How to tell a story–Sean Buvala’s technique

Storyteller and coach of storytelling techniques, Sean Buvala, takes us on a quick journey into storytelling tips and learning!

I find his quick technique is quite easy to use, and is practical too. Below is his method to learn a new story:

1. Decide on the story you want to tell.
2. Hand write an outline of the story, episode by episode.
3. Using your own words and the outline you made in #2, write out the complete story by hand or create a storyboard as shown in the video.
4. Use the tool you made in #3 to practice your story aloud and by yourself.
5. Cut out parts of the story that slow the story down.
6. Repeat the story with the new parts and pieces. Don't memorize. See the action in your head.
7. Tell your story to a trusted friend or associate. Ask for *genuine* advice.
8. Add more emotion to your story.
9. Tell your story to an audience. Be confident!

You've just learned your brand-new story. Congrats! Awesome!

For even more coaching on storytelling, please visit www.seantells.com and http://www.storytelling101.com

Here’s the link to the video detailing points above:

http://youtu.be/mOA8mUflH-Q

Photo and video credit:

www.seantells.com

Teaching through Storytelling

There are many creative ways that teachers can do to motivate their students. One of them is through learning by storytelling technique.

Storyteller Roger Jenkins who has provided storytelling courses for teachers since 1998 says “Storytelling is a powerful tool. Besides learning language, it also allows bonding between children and educators.”

When asked how stories can be used to teach other subjects besides English, he gave an example of a teacher who used a story to teach her students about the rainforest ecosystem in Science class.

The story was about a girl trapped in the rainforest. While she was walking, she noticed the different flora and fauna and even noticed the insects that the animals ate.

The teacher included all the details that she wanted to teach in the story. “The students aced the exam,” Jenkins shares.

“Teachers can use stories to ensure greater retention and understanding because a story gives context to the information rather than just isolated bulletpoints.”

In this 10 minute demo video, one of my favourite storyteller, Roger Jenkins shows how he tell using puppets, cut-outs, pictures (in this case via powerpoint), masks, props, mime, magic, sounds and audience interaction.

http://youtu.be/MOHN1NteQ_M

Photo credit:

chinadaily.com.cn

bookcouncil.sg

ais.com.sg

Berita Harian Online | Kunci kasih sayang

Ibu bapa penyayang, benteng perkasa kehidupan anak sehingga alam dewasa

Berita Harian Online | Kunci kasih sayang

12 Brain Rules by John Medina, a knowledge sharing

A great speaker and a funny one too!

Developmental molecular biologist John Medina admits that we do not know much about how aour brains work. In fact, if we ever figured out exactly how it did this, that would be a major achievement! 

In his book, "Brain Rules", he writes about how the brain works and how we can use ours better. He lays out 12 overarching principles or rules, that he believes can be applied to our daily lives to help us to better teach, learn, conduct business and parent. Medina decided to write his book as a way to apply what he says is grounded neuroscience with real-world applications.

Now became one of my favourite book

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture also known as "2011 Asia HRD Congress : Executive Workshop on 12 Brain Rules - The Forgotten Known Secrets to Survive and Thrive by John Medina last May 2011. It was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur. The workshop aims to give participants an in-depth understanding on how the brain works for impactful learning and development. By exploring and applying this practical approach, hopefully, we can achieve outstanding performance which enables us to survive and thrive in this ever challenging world.

The zombies of PvsZ food for thought!

John Medina, is on the faculty of the University of Washington Medical School's bioengineering department and directs the Brain Center for Applied Learning at Seattle Pacific University.

Interestingly, he quoted, "If you wanted to design a learning environment that was directly opposed to what the brain is good at doing, you'd settle on a traditional American classroom or one of those cubicles people have to work in." Unfortunately, this happens almost everywhere else in the world!

He went on to introduce his rule No.1 which is, "Exercise boosts brain power", and further explains that studies show that our brains still thrive on movement and that exercise boosts concentration and problem-solving. He lamented on lack of physical-education activities at schools, and calls for employers to encourage walking meetings!

Medina himself chugs along on a treadmill while doing computer work. The Harvard Business Review named his concepts for incorporating treadmills into the workplace as one of its "Breakthrough Ideas for 2008." 

