The ‘Living’ Case: Structuring Storytelling to Increase Student Interest, Interaction, and Learning

Storytelling has always been a powerful form of teaching and continues to be a compelling way to build and communicate theory. Storytelling brings learning to life, helping students grasp the intricacies and nuances of today's challenging decision-making environment. One form of classroom storytelling involves the use of guest speakers. Carefully selected guest speakers bring a unique credibility to the classroom. However, integrating guest speakers into the curriculum is not without challenges. For example, although they possess valuable experience, not all guest speakers are (1) engaging, (2) familiar with the course content and learning objectives, and (3) versed in effective pedagogy. According to student feedback, poorly planned guest speaker interactions can actually diminish the learning experience. Bringing greater structure to the guest speaker's visit can help mitigate these challenges and make the most out of precious class time and guest speaker experience. Structured storytelling via guest-speaker-specific case studies perform this role.