Throughout my time in school, I never had much of an interest History class. While it wasn’t my weakest subject, I couldn’t help but find the course content to be dull. To me, it was just a bunch of facts, names, and dates that I had to memorize. However, this changed during my junior year of high school when I had a History teacher who approached the subject in a way I had never seen done before.
He thought of History in the way it was meant to be thought of: a story.
Unlike other teachers who would break their lectures down into bullet points read directly off a powerpoint presentation, this teacher would tell a story for about one hour every class. He would make these stories so engaging and exciting that I often forgot that I was learning. However, when it was time to take an exam, I found that the answers were all in my head. Not only did I enjoy his style of teaching, but it truly worked.
So, why is story such an effective teaching tool?
First of all, we all love a good story. This Lifehacker Article explains that when we hear a story, the areas of our brain that would actually experience the events of the story we are hearing are activated. This makes for a much more engaging experience than a simple relay of information.
Another point Lifehacker makes is that when broken down, stories are sequences of cause and effect. Because we think in terms of cause and effect, it is much easier for our brains to remember a story.
Even if you don’t plan on ever being a History teacher, this information is important to remember. If you want to make a lasting impression on somebody, use story. When we tell stories, people listen.
