Great Video About Storytelling by Ira Glass

Here is a fascinating video about storytelling by NPR’s Ira Glass. Although he is discussing broadcast media and storytelling, I think his guidance can easily be applied to the development of compelling online learning, especially his ideas about the building blocks of anecdotes and creating a goal for the story and that the story raises a question, he calls it “bait” and it is a strong element in stories. He urges you to constantly raise and answer questions in the stories.

The other building block is the point of the story. He calls it a moment of reflection. Shouldn’t all our elearning have a moment of reflection so the learner understands the point of the anecdote. A moment where it is all brought home.

Here is the link, take about 17 minutes and watch it.
http://vimeo.com/23001350