John Medina also suggested that the paradigm might change if brain scientists started rubbing shoulders more with educators and executives.

In his lecture, he also advices participants that we should respect sleep, during which the brain does valuable processing; recognize the damage done by long-term stress and acknowledge that correctly timed repetition is key to lasting memory. 

I am a firm believer in multitasking. However in his lecture, John Medina debunked multitasking and claim it as myth. He further explains that multitasking robs focus, promotes inefficiency and causes mistakes. I was not very happy about this statement as my superbusy job requires me to multitask most of the time or else I am screwed. However, he gave a convincing example, talking on the cellphone while driving has caused tragedies by sapping focus and delaying reaction time.

Rule number 4 is "The brain does not like boring things" where he believes that the brain responds best to moving pictures, humourous and content that touches on emotions. It is interesting to note that that he writes for a layperson's ear even though his rules are based on studies that have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. That is what I call an examplary science communicator!

I also admired his energy, enthusiasm while he excitedly shared the wonders of the brain. He believes the brain pays sharp attention for only about 10 minutes at a time unless it is engaged on an emotional level. So after nine minutes of lecturing, he will introduce something, often a story that jolts listeners. It is his way to reboot attention spans and inject meaning before details.

I particularly like his take on teachers who inspire their students. He mentioned, "Students don't recall a teacher for being so organized. They remember the inspiring teachers. When you get that relational connection with a student, curiosity runs its natural course."

THE 12 BRAIN RULES

Rule #1 : Exercise boosts brain power (EXERCISE)

Our brains thrive on movement and exercise boosts concentration and problem-solving. 

Rule #2 : The human brain evolved, too (SURVIVAL)

Our ability to solve problems, learn from mistakes and create alliances has been the key to our survival and how we took over the world.

Rule #3 : Every brain is wired differently (WIRING)

What you do and what happens to you actually rewires it. No two people's brains store the same information in the same way in the same place. We actually have a great number of ways of being intelligent, many of which are not assessed in IQ tests.

Rule #4 : We don't pay attention to boring things (ATTENTION)

The brain responds best to moving pictures, humourous and content that touches on emotions.

Rule #5 : Repeat to remember (SHORT-TERM MEMORY)

You can improve your chances of remembering something if you reproduce the environment in which you first put it into your brain.

Rule #6 : Remember to repeat (LONG-TERM MEMORY)

Correctly timed repetition is key to lasting memory. Students should repeat and review what they learned 90 minutes to two hours later, and during school, not just at home.

Rule #7 : Sleep well, think well (SLEEP)

We should respect sleep, during which the brain does valuable processing. Taking a nap midafternoon can help make you more productive. One NASA study found pilots improved performance by a third after a nap of about 20 minutes.

Rule #8 : Stressed brain don't learn the same way (STRESS)

The brain is designed to combat short bouts of stress for an example, getting chased by a sabertooth tiger and not long-term stress that comes from an unreasonable boss or a chaotic home life.

Rule #9 : Stimulate more of the senses (SENSORY INTEGRATION)

Our senses evolved to work together. For an example, vision influences hearing and this means that we learn best if we stimulate several senses at once.

Rule #10 : Vision trumps all other senses (VISION)

Vision is our most dominant sense, taking up half of our brain resources. Consequently, we learn and remember best through written or spoken words.

Rule #11 : Male and female brains are different (GENDER)

Men's and women's brains are different structurally and biochemically. They also respond differently to acute stress. Women remember emotional details while men get the gist.

Rule #12 : We are powerful and natural explorers (EXPLORATION)

Babies learn through hands-on as they explore, theorize, test and conclude. Some parts of adult brains are just as malleable as the infants', so we can continue to create neurons and learn new things.

Note :

I will attempt to simplify my lecture notes one rule at a time with hope that you will also gain something useful for your life, work and family. For teachers, especially, I would like to attempt to give some practical ideas to be implemented in classrooms to enrich teaching and learning. Hopefully we will have an enriching 2012 and years ahead, so stay tuned!

