From Information to Immersion: Harnessing the Power of Digital Storytelling in Training

By: Robert Murdoch

Introduction

How do we engage a learner? How do we get learners to retain information? These are two of the most important questions to consider when developing curriculum and training products. For the modern learner, one way to foster engagement and retention is to add high-fidelity graphics and interactions. Visual learners will be drawn in by a beautiful 3D rendering of a piece of machinery and Auditory learners will be stimulated by audio clips of characters discussing the topic at hand while Kinesthetic learners enjoy being able to manipulate objects on the screen and choose their own path through the training. While these multimedia tools can be effective, the one thing that ties them all together and creates universal engagement is the story.

Educational digital storytelling emerges when content creators use emerging multimedia tools, not only to present information but to tell stories that will effectively educate and train a myriad of audiences with diverse learning styles. This engaging methodology is critical when crafting compelling training products and e-Learning modules.

Digital storytelling encourages a learner to analyze the context of a topic and ask why they would do that particular thing at that particular time. They find these answers within the story being told. This technique immerses them in the hypothetical world that the training product creates. Compelling stories can encourage learners to repeat and review a piece of training and understand the topic more comprehensively than if they were merely presented with information.

Elements of Digital Storytelling in Training

Every story has three major elements: character, setting, and plot. Digital storytelling in a training environment is no different. The learner is the main character or protagonist. They are placed in the setting where the skill or procedure is needed. This can be done simply with an introductory sentence on a slide or by being immersed in a 3D environment. The learner then moves through a series of events that illustrate the topic at hand. For example, an aircraft mechanic trainee is put into a maintenance hangar with an aircraft and a set of tools. The trainee then walks through the steps necessary to inspect and repair various elements of the aircraft. An effective story will also provide the learner with:

1. The backstory: Why is the aircraft in the maintenance hangar?
2. The stakes: What happens if the repairs are not made correctly and on time?
3. The outcome: What happens to the aircraft after the repairs are completed?

While many products present this training as a simple checklist, by the time the learner finishes going over the list, even if they are interacting with the training software, they most likely have forgotten much of the information presented. A more successful module would have the learner imagine they are in this specific hanger where this specific aircraft experienced a distinct issue during its last flight. They are responsible for identifying and resolving the issue so the aircraft can be put back into service. The story can also include feedback such as the consequences of performing actions out of order.

As there are three main elements of a story, digital storytelling has its own set of elements established by the Center for Digital Storytelling, an international non-profit training, project development, and research organization that helped develop this concept.

These stories can be told in both passive and interactive training modules. In passive training, the script should include a throughline or plot thread that takes the learner from the beginning to the end of a topic. Interactive training allows the learner to explore tangents to the story through hypothetical scenarios by making their own decisions and experiencing the consequences of each.

Digital Storytelling Tools for Compelling Training

If we know that the story is a vital part of a learner’s experience, how do we tell the story in a multimedia training environment? The same way we tell stories in film, television, and video games: compelling audio and visuals and effective interactives. Stories in passive training can be told through a series of audio clips or explainer videos. Stories in interactive training can unfold in many forms from a text-based choose-your-own-adventure to a more immersive video game style experience with high-fidelity 3D environments.

As explained in Mike Schreiner 's article on Interactive Training Realism, high-fidelity multimedia helps with engagement and retention and allows learners to achieve spatial awareness before they get into the field. The trick is to ensure every media element serves the story. When developing a module on helicopter emergency procedures, it is important to ask if and how a high-fidelity model of the wiring behind panel “x” serves the story of a pilot encountering emergency “z.”

Whether the story is being told in passive or highly interactive training, there are a multitude of multimedia tools that can help developers ranging from the media creation tools in the Adobe Creative Suite to authoring tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Captivate to game engines like Unreal Engine 5 and Unity. As a word of caution, we should not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of using the newest and shiniest tool just for the sake of claiming to create a state-of-the-art product. In Matthew Wicks ’ article on Human Centered Design, he discusses the importance of including the learner in the process of designing and developing training from the beginning. This mindset informs the cognitive level and level of interactivity of the training, which then guides us to the most effective stories to tell and informs the most appropriate tools and media elements that developers should use to tell those stories.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while high-fidelity graphics and interactions may enhance engagement, it is storytelling that truly captivates learners and provides the context necessary for information retention. Digital storytelling in training environments incorporates elements such as character, setting, and plot, immersing learners in scenarios that encourage comprehension and application of knowledge. By adhering to the elements of digital storytelling and utilizing appropriate multimedia tools thoughtfully, educators can create compelling training experiences that empower learners and foster meaningful understanding.

Citations

Alismail, Halah A. (2015). Integrate Digital Storytelling in Education. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(9), 126–127. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1082416.pdf