Show and Tell: The Steps to Keeping the End in Mind

Abstract

How do you design an interactive online career exploration program keeping the end in mind? One step at a time. First step, begin with a clear vision of the desired direction. The next step is to provide a clear destination the student wants to achieve at the end. For the student to reach a personal destination includes constructing knowledge out of their own experiences within the online career exploration program. The program will demonstrate not only how showing and telling students the steps to take in career exploration confirms the end result but also the challenges career advisors and teachers have in connecting students early in a college degree program. Instructional designers will learn how they can assist in the development of showing and telling stories by identifying applications to create an active online program. Online requires more than just telling of the material in text but showing and exploring to promote active engagement, responsibility, and independence. Research has shown that using an online self-guided discovery model utilizing a digital storytelling framework provides students with a tailored learning experience anytime and anywhere. According to Frank van Gils, “Six out of the eight students (two secondary school students and six college students) that were interviewed reacted enthusiastically about the idea of using digital storytelling in education.” Students’ attention is increased when information is shared with excitement or enthusiasm regardless of the modality of instruction. In the end, storytelling offers a powerful constructivist approach to educating the student.