6 petua mendidik anak bijak

Pada Januari 2004, saya menerima satu e-mel daripada seorang rakan. E-mel itu masih saya simpan bersama selonggok lagi keratan-keratan akhbar, majalah, e-mel dan pelbagai lagi mengumpul habuk di bilik bacaan saya. E-mel itu masih saya simpan hingga ke hari ini kerana ia masih relevan hingga ke hari ini. Ia mengenai mendidik anak menjadi seorang yang bijak. Menarik, bukan?

E-mel itu dipanjangkan oleh seorang rakan yang bersahabat dengan seseorang yang bermajikankan seseorang yang pula menghantar anaknya yang berumur 2 tahun pergi ke kelas Sichida Method. Kelas Sichida ini diuruskan oleh sebuah syarikat Jepun yang melatih anak-anak berfikir menggunakan otak sebelah kanan.

left brain vs right brain, image from thewritingnut.com

Otak sebelah kanan ini dipercayai lebih efektif daripada otak sebelah kiri tetapi harus dilatih penggunaannya. Walaupun ia agak bagus dan terbukti berkesan, ia melibatkan kos yang tinggi sehinggakan penulis emel membuat perbandingan dengan kos pengajian rakannya yang membuat Masters di ITM! Majikan penulis emel pula mengambil keputusan dengan niat ikhlasnya untuk berkongsi ilmu bersama staf-stafnya yang kurang berkemampuan.

Penulis e-mel berharap yang para pembaca yang telah dipanjangkan e-mel, boleh mengamalkan cara-cara yang dikongsi kerana dia telah dapat melihat keberkesanannya walaupun diamalkan dalam masa seminggu sahaja!

Berikut ialah petua yang telah dikongsi :

1. Bercakap dengan anak sewaktu dalam keadaan separa sedar

Sewaktu anak hendak tidur atau tidur-tidur ayam, kita harus bercakap kepadanya dengan sepenuh dan sejujur hati yang kita sayang padanya, dia adalah seorang anak yang baik, dia seorang yang kuat dan tidak sakit, dia seorang budak yang pandai dan sebagainya. Ini adalah kerana sewaktu anak ini sedang tidur-tidur ayam, otak kanannya sedang bekerja walaupun otak kirinya sudah ‘tidur’.

Penulis juga mengingatkan pembaca untuk membuatnya dengan seikhlas hati, jika tidak petua ini tidak akan menjadi. Sekiranya anak itu sudah tidur, penulis menyarankan agar kita memicit-micit  dan meramas-ramas tangannya supaya dia berada di dalam keadaan tidur-tidur ayam.

Penulis kemudiannya berkongsi tentang apa yang dilakukannya terhadap anak perempuannya yang kerap lewat bangun pagi dan disertai pula dengan `melalak-lalak’! Penulis `bercakap-cakap’ dengan anaknya setiap hari yang dia seorang anak yang baik, suka pergi ke sekolah, dia seorang anak yang sihat dan dia seorang yang mahu bangun awal. Penulis mendakwa bahawa anaknya sekarang sudah bangun seawal 6.30 pagi termasuklah hari Sabtu dan Ahad!

2. Amalkan penggunaan kad imbas

Mulakan penggunaan kad imbas A-Z. Penulis mendakwa bahawa anaknya berjaya mengenali semua huruf dan boleh mengeja perkataan yang pendek-pendek dalam masa seminggu sahaja. Penulis mencadangkan pembaca untuk membuat banyak kad dan menunjukkannya kepada anak-anak.dengan pantas.

Ini dikatakan dapat membuatkan otak kanan bekerja keras untuk menangkap apa yang ditunjuk. Kad imbas tidak terbatas kepada `A-Z’ dan `a-c’ tetapi teknik ini boleh digunakan untuk nombor `1,2,3… ‘. Penulis juga menyarankan kad ini supaya bervisual dan menggunakan bahasa Inggeris. (Nota norazharishak.blogspot.com: cara ini mungkin kurang digemari oleh ibu bapa yang mahukan anak mereka cepat membaca melalui kaedah fonik).

