure and elements of 'The Hero's Journey,' participants will gain insights into how this archetypal framework can inform and enhance the design of educational experiences. We will explore how the learner's path, akin to that of the hero, can be imbued with challenges, transformation, and a triumphant culmination, all contributing to a more engaging and effective learning process. 

Our pedagogical approach will exemplify best practices for seamlessly integrating narrative elements into course design, emphasizing their transformative role in shaping the learning experience and educational materials. The utilisation of video as a medium within course design will be critically examined, and we will delve into the art of employing narratives effectively through the analysis of successful examples and case studies. 

A pivotal aspect is the hands-on application of acquired knowledge. Participants will be organized into groups, each entrusted with the development of a hypothetical course module. The objective is to collectively employ the outlined methods to infuse narratives and storytelling elements within the module's framework. Following this, each group will present their module design, and the class will engage in a scholarly discussion, dissecting the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each proposal. 

Participants will have ongoing access to a dedicated MyPlace page with supplementary resources, illustrative examples and scholarly activities.

At the end of the session, learners should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of storytelling, including narrative structures
• Interpret the relationship between 'The Hero's Journey' and the learner journey, recognising how this narrative framework can inform and enhance educational experiences
• Apply storytelling techniques to design engaging and immersive educational courses and learning materials
• Evaluate the use of narrative as a medium in course design, examining its strengths and potential challenges in the context of production and learning experiences

Prerequisites