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Mike DickinsonDirector, eLearning & CurriculumThe SCOOTER StoreNew Braunfels, Texasmdickinson@thescooterstore.com(830) 627-4746

Why am I discussing this topic?• Stories are good tools

– Add interest &context– Aid recall

• So, I’ve been tweaking use of scenarios– Attributes of stories– Efficient: put some content in feedback vs. all

up front

• I’m an aspiring novelist• Some fiction principles seem useful for training

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Recent challengesSexual harassment course

Use our context and lingo otherwise employees may not relate

20 minutes max lengthAppeal to some key elements of our

cultureWhat do we want people to take away?

Compliance refresher trainingYawn – how make it interesting?What do we want people to take away?

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Response to challenges• Sexual harassment course

– Stress what we already have in place• 1st core ideology: “Always do the right thing”• Owner’s challenge: work the issue directly• Low incident rate

– But what storyline to use?

• Compliance refresher training– Hot topic was self-disclosure– What storyline to use?

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But first: a word from our sponsor

(fiction)

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“What readers like…is curiosity and suspense”(Writer’s Digest Handbook of Novel Writing, 1992)

This is what fiction is all aboutCan it apply to instructional stories, too?

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Think of your favorite story…(let’s discuss)

Pick a memorable story (or movie or sitcom episode)

What did the author get you worrying about right from the start?

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How did the author do that?

“What readers like…is curiosity and suspense”(Writer’s Digest Handbook of Novel Writing, 1992)

• What do these first sentences get you wondering about?

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– Call me Ishmael (Moby Dick)

– When he was nearly 13, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. (To Kill a Mockingbird)

–Three years earlier, on a warm November morning in 1999, Adrienne Willis had returned to the Inn and at first glance had thought it unchanged... (Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks)

Did you notice?Two of those three opening lines have an

interesting characteristic. Did you catch it?

Ans: Time. Start the story as close in time to the end as feasible, then use back story to fill in the details.

This is one principle that I think is useful.

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What happens next?Fiction:

The author throws escalating series of obstacles in the hero’s way until the end of the story when everything is resolved.

Instruction: I’m not sure how useful that is for short

instructional pieces, but there are some literary techniques that may be very helpful.

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Rules of thumb (fiction)– Pick the storyline and main character

• Give characters quirks for interest, frailties, humor• Microsoft’s character: Crabby Office Lady

– Find a compelling enough problem– Most fiction is exaggerated for impact– Who’s telling the story? (point of view)– Get in the (storyline) role and stay in it– Show, don’t tell (maybe)

– Examples

– Others?

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Rules of thumb (writing style)Minimize description: give minimal cues and

let reader’s imagination do the rest“reader contract”Cut syllablesCut wordsCut commasShort sentences => faster paceDialogue is not everyday speech

(this may be a whole other session)

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Back at the training center…Can any of this aid our instructional stories?I’ll show a couple examples, then let’s

discuss.

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Fold in screen prints from coursesDr CouthSelf-disclosure

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So what can we borrow from fiction?Do:• Start near the end• Hook learner’s interest• Pick an interesting

storyline• Find something the

main characters would worry about

• Set the role and stay in it

• Make the dialog add interest

• Other?

Don’t:• Over-exaggerate• Get carried away

telling a (non-relevant) story

• Other?

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Do these principles seem most useful for certain kinds of training?

Interpersonal?Technical?Leadership?Other?

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What training benefits could we expect?

What benefits might be measurable?Would anyone care but us?

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Results from one company-wide courseLiked scenarios?

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Results from one company-wide courseUsed attachments?

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Results from one company-wide courseUsed attachments?

Thanks for your participation today!

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Mike DickinsonDirector, eLearning & CurriculumThe SCOOTER StoreNew Braunfels, Texasmdickinson@thescooterstore.com(830) 627-4746

“What readers like…is curiosity and suspense”(Writer’s Digest Handbook of Novel Writing, 1992)

Some ways to add suspense:Man against natureMan against manMan against himselfTime bombHigh stakes

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