What learning experience does a branched narrative like Twine provide for learners?

I think branching narratives like twine give learners the freedom to explore in the direction they want, which can greatly increase their desire to explore. Because they don’t just have one choice, they can try the next path if they fail in one ending, and each option has a different story behind it. Learners will look forward to different story endings, try different options, and increase engagement in reading. In addition, learners can more easily step into the shoes of the characters and imagine that they are the protagonists of the story. For example, when I read a branching narrative I’ve written, I imagine myself as the prince rescuing the princess who has been robbed by the dragon.

Where else have you encountered branching narratives?

In a video game I once played, ‘Divinity: Original Sin’, a game famous for its branching narratives. Every decision the player makes, any action they take affects the direction of the game. For example, the relationship between the character and the gang, whether the character is a villain or a hero. As I played, I was immersed in the game and had a great sense of immersion. I don’t stop playing once and keep trying different endings and story lines.

Which of the 7 storytelling techniques used by the most inspiring TED speakers did you find most compelling? What techniques did you recognize in their talks?

I think the speaker in this article, Richard Turere, gave the most compelling performance. Firstly he used visual technique, in his presentation he showed the audience photographs and some simple text through which he showed the audience how his lighting system protects his livestock from lions and did not use complicated text or background. The audience was able to visualize the scene in their minds and understand how the lighting system worked by using the photos provided by Richard Turere. Secondly, he uses the technique of telling a personal story, a story from his own experience, which allows the audience to become more immersed.

In addition, Richard Turere provides hand-drawn drawings so that the audience can clearly enter his world and immerse themselves in the story. Even though the drawings are not very elaborate and are somewhat generic, they greatly help the reader to understand the principles and effects of lighting and to become more immersed in the story he is telling. Finally, Richard Turere’s use of photographs does not distract the reader but rather serves as a supplement to help the reader become immersed in the story and visualize the scene. Also, the story ends on a positive note as Richard Turere successfully uses his lighting system to protect his livestock.

Describe a meaningful learning experience that began with a story you heard. How did it affect you?

The Pursuit of Happyness, which is a very well known inspirational movie. Before I watched this movie, I had heard my parents tell me this story and it had a big impact on my life. The story is about the hero who through constant hard work gets a formal finance job and eventually starts his own company, going from a poor man to a rich man through his own hard work. On his way to success he encountered many difficulties, such as divorcing his wife, having no place to live and no money to buy food. But he never gave up and believed that he would be successful. Finally, he overcame the difficulties and showed himself bravely, and finally realized his dream.

The experience of the protagonist in the story gave me great inspiration and made me believe that as long as I keep working hard towards my dreams and have strong beliefs that I will succeed, there will be a happy ending in the end. During my freshman year of college, I returned to my home country due to an epidemic. Due to the 12-hour time difference between China and North America, I was often sleep deprived and could not listen to the lectures attentively, and my learning efficiency was very low. I failed the midterm exams of many courses, and I once wanted to give up and continue studying in Canada. Because of this story, I started to try different ways to make up for my lack of knowledge and increase my study efficiency, such as watching videos and self-study, and eventually I got good marks at the end of the semester.

What senses did it inspire?

This story are used visual senses. As my parents told the story, they described the environment of the main character living in an outhouse with his son: dark and damp. I could imagine what kind of harsh environment the protagonist was in and his hardships. In addition, I could feel the excitement and joy in the protagonist’s heart when he succeeded in being officially hired by the company.

Storyboard

Video

Comments