Storytelling is a serious affair
It serves as perfect tool for education and language development.
City-based storyteller, Deepa Kiran, won the National Award for the best e-content program of the year (2015-16). Talking about the award, an excited Deepa says, “The video was sent for the national competition organised by the Consortium of Educational Communication (CEC), New Delhi, and I received the award in the category Best e-content program of the year 2015-16.
Titled Storytelling Pedagogical Perspectives, the video is a three-part series. It’s aim is to demonstrate and explain the art of oral storytelling in a classroom and to explain how storytelling can be employed for language development by the teacher.”
A trained Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi exponent, Deepa uses songs and dance in her story telling sessions to make it fun for children. She says, “The video was produced by EMRC, within the EFLU campus. I had delivered a guest lecture on storytelling in a classroom for students of B.Ed. and M.Ed. The response gave the HoD, Dr Sudhakar, the idea of producing shows for national television, UGC, on it. That’s how it all started. Students from DAV school participated in it. It was both a challenging and satisfying experience.”
Deepa, the founder of Story Arts India, through which she trains teachers, and corporate employees, says, “An award like this adds energy to the work we are doing. Storytelling which is mostly considered ‘fun’ for children — this award puts storytelling in perspective about its pedagogical possibilities. It is reassurance both as an artist and educator.”