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Fall 2007 Seminars
“The Art of Storytelling as a Powerful Teaching Tool”
Presenter: Laura J. Bobrow, Storyteller
Friday, October 19, 2007
Briefing Room
Center for Innovative Technology,
2214 Rock Hill Road, Herndon, VA 20170
Seminar Overview
“Storytelling is the way of communicating with the world. It is the way of teaching and learning. In all the forms our communications take, there is a story. Even the material that is on television or at the movies or in the news starts with a story. Our theories about creation, the nature of the world, the nature of humanity or just how our children grow up are stories.
Storytelling is an art. Thankfully it is being taken seriously as a professional art form, and it is being reborn in the United States. An indication of this is the number of professional organizations, conferences, ways to network and professional publications that have grown up around storytelling.
Before storytelling started its professional coming of age, it was an activity done almost exclusively by the elders of a culture. It was the way wisdom and knowledge was transmitted. This was especially true in pre-literate societies, and we are beginning to recognize that it is also true for literate societies. We are learning that we have been telling stories all along even when we dress it up and called it science, history, psychology or especially language arts. Often the activity termed telling stories is said to be for children, and the only way some contemporary adults allow themselves to hear stories is to bring their children.
In the classroom, students should not only be told stories but become involved in telling their own stories. When students are engaged in storytelling, either by hearing or telling, their communications skills (listening, talking, writing and reading) develop more rapidly, they acquire some appreciation of all the cultures from which stories come, they become more sociable and they achieve some level of assurance and self-confidence when speaking in front of a group.
Storytellers in this day and age are called by many names. They are called reporters, scriptwriters, authors, poets, rappers, singers, journalists, playwrights, novelists, lyricists, actors, technical writers, physicists, musicians, ministers, teachers, lexicographers, correspondents, secretaries, psychologists and professors. And finally, they are also being called storytellers.”
Adora Dupree- The Community Network Arts Reading Room (CAN)
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/2003/10/telling_it.php
Join us for this seminar as Laura Bobrow leads us in discovering the art of storytelling as a powerful tool for the community college classroom.
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About the Presenter
Laura J. Bobrow is an author who talks out loud. She has been described as having "the mind of a poet,
the wisdom of a philosopher, the wit of a comedian, and the voice and diction of an orator" or, as one young fan put it,
she is "funny and mysterious." Like the ancient bards, she often puts stories into verse to enhance their telling.
Laura’s stories, poems, children’s poems, light verse and lyrics have been published in more than a hundred venues.
In 1961 Louis Untermeyer referred to her as "the American Milne."
Laura has been creating and performing stories professionally for more than fourteen years.
In addition to her original material her huge repertoire includes folk tales, literary tales, story songs and anecdotes
Laura’s work has been recognized by cultural organizations such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
and the New York City Opera, who have included her performances in their fund-raising auction catalogues.
Affiliations include American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; National League of American Pen Women;
Poetry Society of Virginia; Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; Women’s National Book Association;
National Storytelling Network, Virginia Storytelling Alliance; and Voices in the Glen.
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What people have said about Laura Bobrow:
"Her pleasure and animation in the telling of the story rippled through the room as people
were caught up in the delight"
"Wonderfully compelling"
"The storytelling community has been given a great gift through her work."
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Audio Cassettes:
"Grimm Tales Retold"
"Laura J. Bobrow, On the Air"
CDs:
"Story Poems" for children of all ages
"I Wrote These for You" original stories for children
"From the Heart" Irish tales retold
"Just Hanging Out" mostly true personal anecdotes.
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Further Information on Laura Brobow available at:
http://www.writeonspeakers.com/laura_bobrow.htm
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Related Learning Links on Storytelling
Teaching Storytelling
Storytelling as an Educational Tool: A Collaborative Website of Educational Resources
“The Art of Teaching: Using Acting Techniques in Improving Teaching”
Presenter: Dr. Gregory Justice
Associate Professor, Theatre Arts
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Friday, November 9, 2007
Center for Innovative Technology
2214 Rock Hill Road
Herndon, Virginia
Seminar Overview
This workshop looks at some of the techniques used by professional theatre, film and television performers that can be used to enhance communication effectiveness with faculty, staff and students. Whether you are trying to reach an audience of one or 100, these techniques will enhance both your speaking and performance abilities.
Topics examined include: nerves, using the body in a more dynamic way, developing a better voice, and improving your creativity through imagination, concentration, observation and relaxation. The workshop is participatory, fun and probably quite different from any other workshop you have taken on teaching skills.
Gregory Justice is a professional actor and an acting professor at Virginia Tech. He has been presenting workshops on using acting techniques to improve teaching for over 20 years. He is one of 2 experts in the field in the United States.
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About the Presenter
Gregory Justice has been offering workshops on “THE ART OF TEACHING: USING ACTING TECHNIQUES
IN THE TEACHING/LEARNING PROCESS” and “THE ART OF BUSINESS: USING ACTING TECHNIQUES
IN TRAINING, SALES AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATION” for over 20 years.
