Workshop Tip #43: Plus more tips. See below.      

How to Use Questions to Immerse Learners in Your Lesson

By Ray Jimenez, PhD

The SRIA (Set Up, Relate, Interpret, and Apply) model is the cornerstone of the effective use of interactive stories in learning design. It contains the four key elements that gives the learner the best possible experience and helps him or her make the most of the learning received.

What kinds of story questions are applicable to each step of the SRIA model?

How do we identify and use these questions to our advantage?

Learning is a Race with Yourself 

Have you ever been in a rowing race? You know, the kind where three or more people team up to compete as one coordinated body - each one contributing their skills and strength to win ? How about a Triathlon? Three different events, three distinct activities, all leading to one ultimate finish line. 

Learning is a lot like that, and so is the SRIA model (Set Up, Relate, Interpret, Apply). Each step is different, but it all takes us to the same finish line. The good news is, the only competition the learner has is with himself/herself, and it is our role to guide him through the obstacles using Story Questions.

Story Questions Every Step of The Way

From the book, Story Impacts we know that, "Story Questions focus on the consequences. Learners pay more attention to story questions because these help them to quickly identify the discovery points, as these questions provide clearer images and reference points. The Story Questions help learners to mentally fill in the gaps. Most of the time, this is unconscious and instantaneous."

The Story and Story Questions work hand in hand to bring the learning immediately to the learners' minds and understanding. The quick message is this: use the Story Questions well, and you can spark different kinds of memories that will ensure the lesson sticks and improves the overall learning experience.

You need this. This is valuable real stuff that you will use in life.

There are two parallel tracks: The evolving story and the learner viewing the Story. 

To engage learners to interact with the story, we ask them Story Questions.

The learner is watching the story and yet he/she unconsciously asks questions and story questions, to keep him/her engaged with the story. These are Story Questions that the learners generate.

• What will happen next?
• Who is this character?
• What will he do?
• How will this end?

In our Story-based lessons, we construct the Story Questions and help the learners by asking him/her these questions.

Let's take a look at how Story Questions are used in each step of our SRIA triathlon:

Training Scenario: Ergonomic Workspaces and Well-being in the Office 

1. SET UP - The Warm-Up: The Story-Based Learning Objectives

• The Set Up is a Story-Based Learning Object; unlike the static and linear learning objectives, we help learners to immediately recognize the value of the objectives and lessons to be learned.

• Getting learners to look forward to the lesson (State of Readiness) and giving them a peek of what lies ahead (objectives, goal-setting)

• Show a challenging scene from the story

• Ask Story Questions that bring the learners to the why and what would happen(possible consequences). Encourage learners to visualize the content goals in real-life situations

• Story Questions Guide:

• Use questions that help them look ahead.

• "How will ergonomic office design shape your working environment?"

• Use questions that bring to mind the big picture

• "How will your company benefit from providing ergonomic options to employee?"

• Use questions that involve them in future action

• "How has incorrect working posture affected your quality of work?"

Summary

Story Questions help learners realize that VALUE =New information + Real-life application. Story questions should be used across all phases of SRIA. With the proper kinds of questions for each step, we create Autobiographical Memories that seal in the learning.

Related links

Story Impacts eBook

Story-Based eLearning Design Workshop

Workshop Tip 42: Provoking Learners with Story Questions