STORYTELLING/DIGITAL STORYTELLING as a bridge between Virtual and the Sensory
ERASMUS K1 PROJECT
about the course
course description
This topic of this training proposal – which is very new – was born thanks to a meeting between JUMP Association and the EDU Vision team of Slovenia but also with Prof. Marina Gabelica, University of Zagreb who gave a speech during a conference titled exactly: Storytelling as a Bridge Between the Virtual and the Sensory.
Quoting the Professor: “Storytelling is inseparable from humankind; therefore, many theorists also call the Homo Sapiens (the thinking man) Homo narrans (the story-telling man). Storytelling dates back to the very beginnings of human civilization, to the period considered the childhood of humankind. At the same time, telling fairy tales and stories is an integral part of every childhood. This is a portal through which the child enters the world of the literary world, but also the world of human experience, both the experience of civilization and the personal experience. In the act of oral narration, the boundary between the story, the storyteller, and the listener almost disappears, because the story is realized both in physical space-between the storyteller and the listener-and in virtual space, where the spoken word becomes a representation in the listener’s mind. The task of every storyteller is to tell a story in a way which would encourage the listener to let themselves go and enjoy the virtual world of the story. This process of immersion into the story will be significantly more successful if the storyteller uses techniques to evoke different sensations in the listener, thereby providing a deeper sense of immersive (co)operation. The paper will explain the importance of immersion in the encounter between the storyteller, the listener (pupil), and the story, and present several examples of how to stimulate children’s immersion and create richer representations by engaging various senses”.
The term virtual is today often associated with digital media, to refer to an imaginary space, separated from reality. Etymologically, the word virtual comes from the Latin word virtualis (medieval version) or virtus (excellence, potency, efficiency), and refers to that “which does not exist in reality; unreal, fictional, apparent” (“virtual”, 2020). The term virtual is primarily used in semiotics and semiology to explain the process of the emergence, and subsequent use of human communication through signs, including language”.
This training investigates the new era of digital learning and digital teaching at the preschool level to foster creativity and the creation of a permanent use of “Visual Storytelling”, which can be digital and physical. If well balanced can create a more creative pedagogy and support kids to learn while producing elements of the storytelling and developing communication skills.
Visual storytelling is extremely effective to learn a second language (English classes for example).
Visual storytelling involves the use of various visual props – these can be static images (illustrations, paintings, etc.) or dynamic props, such as dolls that we move. Given that other special disciplines explore the potential of puppets and theater, we will explain below the use of static images as visual cues in sensory-enriched storytelling.
In this training we also combine the value of visual and sensory. Senses are raised thanks to visual storytelling without words but with the development of a new kind of language, including body language and team work. Kids learn how to recognize and develop different senses. In different phases they learn how to communicate effectively and learn new languages.
The main goal of the training is to equip pre-school teachers with a kit of methods and tools, present online and created by JUMP for the participants, and become visual storytellers for their kids.
LEARNING GOALS:
- Understand storytelling connected with teaching and its benefits
- Explore a different way to cross storytelling with visual and digital teaching
- Foster the use of creativity, critical thinking and cross-sectorial education in pre and primary schools
- Explore different tools, methods and activities to be developed at school combining storytelling, visual and digital elements
- Share with other teachers the power of storytelling in pre-school and primary school education and experience together new types of international lesson plans
Target Group
Ideally preschool teachers but all teachers at each level can be participants and the course contents can be re-adapted.
program/Training Modules
INTRO/METHOD
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, businesses and citizens of our territory. Each local context has its own economy so it’s always useful, in training programs, to get in contact with concrete examples (experiential learning and real based learning).
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing, and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
WEEK DAILY SCHEDULE
Saturday or Sunday:
Arrival of participants, transfer and welcome. Lodging and logistic support. Depending on the arrival time the participants are helped to have a meal or fulfill any other need.
