This course will take you through the full process of telling your own story: from choosing a story to using a wide range of creative techniques to develop the story, you will work with a small group of other storytellers to craft a story that has significance for you. The creative techqniues will be tailored to you and the group and will include visual, written, spoken and embodied forms of storytelling, via online platforms. You will learn to record and produce your own story. You will have the option to make a digital version of the story using open access or very low cost apps and software. At the end of the storytelling process, you will share your stories through a group screening. Finally you will have the opportunity to decide if and how you want to share your story beyond your storytelling group.

Course limited to 12 participants. Up to 4 discounted places available for researchers working in the global South or from small organisations.

What people say about this course:

“What surprised me about the storytelling process was how everyone could produce a story which was immensely moving and meaningful as well as interesting to watch. How people who never thought they were creative found that they were. This course was one of the most impressive examples of facilitation I have ever experienced…just the right amount of tailored coaching, coaxing, pushing and pulling. Well done! Tour de force.” Dr Dee Jupp, Technical Advisor, Empatika

“I really enjoyed this course and looked forward to it every week. I learned a lot about storytelling that I did not know before. I am really interested in taking it to the next level and using the tools in my work. I also want to say that Joanna’s relaxed methodology of teaching was really excellent. This was an online course and the tools we learned, along with the inclusive and relaxed approach, worked so well especially with students from all over the world. This gave me a boost to give more and put more time into developing my story and supporting my colleagues in class. Finally, the diversity within the class and the interactive exchange of ideas was really beneficial. I value everything I learned from everyone during those 9 weeks.” ~Sawsan al-Zatari, Evaluation Consultant, Jordan

“Through telling my story, I learned how vulnerable you can feel at points and the importance of being willing and open to being and feeling vulnerable with a group of individuals you don’t know. I also saw the time and energy you need to be willing to invest as a participant in the process – not just for completing your own story but in order to be an active and present participant as part of the story circle. I also learned how fun and satisfying [this methodology] is both in terms of the individual skills you learn more about and getting the opportunity to develop and in terms of having a final ‘thing’ that you are working towards as documentation of a process and your story.”~Katie Turner

“I really enjoyed the various tools / activities within the process. I learned to better understand the challenges in telling personal stories in a way which is comfortable, coupled with the creative aspect. I also appreciate that sufficient time is given for this process in way that respects boundaries and capabilities.” Pooja

“What I learned through telling my story is that it’s okay to call out bad experiences for what it is, and not just suppress it. That like every other story, my story is important from the storyteller’s point of view. I was also impressed with the how the right space can help bring the right kind of reflection, which I will ordinarily think is difficult for me to do within a space of one week.” Dr Johnson Amamnsunu, Open University, UK

“Thank you…for giving us the opportunity to learn this fantastic and powerful method. You have given us so much additional support and time along the way.” ~Dr Meng Tian, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership, Department of Teacher Education, University of Birmingham, UK

“I was surprised how well the storytelling methodology that I have experienced in person worked in a virtual format. The stepwise methodology was easy to keep up with week to week. Completing the story felt fun, a different way to engage my mind and analytical skills…It is a good process for training academics and action-research practitioners to carry out story-based participatory action research practices….The deep reflection that accompanies the development of the story is a different lens through which to make sense of complex experiences and to do so without suppressing emotion. The engagement with emotion seems particularly important in academic and professional environments where this is typically frowned on.” ~Dr Felix Bivens, Co-director and Founder, The Re-Generative School

“Congratulations on the design of the course and the facilitation. Thank you. You create such a comfort zone and the group was great...It was a space of trust, respect and discovery. A self-gift. For me, it was also a privileged space to meet with people from Bangladesh, South Africa, Jordan…” ~Ana María Claver, Oxfam Spain