3. Tingkatkan kemahiran motor

Gerak kerja tangan adalah hasil dari peranan otak kanan. Penulis mencadangkan anak-anak diajar bermain dengan tanah liat, melukis menggunakan cat air, menggunting kertas, membuat seni origami dan sebagainya.

Walaupun ini akan memberi beban kepada ibu bapa kerana kena mengemas(!), ia akan mengaktifkan penggunaan otak kanan. Satu cara lagi ialah kita melukis satu gambar di sebelah kertas dan menyuruh anak menyambung lukisan di sebelah kertas. Penulis juga mendakwa bahawa anak-anak sebelah Timur Asia pandai belaka kerana mereka makan menggunakan penyepit (chopstick) dan ini membantu mengaktifkan kerja tangan dan juga menggerakkan otak kanan.

4. Kawal kemarahan anda

Jangan marah atau menengking anak kerana mereka `menyimpan’ semuanya di dalam otak kiri. Jika ini telah berlaku, penulis menyarankan pembaca untuk mengamalkan petua yang pertama dan memohon maaf kepada si anak.

5. Galakkan anak anda berimaginasi

Kembangkan kebolehan anak-anak berimaginasi. Penulis mencadangkan ibu bapa untuk memulakan cerita dan meminta anak-anak menyambung cerita walaupun mereka merapu!

6. Latih kecekapan deria

Bermain teka-teki dengan anak-anak. Contohnya, masukkan satu objek di dalam sebuah kotak tisu dan minta anak-anak untuk meneka apakah objek di dalam kotak itu. Ibu bapa boleh memberi bantuan seperti apakah warnanya, bunyinya dan sebagainya. Lama-kelamaan ini dipercayai dapat menajamkan kebolehan deria mereka dan dalam masa yang sama mengaktifkan otak kanan.

Penulis mengingatkan pembaca untuk tidak membuatkan aktiviti di atas dengan lama, memadailah selama setengah jam sehari. Penulis juga mengingatkan pembaca untuk mengamalkannya di dalam keadaan yang tenang dan ikhlas dan bukan semasa membuat kerja-kerja lain seperti memasak, membasuh kain atau menonton televisyen.

Pada akhir e-mel ini, penulis juga mengingatkan pembaca bahawa kejayaan terletak kepada Tuhan yang Maha Mengetahui dan dengan keizinan dariNya. Tetapi kitalah yang harus berusaha dengan sebaiknya dan bersyukur jika ia sudah berhasil.

Jutaan terima kasih saya kepada Sue Adda yang telah sudi memanjangkan e-mel asal kepada saya. Semoga perkongsian ini membawa seribu manfaat untuk pembaca semua!

Battling burnout : Guide for busy parents

Original article by Amy Levin-Eipstein, "4 Ways to Beat Burnout", June 2011
moneywatch.com / Your Career / On the Job
Ever call in sick because you physically don’t think you can make it to the office? That burned out feeling is no joke, workplace stress can lead to serious health issues, like obesity and cardiovascular disease. But preventing burnout, and treating it early, can help you stay both healthy and productive.
"Fried: Why You Burn Out and How to Revive", a new book by psychologist Joan Borysenko, Ph.D, addresses this important issue. She dealt with her own burnout as a busy mom and Harvard Medical School instructor, when she was working with AIDS patients for 80 hours a week while also tending to her own small children.

Borysenko’s first tip? Know that being fried is both natural and progressive: “It starts with sincere commitment to work that leads to overwork. Then self-care goes down the drain, your priorities shift away from family and friends to more work, you lose empathy for clients and co-workers, and you feel emotionally overwhelmed, physical health declines, and the quality of your work plummets.” Women should be particularly alert for it, since we usually take on the majority of the “second shift” at home: “In spite of all the progress we’ve made in gender equality, the average working mother does two hours a day more housework than her mate,” notes Borysenko.
Here are Borysenko’s 4 best ways to beat burnout:
1. Burnout vs. Depression: Know the Difference
Depression and burnout can look the same — exhaustion, loss of interest and lowered productivity — but they’re not the same. “Burnout is work-related while depression affects your entire life,” says Borysenko. “If you’re burned out and you get a long enough vacation, you revive, whereas depressed people do not.”

