Cincinnati Christian University
PED 232 Storytelling as an Art
Spring 2010
CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Cincinnati Christian University is to teach men and women to live by biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and to impact society for Christ.
Course hours: 2Location: WM 123 / Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:00-9:50
Instructor: Dr. LaShelle Edmerson / Office: Rine Hall
Office Hours: Mondays - Thursdays 1:00-2:00;
Fridays by appointment / Office phone: 513-244-8626
Home phone: 859-384-8631
E-mail: / Cell: 859-802-8175
Required texts:
Walsh, John. (2003). The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story. Chicago: Moody Publishers.
COURSE RATIONALE:
The purpose of this course is to provide you with theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to become an effective storyteller. Stories are how we learn - how we have learned since the beginning of time. Storytelling can be a powerfully effective tool in communicating as seen by Jesus’ use of parables. We will explore the power of storytelling used in learning situations, how to select and prepare a story for oral telling, and how to communicate a message effectively through storytelling.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the fundamental principles of the art of storytelling, selection and adaptation of the story, and development of storytelling skills. Focus is given to using storytelling as a teaching tool to convey an array of educational or faith-based concepts. This is an appropriate study for persons interested in working with children in educational settings, counseling environments, or in a variety of ministries. Performance within class is required as well as two hours of field work. Prerequisite: None. Recommend: Public Speaking.
COURSE PROFILE:
Performance Outcomes to Be Assessed By Course:
#1 Be a caring and empathetic individual
#2 Teachers understand and respect the diversity of the students they teach.
#15 Teacher candidates are reflective and display a willingness to implement change.
Pathwise Domain(s) / Criteria Targeted In This Course:
Domain A – Organizing Content Knowledge for Student Learning
A4: Creating or selecting teaching methods, learning activities, and instructional materials or other resources that are appropriate for the students and that are aligned with the goals of the lesson
Domain B – Creating an Environment for Student Learning
B2: Establishing and maintaining rapport with students
Domain C – Teaching for Student Learning
C2: Making content comprehensible to students
C3: Encouraging students to extend their thinking
Domain D – Teacher Professionalism
D1: Reflecting on the extent to which the learning goals were met
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
You will be able to choose and tell stories effectively in a variety of learning situations. In order to use storytelling effectively in learning situations, you will:
· Choose and adapt stories for oral telling.
· Determine ways that storytelling can be used as a learning tool by those whom you teach.
· Incorporate the primary characteristics of an effective oral story into a story presentation.
· Use voice, facial expression, and body movements to enhance the story.
· Develop a greater appreciation for the art of storytelling.
· Use the art of storytelling to build relationships, teach curriculum objectives, and encourage others in church and school settings.
· Reinforce oral communication skills.
PRIMARY METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: PERFORMANCE
This course will be a combination of lecture, discussion, small group and whole class presentations. This is a hands-on, performance class. Prepare to be spontaneous and animated.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance:
In accordance with CCU policy, only 4 hours of this class may be missed because this is a two credit hour class. Absences for any reason in excess of this number will result in a drop from the class and receiving a grade of FA (failure due to absences). Please review the CCU Attendance Policy. If you do miss class, it is your responsibility to get notes from a class member. If an assignment is due on the day of your absence, the assignment still must be submitted that day or it will be considered late.
Each tardy or reverse tardy (1-15 minutes after the scheduled start or before scheduled finish) will result in 10 points being deducted from the participation points. Time exceeding 15 minutes will be counted as one hour of absence.
Exams/Quiz
There will be one quiz for each chapter that is covered during the semester. The dates are listed in your syllabus.
25 points each
The final exam will be a Bible storytelling presentation worth 150 points.
Participation:
Class participation is required. Participation includes:
1. reading the textbook
2. participating actively in class discussions/group work
3. consistently displaying a professional attitude as seen through class presentations, written work, in-class demeanor, as well as being in class on time and staying for the complete class
All assignment/papers should be typed, double spaced and have standard margins. Please use a plain font of 12 points (no script please).
Some in-class assignments do not need to be typed.
