"Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today."
Robert Mckee
Storytelling is one of the oldest means of communication among human beings. Storytellers not only preserve cultures but also pass on tales of literature, history, art and moral lessons. It is one of the most effective ways to communicate with students.
Stories stay with children much longer than facts or statistics, as it is not a seemingly endless download of information but a never-ending journey of learning and understanding the world around them. Young minds are engrossed most by this transcending experience of hearing and visualising a world or time way beyond the physical boundaries.
A storytelling workshop was organised by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in collaboration with Katha Pachisi on 26 October 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 15 participants from different walks of life attended the Art of Storytelling workshop aimed to equip with critical life skills such as self-awareness, effective communication, confidence, and creative expression.
Ms Ishleen Saluja, Ms Mansha Gaba, Ms Radhika Bhardwaj and Ms Garima Bathla, teachers of the Primary at our School attended the workshop.
The resource persons for the seminar were corporate storytellers and trainers, Ms Monika Tandon, founder of Katha Pachisi: the story bank, and Mr Herok Pal, co-founder of Khisaaghar, a branch of Katha Pachisi.
Before the workshop, attendees visited an exhibition at the museum centred on the theme 'Prussian Blue'. The exhibition showcased artworks of 16 artists from different parts of the country, with emotions and feelings being the focal point of their displayed works.
The workshop was a perfect platform for an insightful discussion in which the two eminent resource persons brought to light the significant elements of a story: characters, conflict and conclusion. The two experienced trainers jointly presented the workshop with PowerPoint presentations and video snippets.
The workshop explored different models for writing a story. Ms Monika Tandon explained the SCQA framework: situation, complication, question and answer. The second part of the workshop focussed on the power of emotions, communication and the art of visualisation and how these help listeners to empathise with the story's characters and create a connection between them.
An elaborate discussion ensued on voice modulation and its diverse aspects, including how to prepare oneself, for example, through deep breathing exercises, etc. The other techniques emphasised using powerful words, effective pauses and lip bubbles.
The next topic discussed was the power of demonstration in storytelling through body language.
During the session, there was a lot of enthusiasm and interaction as the presenters engaged in animated discussions about the framework and tools of storytelling. Our teachers took advantage of this opportunity to ask questions and clarify their doubts regarding various storytelling techniques.
The workshop provided a practical learning experience for teachers to implement in their classrooms.
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