2. Redo Your ‘To Do’ List
Ever feel like your ‘To Do’ list is like one of those birthday candles that never blows out, instead regenerating like (depressing) magic? Cut it down — especially travel, if it takes you away from loved ones. “I now travel less than 15% of the time, and have learned to say yes to what gives me energy — like being outdoors, listening to music, hanging out with friends, and researching ideas that I’m passionate about — and no to requests from others that drain me,” says Borysenko. For you, this might mean stopping work at a set time or making Sunday “family day.” I personally use Priority Matrix to check on my daily 'To Do' List. It is part of the tips of "The 7 Habits" training that attended.
3. Unplug Before You Unravel

Being constantly logged on is a huge risk factor for burnout. “The influx of information via email and the imperative to respond ASAP, 24/7 is a prime cause of burnout,” she says. “That’s why a day a week of being unplugged can help save your sanity, your creativity, and your capacity to show up in a loving way in your relationships.” If you can’t log off for a whole day, at least try going offline for a few hours daily — and no, when you’re asleep doesn’t count!

4. Don’t Ignore It
No matter which of these tricks you’re trying — or even if you’re looking for a new position altogether — just be sure you put a priority on getting better. “Untreated burnout leads to physical illness, compromised relationships, a deep feeling of emptiness, a good chance of using drugs or alcohol to reduce your pain, and a decided decrement in performance,” says Borysenko. On an airplane they say to put your oxygen mask on before you help those around you. Treating burnout and keeping yourself healthy is like putting on that mask, giving you the energy you need to be productive at work and happy at home.
Read more: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/on-job/work-stress-4-ways-to-beat-burnout/913/#ixzz1br4UDy7X
Are you feeling burned out at work? Why? How do you overcome them?

Petua menangani anak

Parenting Tip untuk perkongsian rakan- rakan pembaca dan untuk peringatan saya sendiri.
Kredit untuk Mohd Fauzi Husin yang berkongsi, dalam-diri.blogspot dan Salju Sakinah yang saya rasa meripakan penulis asal.
Here goes :
1) Jangan pukul anak dari lutut ke atas.
2) Jangan gunakan tangan/anggota tubuh kita untuk memukul anak dengan tangan dan jangan sesekali menampar anak pakai tangan kita. Nanti anak jadi bertambah degil dan nakal dan tidak boleh dikawal.
3) Rotan/pukul anak di telapak kakinya . Secara saintifiknya ada kaitan dengan refleksologi dan merangsang ke bahagian otak.
Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w. "Berguraulah dengan anak kamu kala usianya satu hingga tujuh tahun. Berseronok dengan mereka, bergurau hingga naik atas belakang pun tak apa. Jika suka geletek, kejar atau usik anak asalkan hubungan rapat. Lepas tujuh hingga 14 tahun kita didik dan ajar, kalau salah pukullah dia (sebagai pengajaran)"
Di mana yang patut dipukul itu? Tapak kakinya ... bukan muka, punggung, telinga dan ditempat-tempat yang sensitif... itu salah...

4). Mulakanlah hidup anak anda dengan nama panggilan yang baik. Nama panggilan yang kurang baik akan menyebabkan anak anda malu dan merasa rendah diri. (Dalam Islam sendiri nama panggilan yang baik adalah digalakkan).
5). Berikan anak anda pelukan setiap hari (Kajian menunjukkan anak yang dipeluk setiap hari akan mempunyai kekuatan IQ yg lebih kuat daripada anak yang jarang dipeluk)

6). Pandanglah anak anda dengan pandangan kasih sayang (Pandangan ini akan membuatkan anak anda lebih yakin diri apabila berhadapan dengan persekitaran)

