Tales for Trainers: Using Stories and Metaphors to Facilitate Learning

Storytelling is an ancient method of communicating vital information/knowledge from person to person, generation to generation. Tales for Trainers is an easily read book that invites the reader to reconsider stories as a tool to facilitate the learning process. Parkin provides an overview of storytelling and its purpose throughout the years in teaching, sharing and documenting knowledge/information with audiences/learners. In addition, the author provides an anthology of 50 tales with references for reflection and use. The book is a useful tool to generate ideas that will capture and engage learners.Of most significance is the guidance that the author provides the reader in developing, analyzing, practicing and delivering the story towards an effective learning experience. The implications that it has for trainers and educators are significant. Learning styles are varied and developing learning experiences to meet the varied styles can be difficult and time consuming. Stories and storytelling demands activity from both sides of the brain and requires learners and storytellers to use the entire brain to process the story and associated lesson. Educators can also use stories to assist their learners in understanding abstract concepts by linking a story that is relevant to their own life experience. In addition, storytelling utilizes assimilation and structurizing to assist the learner in obtaining a more tangible grasp of abstract concepts. Relating my reading to brain research, the author points out that listening to a story is a very natural method of reducing our brain activity and thus increasing the receptiveness to learning. This effect on the brain should guide educators to use storytelling as a tool that allows the brain to ready itself for new thoughts and ideas. As an educator, it allows me to "set the stage" for learning experiences and shape the learning environment into an inviting, non-threatening opportunity for learners."The power of storytelling lies in the fact that in listening to the content, our conscious mind is occupied, leaving our unconscious mind open to directly receive the underlying message or moral. As storytellers, we must be aware of this power, and ensure that the stories we tell have a positive effect on our listeners."(pg. 33)I would recommend this book for trainers, secondary and post-secondary educators as a resource tool.

Margaret Parkin has provided the Training World a fabulous resource! This book is one of my most prized in my possession. Margaret has organized a matrix to locate relevant tales to topics in training (e.g. leadership). Buy this book!Dave