Weaving Emotional Arcs Into Online Education: Transforming Learning Through the Power of Narrative

Introduction

I recall the sensation of sinking into the plush cushions of my living room couch, my laptop perched before me. Seated on the living room sofa, I attended an online course; the instructor's voice filled the quiet room. Amidst the computer's hum, a sense of remoteness pervaded as my interest waned at the semester's close. Resolved to foster connection when teaching, I later faced the irony of witnessing disinterest in my own virtual classroom. Sparse attendance, yawning students, and averted gazes reflected my earlier disconnection. This highlighted the inherent challenges of online education in preserving student interest, a feat more daunting than within traditional classrooms.

During the peak of the global pandemic, many of us experienced a deep longing for more personal and connected interactions in the digital realm of education. Despite technological advancements, the challenge of keeping students engaged, more personable, and ensuring the retention of information remains a significant hurdle for educators in online environments. These virtual spaces, while offering flexibility and convenience, often lack the intimate, human touch inherent in traditional classroom settings. However, this gap in online education¹ need not be a permanent fixture. Reflecting on this disconnect in online learning spaces, I delved into a wealth of literature, which highlighted a powerful, yet often overlooked tool available to us all. This tool is the timeless art of storytelling. By weaving storytelling² or narrative into their teaching methodologies and course designs, educators have the opportunity to infuse vibrancy and warmth into their virtual classrooms.

Storytelling, an ancient practice, I believe, holds the potential to humanize the online teaching and learning experience, transforming it into a space where meaningful connections flourish and where learning becomes not just an academic exercise, but a rich, engaging journey. However, storytelling is not merely about recounting events of the journey; it's about crafting the emotional side of the journeys or the “emotional arcs” that resonate and connect with listeners. These arcs serve as a scaffold for course content, enhancing the structure and flow of educational material to keep students emotionally invested and engaged. To illustrate the impact of these strategies, I provide specific examples that demonstrate the success of such a narrative integration in online courses. These examples highlight how emotional arcs help organize course content in a way that is both logically coherent and emotionally gripping, leading to increased student engagement. Towards the latter part of the chapter, I shift the focus to practicality, outlining actionable methods for educators to weave narrative elements into their online curriculums. This includes techniques for constructing emotional arcs within educational content and ideas for educators to incorporate their own stories. The goal is to empower educators with the narrative tools necessary to forge deeper emotional connections with students, which research suggests can significantly enhance learning outcomes. This chapter culminates in a synthesis of how narrative structure and emotional arcs not only serve as a framework for content delivery but are central to creating a more engaging, emotionally charged, and ultimately more effective online learning experience.