Julie Agard
assistant professor, Department of Teacher Education, 308.865.8556
Learning the art of storytelling is the focus of two, three-day workshops set for this month at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
During the week of July 25, the two workshops — Power Stories andStorytelling:A Link to Education — designed to teach participants about the fundamentals of writing and storytelling are being offered through the Department of Elementary/Early Childhood Education. Both workshops will be taught by Cynthia Changaris, a professional storyteller who is returning to UNK for the third consecutive year.
The first workshop, Power Stories, being held on July 25, 27 and 29, will focus on personal stories that can emerge from various topics, Changaris said.
“Stories constantly derive from your life,” she said. “This workshop is a way for people to look at many stories in their lives and connect them in some way.”
The second workshop, Storytelling: A Link to Education, being held July 26, 27 and 28, will focus more on how teachers can effectively use storytelling in the classroom. According to Changaris, those participating in the course will “learn how to learn a story while discovering how to tell personal family tales that can benefit a classroom atmosphere.”
One of the exercises during the Power Stories workshop involves a trip to the Museum of Nebraska Art where participants focus on one photograph and devise a story from what they see, Changaris said.
The courses are open to anyone and can be taken for credit and non-credit instances.
According to Julie Agard, assistant professor in the UNK Department of Elementary Education, Changaris was hand-picked two years ago to replace Nancy Duncan, a well-known storyteller from Omaha who has been ill with cancer.
Changaris said “the incredibly positive feedback” has been very rewarding to see in the past, and she expects a fun and enthusiastic week again this year.
Power Storytelling will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25 and 29. On Wednesday, July 27, the workshop will go from 9 a.m. to noon.
Storytelling: A Link to Education will be held 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. July 26 and 28. The July 27 session is scheduled from 1-4 p.m.
First time UNK students will need to be admitted. For undergraduate credit, individuals need to contact the Admissions Office at 800-445-3434; graduate students, the Graduate Office at 800-717-7881. Those taking the workshop for no credit are not required to complete the admission process. The No-Credit Option fee is $99. To register, contact Heather at 308-865-8927.