Assignment Point 1: Coaching Groups
During the semester you will be a member of a coaching group of approximately three-five storytellers from the class. Approximately every two weeks (or more) you will need to be prepared to tell a new story to the members of your coaching group. You will tell each story twice. During the first performance (Wk. 1), you will present your story as a “performance practice” and the members of your coaching group will give feedback to you on an evaluation form. You will incorporate the feedback from your coaches into a “revised performance” that you will give to the class Week 2 or the second class meeting depending on the size of the class. Your coaching group will complete one evaluation form for each performance. The “Week 1” form will be only used for feedback with no score given. For “Week 2” or the second performance, the instructor will use the same form but this time it will include a score.
When you do your revised presentation on the second week or second performance, you will also submit
1) the coaches’ evaluation forms from “Week 1”
2) your grade will be formulated from Week 1 evaluations and the Week 2 teacher evaluation form.
The coaching groups will also provide you with the opportunity to learn through observation and analysis of story presentations by others. The integrity of this assignment can only be maintained by keeping with the schedule. If you miss “Week 1” of the cycle, the practice time cannot be made up. If you miss “Week 2,” you will receive a zero for that story unless you offer within 24 hours an alternative audience to the professor which she finds acceptable to substitute for the classroom storytelling you missed. You may not perform for your friends.
Assignment Point 2:
Personal Analysis#1: Original story performance
You will present an original story in class that will be videotaped. You will then write a two page paper analyzing your performance. The analysis should include concepts discussed in the text and in class. The analysis should include negatives and positives of your performance as well as suggestions for how to improve.
50 points: Due the class period after we view the videotape
Personal Analysis #2: Analysis of total performances
This analysis should reflect opinions and true evaluations of your total performance efforts this semester. Follow the format explained above.
100 points: Due: Friday, May 6th
Assignment Point 3: Field Work #1
Your coaching group will perform a story to an audience of preschool/early childhood (3-8 yrs. old) students. Your coaching group is responsible for finding a performance site. A group and individual performance is required.
100 points: Due on or before 4/30
Assignment Point 4: Bible Story/Final Exam
This will be the major performance of the semester. You will choose your favorite story and bring it alive. You are required to have props, costumes and anything that will enhance your performance. Videotaping will be 4/22-4/29. All performances will be viewed/critiqued on Tuesday, May 4th. Performance grades will not be recorded until after the viewing. Your attendance is mandatory. This should be your best performance!
Performances and Grades Table
Assignment / Points / Due DatesPerformances / 450 (10 performances) / Varies; dates in syllabus
Field Work / 100 pts.
Quizzes / 150 / See syllabus
Personal Analysis #1 / 50 / Due the day after your performance is viewed
Personal Analysis #2 / 100 / May 6th
Semester Performances / Points
#1 Individual performance / Non-graded; graded if not performed
#2 Storybook / 25 pts
#3 Object Story / 25 pts.
#4 Pg. 30 / 25 pts
#5 Noah from a different perspective / 50 pts.
#6 Original stories / 100 pts.
#7 Multicultural stories / 25 pts.
#8 Radio program / 25 pts.
#9 Tell story to children at church / 25 pts.
#10 Bible Story / 150 points
Total points: 850
The grades are awarded on a point system which is equal to a percentage letter grade on CCU’s grade point system, for example if A equals 800 points:
100% of 800 points = A ( 800 points)
92% of 800 points = A- ( 800 x .92 = 736 points)
Otherwise, you would have to earn at least 736 points to earn an A-, etc.
Course Schedule and Assignments
Spring 2010
Date / Topic / Assignment and Due DateTU
1/19 / Introductions, discussion of syllabus
A Personal Word
What is Story?
What is Storytelling? / Write a one page reaction to pages 5-11 in the textbook.
Assign performance/coaching groups, page 81-82.
TH.
1/21 / “Tell Me A Story”
History of Storytelling
Coaching Groups / Hand in ½ -one page reaction paper.
Individual story performance #1
( 2 minutes)
TU
1/26 / Choosing a Story
What are the different types of stories?
What kind of storyteller are you? / Choose your favorite storybook.
Video/professional storytellers
TH
1/28 / How to create stories from true-life events
Creating original stories / Practice storybook in coaching group.
