Home Professional DevelopmentSpecial Programming at NECCSymposiaLeadership2005 Why Stories Matter

Storytelling is an ancient tradition. It's a powerful way to convey information and share ideas. We all know how to listen to stories—we've done it all our lives. But what's the best way to tell stories?

Good storytellers:

• Engage us. They make us want to know what happens next. We pay attention.
• Paint a picture. We can imagine the scene in our mind's eye.
• Use everyday language and authentic details. They ring true.
• Forge a connection. Good stories make us care.
• Make us remember. Good stories stick with us.

At the 2005 ISTE Leadership Symposium, attendees brainstormed and began creating an archive of good stories to use as part of technology advocacy efforts. Collectively, these stories paint a picture of why technology matters in education, in a wide range of settings. Showing by example, these stories demonstrate how technology transforms the learning experience—allowing us to do something better or accomplish what we could not do otherwise, making a difference for one student, a class, a teacher team, a school, a district, or a community.

Learn more about themes to capture in your stories (PDF, 70 KB, PDF Instructions): transformation, achievement, connection, motivation, access.

Use this template (MS Word, 51 KB, Word Instructions) to write your own story and share it with your peers. If you would also like to share your story with ISTE, e-mail it to AdvocacyStories@iste.org.

Presented by:

Sponsored by: