Faculty delve into 'StoryTeaching'

Mike Marlow

Brad McLain

Brad McLain and Mike Marlow of the University of Colorado Denver's School of Education and Human Development recently delivered a NASA-sponsored Astrobiology Education and Training (AbET) webinar, "StoryTeaching: An Exploration of the Importance of Story and Narrative in Science Learning."

During the seminar, they discussed how humans are natural storytellers. Humans describe experiences and talk about history through stories. Humans construct new understanding through the reframing of old stories and the creation of new ones. We even describe who we are – to ourselves and others – through stories. When applied to science learning and science communication, the concept of "story" represents a powerful framework for making science, technology, engineering and math lessons relevant and exciting.

McLain and Marlow explored "StoryTeaching" as the intersection of two fields of study: (1) Science Identity Construction through Experiential Learning, and (2) the Narrative Study of Lives. They also discussed the formation, maintenance and maturing of positive science identities in the face of an often science-hostile youth culture, and the significance of personal ownership and integration of STEM into an individual's sense of self though the processes of interpretation and meaning making inherent in story.

To view an archive of the presentation, visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/nai-storyteaching-seminar/.