Start writing original stories.
TU
2/2 / Chapter 1
Reaching Listeners With Your Story
(analytical and story thinkers) / Perform/read storybook #2
TH
2/4 / Performances / Finish performance/read storybooks
TU
2/9 / Performance Anxiety
Controlling Stage Fright / Create object story/group exercise
TH
2/11 / Where do you find your stories?
Memorize or Not to Memorize?
Chapter 2 / Perform group exercise [object] story. One person starts the story; the last person finishes.
Individual performance #3
TU
2/16 / Quiz / Select a story from the list on page 30.
Quiz: Chps.1 & 2 and other information
(25 points)
TH
2/18 / Let Them Walk in Your Shoes
Chapter 3 / Practice the [pg. 30] story you selected in your performance group.
TU
2/23 / Original stories / Perform the story you selected from
pg. 30. Performance #4
TH
2/25 / Storytelling ethics / Finish performances from page 30
TU
3/2 / Make It Unforgettable
Chapter 4 / Why should a story be unforgettable?
Create Noah story from a different perspective.
TH
3/4 / Creating Characters
Original stories
Knowing When to Ramble
Chapter 5 / Quiz: Chapters 3 & 4
(25 points)
Practice Noah in performance groups.
3/8 / SPRING BREAK
March 8-12
TU
3/16 / The Finishing Touches
Chapter 6 / Perform “Noah story”
Performance #5
TH
3/18 / The Last Ingredient
Chapter 7 / Finish Noah performances
TU
3/23 / You Have to See It (Tool 1)
Chapter 8 / Practice original stories in coaching groups
TH
3/25 / Committing your body
Chapter 9 / Perform original stories #6/video-taped
TU
3/30 / Talking; Not Talking (Tools 4 & 5)
Chapter 10 / Finish original performances
TH
4/1 / Turning Weakness into Strength
(Tools 6 & 7)
Nervousness
Confidence / View performances
TU
4/6 / Multicultural Story, Pt. 1 / Analysis #1 due
Quiz: Chapters 5-10
( 50 points)
Discussion of different stories from different cultures
Practice multicultural performance
TH
4/8 / Multicultural Story, PT.2 / Performance #7
Read storybook or free-tell
TU
4/13 / Storytelling and the Family
Chapter 12 / Finish storybooks or free-tell
Radio program
TH
4/15 / Storytelling and the Church
Chapter 13
Radio Program / Quiz: Chapters 11-15
Perform your radio program
Performance #8
Tell a story to children at church/performance #9 (outside)
TU
4/20 / Start taping Bible performances #10 / Performances in Foster Hall, if available
**YOU MUST BE PRESENT FOR ALL BIBLE PERFORMANCES. YOUR PERFORMANCE GRADE WILL NOT BE RECORDED UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF ALL PERFORMANCES.
TH
4/22 / COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY
CLASSES DISMISSED
TU
4/27 / Continue taping Bible performances / Performances in Foster Hall, if available
TH
4/29 / Finish taping Bible performances / Performances in Foster Hall, if available
TU
5/4 / View all Bible performances / Meet in WM 123
TH
5/6 / Exit evaluation / Personal analysis #2
due today
FINALS WEEK: May 10-13
Plagiarism:
Please review Cincinnati Christian University’s policy on plagiarism.
LATE WORK POLICIES:
The professor will not accept any late assignments in class. All late work should be brought to Rhine Hall and given to our administrative assistant. She will stamp the work late and the date it was received. You will put it in the slot by the professor’s office door. The professor will not accept late work that has not been stamped. Depending on the assignment, 1-5 points will be deducted. An assignment will be considered late if it is not submitted the class session on which it is due. The professor will not accept multiple late assignments.
American with Disabilities Act Statement:
Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological or learning disability should request assistance from the Academic Support Director within the first two weeks of class. The Academic Support Office is located in the Lower Level of the Worship and Ministry Building (room 153). You may also contact the office by phone (244-8420).
The professor reserves the right to change anything in the course, including curriculum, schedule, assignments, and grading procedures.
Please contact me with any questions and concerns. Let’s work together to create a positive learning environment.
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