7). Berikan peneguhan setiap kali anak anda berbuat kebaikan (Berilah pujian, pelukkan, ciuman, hadiah ataupun sekurang-kurangnya senyuman untuk setiap kebaikan yang dilakukannya).
8). Janganlah mengharapkan anak anda yang belum matang itu melakukan sesuatu perbuatan baik secara berterusan, mereka hanya kanak-kanak yang sedang berkembang. Perkembangan mereka buatkan mereka ingin mengalami setiap perkara termasuklah berbuat silap.
9). Apabila anda berhadapan dengan masalah kerja dan keluarga,pilihlah keluarga (Seorang penulis menyatakan anak-anak terus membesar. Masa itu terus berlalu dan tak akan kembali).
10). Di dalam membesarkan dan mendidik anak-anak, janganlah tuan/puan mengeluh. Keluhan akan membuatkan anak-anak merasakan diri mereka beban.
11). Dengarlah cerita anak anda, cerita itu tak akan dapat anda dengari lagi pada masa akan datang. Tunggu giliran anda untuk bercakap (Ini akan mengajar anak anda tentang giliran untuk bercakap)

12). Tenangkan anak anda setiap kali mereka memerlukannya.

13). Tunjukkan kepada anak anda bagaimana cara untuk menenangkan diri. Mereka akan menirunya.
14). Buatkan sedikit persediaan untuk anak-anak menyambut harijadinya. Sediakanlah hadiah harijadi yang unik walaupun harganya murah. Keunikan akan membuatkan anak anda belajar menghargai. (Anak-anak yang datang daripada persekitaran yang menghargai akan belajar menghargai orang lain).
15). Kemungkinan anak kita menerima pengajaran bukan pada kali pertama belajar. Mereka mungkin memerlukan kita mengajar mereka lebih daripada sekali.
16). Luangkanlah masa bersama anak anda diluar rumah, peganglah tangan anak-anak apabila anda berjalan dengan mereka. Mereka tentu akan merasa kepentingan kehadiran mereka dalam kehidupan anda suami isteri.

17). Dengarlah mimpi ngeri anak-anak anda. Mimpi ngeri mereka adalah begitu real dalam dunia mereka.

18). Hargailah permainan kesayangan anak anda. Mereka juga dalam masa yang sama akan menghargai barang-barang kesayangan anda. Elakkan daripada membuang barang kesayangan mereka walaupun sudah rosak. Mintalah kebenaran mereka sebelum berbuat demikian.

19). Janganlah membiarkan anak-anak anda tidur tanpa ciuman selamat malam,
20). Terimalah yang kadangkala anda bukanlah ibubapa yang sempurna. Ini akan mengurangkan stress menjadi ibu bapa.
21). Jangan selalu membawa bebanan kerja pejabat ke rumah. Anak-anak akan belajar bahawa kerja pejabat selalunya lebih penting daripada keluarga.
22). Anak menangis untuk melegakan keresahan mereka tetapi kadangkala cuma untuk sound effect sahaja. Bagaimanapun dengarilah mereka, dua puluh tahun dari sekarang anda pula yang akan menangis apabila rumah mula terasa sunyi. Anak-anak anda mula sibuk mendengar tangisan anak mereka sendiri.

Berita Harian Online | Kesan negatif tampar muka budak

Perkongsian untuk rakan-rakan pembaca dan juga peringatan untuk saya sendiri.

Berita Harian Online | Kesan negatif tampar muka budak

Parent woes on children internet usage

Recently, there was an issue on the internet use among children. A report stated that six out of 10 parents were unaware of their children's online activities at a time when 90% of the youngsters had experienced some form of threat on the Internet.
Consequently, there is a proposal to provide strategic master plan for online protection to our 11 million youths below 18 years of age. Some parents are skeptical, though. Parent voiced out that children nowadays were able to come up with new tactics to evade their parents' control over their Internet usage.
Here are some interesting opinions and solutions shared:
1. Motivational speaker, Datuk Dr Fadzilah Kamsah:
a) Be kind, be friend and listen to what they have to say. Or else, they will find friendships outside of home that you won't know about. Parents who took time to listen to their children were more likely to have their advice heeded. Make initiative to call or send SMSes regularly.

b) Be specific in giving rules for example like allowing then to go on the Internet for two hours after they have finished all their homework.

2. Pusat Kebajikan Generasi Gemilang, Daniel Tan:
a) Place all computers in a common area like the living room.
b) Parents to embrace and equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and understanding to mentor and engage with their children, as methods and technology will change as oppose to principle and values.
Do you have any solutions that work?