Oral storytelling traditions are as old as humans themselves. Our earliest ancestors were telling stories to entertain, inform, and pass down important knowledge. Today, audio stories still serve that same purpose, and with the help of accessible podcasting platforms, a good story has the power to compel listeners around the world to action on pressing global issues. We live in the most connected age in human history, and yet the worldview of our students can be so narrow. When students have the opportunity to produce their own audio stories that center their ways of knowing and being in the world, they gain intellectual curiosity and confidence. That’s why it’s important that we help students learn to connect and engage with one another in a way that respects and promotes global competence about the worldview of the 7 billion other people that call this planet home. In this session, we’ll explore the process of producing an audio story that compels an audience to action.
By the end of this session, attendees will 1) identify the key elements of compelling audio storytelling, 2) examine human-environment issues through a critical “glocal” lens, and 3) become familiar with a free, cloud-based audio production called Anchor.
Pedagogical content will focus on why it is important for students to create their own stories and the attitudes, skills, and knowledge that they gain in the process. In addition, we will examine basic audio storytelling principles: developing compelling characters, framing, and signposting.
Social studies content will focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a way to examine human-environment interactions and the interdependence of various global systems.
Attendees will also gain some basic skills in how to construct audio stories using Anchor, a free web-based podcasting platform. They will be provided with a full teacher guide for completing a student-led podcast from start to finish
