PLO 5 - Culture Paper

Abstract

Storytelling and visualization are uniquely human phenomena that aid in learning and retaining content. While cultures and languages can sometimes be a barrier to effective communication, visuals can supersede language by providing another layer of meaning in communication. For example, one who visits another country with limited local language skills may be able to communicate visually by showing an image of a commonly understood item such as food, water, or a toilet. While storytelling relies on the vehicle of language and cultural context to convey meaning, stories become even more powerful when combined with visuals. Additionally, stories with visuals—such as instructional videos—that are aligned to the audience’s language and culture can solidify information in memory and aid in the retention of content. While the use of storytelling and visuals are generally common amongst various cultures, to be effective educational tools they must be aligned with the culture of the intended learner. As demonstrated by the examples cited in this paper, learners connect to content when they identify with the characters or personas used in the content, relate to the content or characters through their own lived experience, and are emotionally invested in the outcome of the story. This connection not only relies on storytelling aligning through culture and language, but also a visual connection. This paper aims to demonstrate the important role that both storytelling and visuals play in learning retention on a global scale. While storytelling and visuals are known to improve knowledge transfer, each example cited herein demonstrates how using storytelling with visuals through various methods help connect the content with the culture and experiences of the study participants. These examples show that for storytelling and visuals to be effective in learning and retention, they must be aligned with the culture of the intended audience.

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