Monday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting in the lobby of Villa Gabriella International, welcome, first briefing by the organizers, presentation of the team, logistics information, gadgets distribution and start of the program. Walking down to the city center. Outdoor team building activity “The Mission Impossible game in Soverato”. Getting to know the important places of the city, the orientation points, traditions and cultural elements, interacting with local citizens.
12:30 end of the morning activity with a debriefing and logistic info
Free time for lunch or to enjoy the beach
Organized lift from the city center to the Villa.
Monday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
“Experience Calabria. A place to live, a place to love”. Presentation of JUMP and of the most important cultural elements of the region. Participants are asked to present themselves quickly and introduce their school in a creative or digital way using the internet and our screen.
Dinner organized for all the groups in a local restaurant.
Tuesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting on the terrace of Villa Gabriella.
First outdoor ice breaking game to get to know each other and create a good working climate.
Division in small groups and start of the indoors or outdoor sessions with the JUMP trainer.
Introduction to Module 1, The actual scenario of distance learning and emotional consequences, risks and dangers
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Tuesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:30
1st excursion to develop cultural knowledge, strengthen team building and socialization among participants.
“Walking tour to the old village of Soverato Superiore, visit to the Church of “La Pietà” of Gagini and exploring the narrow streets. Interacting with local people.
Free evening to enjoy the city center
Wednesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 2, Discovering the research “Storytelling as a Bridge Between the Virtual and the Sensory”
Module 3, Discovering existing tools to start a Visual and Sensory Storytelling” program at school
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Wednesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
Module 4, Production of tools combining storytelling and visual art for my school
Free evening to enjoy the city center or rest
Thursday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 5, Practicing the tools among teachers of different nationalities
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Thursday afternoon is (usually) free time.
The staff will provide some suggestions for possible activities or excursions. For example to Catanzaro city, Capital of the region
Friday morning session: 09:30 – 11:00 (shorter morning lesson).
Module 6, Design my learning and teaching pathway. Teachers develop the follow up to transfer what learnt into practice. Developing transversal and innovative lesson plans. Experimenting and consolidating methods.
11:00 free time to visit the local market which is nice and folkloristic.
On Friday – at an agreed time – usually in the afternoon – it’s organized as an excursion in a beautiful and unique old village with a final dinner. The staff enjoys it and there’s a professional guide with us.
Depending on the season the excursion starts in the morning or in the afternoon. From July to September it’s usually in the afternoon-evening for the high heat.
Saturday morning session: 09:30 – 12:00
Closing the course: Evaluation and delivery of formal certificates/Europass and admin documents.
Saturday afternoon:
Free time and last moments all the participants together for socialization.
Sunday:
Departure of participants.
The indicated times may suffer some changes depending on the season (earlier in the winter time and later in the summertime).
TRAINING MODULES:
Module 1: The actual scenario of distance learning and emotional consequences, risks and dangers
Module 2: Discovering the research “Storytelling as a Bridge Between the Virtual and the Sensory”
Module 3: Discovering existing tools to start a Visual and Sensory Storytelling” program at school
Module 4: Production of tools combining storytelling and visual art for my school
Module 5: Practicing the tools among teachers of different nationalities
Module 6: Design my learning and teaching pathway. Teachers develop the follow up to transfer what learnt into practice. Developing transversal and innovative lesson plans. Experimenting and consolidating methods.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the training week teachers will have:
- Understood storytelling connected with teaching and its benefits
- Explored a different way to cross storytelling with visual and digital teaching
- Fostered the use of creativity, critical thinking and cross-sectorial education in pre and primary schools
- Explored different tools, methods and activities to be developed at school combining storytelling, visual and digital elements
- Shared with other teachers the power of storytelling in pre-school and primary school education and experience together new types of international lesson plans
certification details
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if extra hours per day are needed. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Certification details
Our courses are in line with the Erasmus+ Quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 (learning mobility of individuals)
Costs
The cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant. Write to associazionejump@gmail.com to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.
How to apply
For info and registration about the course fill the form below or contact us to our mail.