Storytelling: A fun way to learn effectively

Teaching Storytelling in Classroom



What I find most attractive in storytelling as a technique of teaching is that more than just learning pre-determined knowledge they allow creative and imaginative construction of knowledge itself in the process. Moreover, compared to the traditional techniques in which the teacher is more or less at the center, in the storytelling technique the child is at the center of learning process. Storytelling fosters reasoning and communication skills. It encourages the development of reading habit, social interaction skills, and even problem solving skills (using both rational and emotional reasoning methods). All these are in addition to moral values and knowledge that can be conveyed in the play-out at a very deeper level.

Would also recommend checking out "A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play" by Vivian Gussin Paley.

Why Storytelling - Part I



Why Storytelling - Part II



Also see, Rakugo - The Japanese Art of StoryTelling

Rakugo - The Japanese Art of Storytelling

From Wiki: "Rakugo (literally "fallen words") is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone storyteller (Rakugoka) sits on the stage, called the Kōza. Using only a paper fan ("sensu") and a small cloth ("tenugui") as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story. The story always involves the dialogue of two or more characters, the difference between the characters depicted only through change in pitch, tone, and a slight turn of the head."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakugo

The Known Universe by AMNH - All Languages

The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world's most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. The new film, created by the Museum, is part of an exhibition, Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe, at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan through May 2010.

Data: Digital Universe, American Museum of Natural History

Visualization Software: Uniview by SCISS

Director: Carter Emmart
Curator: Ben R. Oppenheimer
Producer: Michael Hoffman
Executive Producer: Ro Kinzler
Co-Executive Producer: Martin Brauen
Manager, Digital Universe Atlas: Brian Abbott
Music: Suke Cerulo

Living Cell - Amazing Cell Animation

"In this clip Nuclei, proteins and lipids move with bug-like authority, slithering, gliding and twisting through 3D space. Each of the things in the animation are going on in every one of your cells in your body all the time. There are some surprising things. For instance, in the animation there's a motor protein that's sort of walking along a line, carrying this round sphere of lipids. It really does look like its out for a stroll, like a character in a science fiction film or animation. But based on all the data, it's pretty accurate rendering." (Text taken from the description of the above clip)

Following is a quote attributed to Imam Ali. Perhaps this clip may be considered as a material interpretation of this quote; the spiritual possibilities from within are said to be even greater and limitless.

"Your remedy is within you — but you do not sense it.
Your sickness is within you — but you do not perceive it.
You presume that you are a small entity –
whereas within you is concealed the vast world.
You are indeed that magnificent book –
by whose alphabet the hidden becomes evident.
Therefore you have no needs beyond yourself
Your essence and secrets are in you — if only you can reflect"

10 minutes by Ahmed Imamovic - Short Film - English subtitles

Culture Jamming for the Right Cause

You may be familiar with a campaign technique called 'Culture Jamming'. Basically, you use the same vocabulary and methods of presentation that you see in the regular, mainstream media and turn them into something ironic, unexpected, and thought provoking (although people realize that only afterward). Culture jamming is an act of subversion. It can also be a form of protest.

Think about the impact the following headlines would make if they were published in NYTimes or on CNN:

"Israel admits it made a huge mistake, calls for immediate ceasefire, promises to compensate the Gazans in full."

"Israel admits it was wrong all along, promises to return Palestinians their land by the end of the year."

Examples of Culture Jamming

1. Some people recently tried something similar with NYTimes (you probably have seen this already). According to reports, the culture-jammers printed 1.2 million papers and distributed them for free in New York's busy locations. The headline of the paper read "Iraq War Ends".

Here is the paper: http://www.nytimes-se.com (apparently, the link is not functional anymore, but note that this spoof website has almost the same address as the original NYTimes)



On a topic that was not covered in the NYTimes spoof - the Palestine-Israel Conflict - see the coverage in a recent Financial Times spoof:

"Anti-Semitism on decline since Israel wiped off map": http://ft2020.com/israel/ (unfortunately, link not functional anymore)



"G20 protesters distribute spoof FT" - Guardian, March 27, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/27/g20-spoof-financial-times-ft

2. Check out the 'Yes Men' Dow Chemical spoof



The guy in the video did the homework really well. Had all the relevant facts (more than just mocking Dow, he is also conveying useful information), and did a very convincing performance - very professional.

More interested in their works? Check out their documentary, The Yes Men Fix The World (trailer)

Hurray for Baba Ali!

See Baba Ali's latest project.



From his earlier, V-Blog, "Muslim While Flying":



Taking on one of the pressing social problems, "$25,000 Muslim Wedding!!"

Closed Zone - Gaza

The new animated film created by Yoni Goodman, Director of Animation for the Academy Award-nominated film "Waltz with Bashir", together with the human rights group, Gisha. "Closed Zone" shows the closure of the Gaza Strip and its effects on the ability of 1.5 million human beings living there to fulfill their daily needs, as well as their dreams and aspirations. More details and videos at www.closedzone.com

See Gaza Awareness: http://gazaawareness.blogspot.com/

Amir Sulaiman - She Said I Prefer A Broken Neck - Poem

A poem about life struggles, in the context of the African American experience in America.