Learning Science Principle #4: Tell Stories

Research shows that storytelling techniques — incl. the use of concrete examples and case studies — help learners to learn and retain complex information.

The Learning Science Bootcamp, Dr Philippa Hardman

✏️ Learning Design Tips

Human brains are wired to be more engaged by stories with a narrative arc (beginning, middle, end) than abstract information. Select a relevant real-world problem or scenario and write it with a narrative arc. This will, make the content more engaging and memorable.

Research suggests there are six fundamental narrative arcs or story formats. Select the one — or a variation of it — which works best for your subject matter, students and intended outcome:

📖 Rags to Riches (rise)

📖 Riches to Rags (fall)

📖 Person in a Hole (fall then rise)

📖 Freytag’s Pyramid (rise then fall)

📖 Cinderella (rise then fall then rise)

📖 Oedipus (fall then rise then fall)

Start with a story: over time, as learners understand a concept better, they can talk about it abstractly from one particular example or situation. At first, the best way to support a learner to get their head around a concept is to describe a concrete example of that concept in action.

Keep it simple & focus on what maters most. Think: what’s the outcome we’re trying to achieve? Adding details to the story that serve only to make the material more interesting or emotional might have little to no value for learning (Sadoski, 2001).

Example 1: Accounting 📈

You want your learners to be able to analyse a balance sheet. Select or create a case study with a narrative arc (beginning, middle & end) walking through the beginning, middle & end of the process. Use Principle 1: Observing Experts to maximise engagement & learning.

Example 2: Sales 💰

You want your learners to understand the principles & practices of a best-in-class sales meeting.

Select or create a case study with a narrative arc (beginning, middle & end) walking through the beginning, middle & end of the sales process. Use Principle 1: Observing Experts to maximise engagement & learning.

Example 3: Medicine 🩺

You want your students to understand the principles & practices of responding to an emergency medical scenario.

Select or create a case study with a narrative arc (beginning, middle & end) walking through the beginning, middle & end of the sales process. Use Principle 1: Observing Experts to maximise engagement & learning.

🥷 Ninja Tip > Write stories & use examples where things go wrong…

• Stories and examples that point out misconceptions or errors can be especially effective at helping learners learn from those mistakes.

• Multiple, varied stories and examples — especially those which contain errors — deepen the learner’s understanding of the material & concept and drive progress to achieving outcomes.

🧪 The Science Bit

Fyfe, E. R., McNeil, N. M., Son, J. Y. & Goldstone, R. L. (2014). Concreteness fading in mathematics and science instruction: A systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 26(1), 9–25.

Gick, M. L. & Holyoak, K. J. (1983). Schema induction and analogical transfer. Cognitive Psychology, 15(1), 1–38.

Sadoski, M. (2001). Resolving the effects of concreteness on interest, comprehension, and learning important ideas from text. Educational Psychology Review, 13(3), 263–281.