At FuturU, we’re passionate about finding innovative ways to help people learn. And one of the ways we do this is through our story-led approach to the free training we offer.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of story-led learning, as well as the alternatives out there, and share our approach to creating training that’s rooted in stories. We’ll also give you a sneak peek into how we’re incorporating storytelling and scenario-based learning into our new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification.
What is story-led learning?
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s briefly define story-led learning.
Story-led learning refers to an educational approach that’s been around for centuries and uses narratives, characters and scenarios to convey information and facilitate learning.
Instead of presenting facts and concepts in isolation, story-led learning immerses learners in engaging stories, featuring relatable characters facing challenges or situations relevant to the subject matter being taught.
Read more: Why use story narratives in learning →
What are the benefits of a story-led approach to learning?
The benefit of story-led learning lies in its ability to captivate learners’ attention, evoke emotions and stimulate multiple areas of the brain. Storytelling triggers the release of hormones like oxytocin, cortisol and dopamine which foster empathy and emotional engagement, enabling learners to connect with the material being shared on a deeper level.
By presenting information within a narrative framework, learners become emotionally invested in the content, making it more engaging and memorable. Through stories, the information being presented is far more easily applied to real-life situations too, so learners can react and respond confidently when it’s time to put what they’ve learned into practice.
In a nutshell, the benefits of story-led learning are:
- Enhanced engagement – Stories capture attention and maintain interest
- Increased empathy – Characters and their experiences foster empathy, making it easier to understand different perspectives and situations
- Improved knowledge retention – Emotionally engaging narratives facilitate better memory retention
- Real-world application – Scenarios presented in stories mirror real-life situations, so it’s easier to apply knowledge and skills in practical situations
- Holistic learning – Story-led learning integrates multiple learning objectives within a cohesive narrative, providing a holistic understanding of the subject matter.
There are alternatives to story-led learning including digesting information by reading facts or watching instructional videos.
However, these methods often fail to engage learners on an emotional level or provide any practical context. As a result, knowledge transfer and long-term retention can suffer.
Read more: How can storytelling improve knowledge retention? →
FuturU’s approach to story-led learning
Here at FuturU, we approach the creation of our story-led training with careful planning and collaboration. When thinking about the characters we’ll feature in our training, we start by developing backstories and care plans, ensuring that learning outcomes are covered in various scenarios.
We’ll then storyboard the content, weaving the learning outcomes into compelling stories for each character. And throughout the process, we’ll involve subject matter experts, writers and designers to ensure our content is accurate, engaging and visually appealing.
If you’re interested in exploring some of our story-led courses, our team highly recommends Restrictive Practices in Care, Behaviours of Concern 360 video and Customer Care and Courtesy, which are all available to access for free via the FuturU learning platform.
Our story-led approach to the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate
We’re really excited about the stories we’ve woven through our new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate training.
Traditionally, the training for a qualification like this is delivered module by module, focusing on isolated topics. But real-life caregiving situations rarely unfold in such a linear fashion.
So our approach blends all the learning outcomes into immersive scenarios, where learners meet characters facing diverse challenges in adult social care. By experiencing these realistic scenarios, learners can gain practical skills and knowledge that’s applicable to real-world caregiving settings.
Want a sneak peek of the stories we’ll share as part of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate? You’re in luck! We’ve just introduced our colourful collection of Care Certificate characters.
By leveraging the power of storytelling, we’re transforming the learning experience, empowering caregivers with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to provide exceptional care in diverse settings. Join us on this journey to revolutionise care training and make a positive impact on the lives of care recipients.
Learn more about FuturU’s Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate →
