Storytelling may be the “new” thing in technology, but it’s way more than a buzzword. It’s so central to how we learn, communicate, think and invent that we may indeed be hardwired for storytelling.
It may also be one of the most important skill you can learn for your career. It is the ability to to communicate your ideas effectively, and be the best spokesperson for those ideas. If you want to be ready and more confident in your presentation skills for Thesis…and the rest of your life…this course is for you. This course is part seminar and part training in the art of how to present your ideas well.
In this course, you will: 1. explore what a story is, why stories work 2. design and build a framework based on the cross discipline principles (you tell stories all the time, and have the power to do it well. 3. apply it to the work you are doing– whether representing yourself, your ideas, the things you build or want to build.
This seminar examines and deconstructs verbal storytelling as a discipline in its own right. It is an exploration of speaking and storytelling as a fundamental building block of human
evolution and innovation. We will look at the learnings from ancient times through modern scientific research—looking at theories attempting to explain what happens physiologically and psychologically when we are moved by a spoken narrative.
This is a contextual approach that will focus on both the theory and the application in the marketplace of developing and delivering narrative as it relates to presenting oneself, a product or a service.
As such, we seek to understand what drives current trends toward narrative education and storytelling as a competitive advantage in learning, communicating, persuading and influencing.
Students will also contribute to designing a collaborative verbal communication template for the class and for the Final Project: a presentation that applies some of the concepts learned to themselves or their projects, products, ventures and/or service concepts.

Adaora Udoji