There’s something about stories that captivate us. Storytelling is what makes us human, and it’s a powerful force in shaping our knowledge, beliefs, and motivations. When you think about the power of storytelling, your first thought might be of the movies—even as Hollywood continues to churn out stories that follow familiar arcs we’ve seen time and again, we keep showing up and finding ourselves drawn in, happily paying to see it play out in different forms on the big screen. Why? Do we not recognize it’s the same plot we’ve seen before? It doesn’t matter: our brains are wired for stories, and it’s in our nature to look to stories in order to build trust, empathy, and make sense of the world around us.
So, we know that everybody loves a good story—but what role does storytelling play in creating powerful learning experiences? And how can learning professionals leverage the neurobiology of storytelling to empower and inspire learners?