Justice is a professional actor, director, and award-winning teacher of theatre arts.
He has provided workshops for thousands of university, high school and middle school teachers.
Institutions include Northern Illinois, Duke, Radford, Carilion Corporate University, and over 50 academic
departments, centers and programs at Virginia Tech.
He has worked numerous times with The Virginia Community College System and led workshops
for several Virginia community colleges, including, Thomas Nelson, New River, Paul D. Camp,
Wytheville and Eastern Shore.
Justice has conducted educational presentations for the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association,
the Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers, Certified Medical Representatives Institute,
The Health Occupation Educators of Virginia, the Lilly South Conference on Education,
and the Entomological Society of Virginia, just to name a few.
Some of his corporate and business participants include Pfizer Pharmaceuticals,
Allstate Insurance Company, Roche Diagnostics, Lowe’s Home Improvement,
Witt Mares Certified Public Accountants, The American Registry for Internet Numbers,
The Virginia Fire and Life Saving Coalition and the Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers.
Justice is an associate professor of Theatre Arts at Virginia Tech.
He has been an employee of the University since 1983. He teaches courses in Acting, Directing,
Theatre Movement and Audition Technique. Greg has directed over 40 productions and has
appeared in over 100 theatrical productions and numerous television and radio commercials.
Greg has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Fine Arts degree from
Pennsylvania State University. He has received numerous major teaching awards, including the
Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Diggs
Teaching Scholar Award for innovative teaching.
He is also a member of the Academy of Teaching Excellence at Virginia Tech and
is an honorary inductee in the National Golden Key Honor Society. Justice is cited in Who's Who in the South,
Who's Who in Entertainment, and Who's Who in Education.
Testimonials from Workshop Participants
"We would like to thank you for the workshop. Even though we did the planning, it wouldn't have
been possible without you. It's nice how an email solicitation can turn into such a successful event.
I've read the reviews, and let me tell you, the participants RAVED and want you to come back."
(J. Giesen, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, University of Northern Illinois)
· “Thanks again for taking time to lead this event here at Duke. I've already received emails asking
when you're able to come back since we had a 'waiting list'?! Unfortunately, some people didn't
show -- even after email reminders...and it left other people out. In any event, please know that
I'd like to schedule you for the same event in Fall 2007 -- we'll attract other of our 2,300 PhD
students. (D. James, Director Academic Support Programs, Duke University)
· “Our advisory board is made up of representatives of more than 40 different pharmaceutical
companies and composed of trainers, directors, and executives. They expect a high quality,
well prepared presentation that has been designed to meet their needs. I have hired many speakers
over the last few years and Mr. Justice by far exceeded other presenters in his evaluations.”
(M.O’Conner, Vice President, Learning and Curriculum solutions, CMR Institute)
· “It was a pleasure meeting you and experiencing your presentation Friday. The feedback I
received from the audience was outstanding and I hope it supports your efforts to reach people
and organizations with your expertise in presentation skills. You turned our numbers up for this
one, so that is a real tangible measure.”
(R Hollandsworth, Business Assistance Center, Radford University)
· “I was in the audience last Monday when you spoke at Thomas Nelson Community College. You
have some great tips on how to improve performance in the classroom. I suggested that you write
a book on the subject. I promise that if you ever do, I will be first in line to buy one.”
(D. Paradiso, Thomas Nelson Community College)
· “As I was walking in this morning, a teacher who has been here for 30+ years stopped me and
told me how much she enjoyed your presentation last night. She also saw you last fall, but she
said she would love to hear you again because she can never see herself tired of listening to what
you have to say about teaching. (S. Moye, Radford University)
· You were outstanding at the University Development/Alumni/Relations retreat—I have heard so
many positive responses about the quality of your presentation—from the thoroughness of the
topic to the fun and informative way you presented it. You’ve now got quite a fan club here.
(K. Johnson, Virginia Tech Development Director)
· I have absolutely no doubt that every single member of the audience, myself included, benefited
greatly from your presentation. I enjoyed looking around the room and seeing literally every
participant keenly focused on your captivating presentation and being fully engaged mentally and
physically in the activities you had them perform. I don’t recall ever seeing as many “ah ha”
expressions in their eyes.
(J. Knight, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Virginia Tech)
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Registration and Contact Information:
To register, contact: Rosalyn M. King, Chair, CTE at roking@nvcc.edu or at 703-450-2629.
You can also visit our website at: www.nvcc.edu/loudoun/cte
Or
Contact your campus representative:
James Baer and Mary Hanrahan (NVCC-AL); Gerald Boyd , Trudy Gillevet, and Nan Peck (NVCC-AN); Chris Blake (NVCC-LO); Pat Lazzarino (NVCC-MA); Patricia Ottavio (NVCC-MEC); Cathleen Behan and Barbara Gershman (NVCC-WO); Joan Trabandt (ELI); Terry Rooker (GCC-Fredericksburg); and Randy Beckham (GCC-Locust Grove); Nicole Martin and Curtis Morgan (LFCC).
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Register Online:
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