Importance of storytelling
Once upon a time in an eduverse far away, children from all over the world were learning through play…
Storytelling plays an important role in cognitive development. Listening to a story is engaging and when we are engaged, we retain information. Stories allow us to make inferences as we try and work out where the story is going and how it will end. Getting lost in a story allows the reader to experience new and unfamiliar environments and emotions. It draws you in, painting a vibrant picture in your imagination allowing you to become someone else or experience life in another era.
How to tell a story through VR
How can virtual reality support storytelling and comprehension in the classroom? Stepping into a scene in Avantis World Literacy Land, your students are instantly transported to another place and time; immersed in an imaginary land or place in history where they can step outside of themselves and become a character from the story.
Placed at the beginning of a scene or story, students can explore the narrative structure, from beginning, middle to the end. Students are immediately engaged in a colourful far away place and can discuss their surroundings, developing their descriptive vocabulary. Becoming an active participant allows students to identify with the characters they have read about, encouraging the development of empathy. Students can re-enact parts, or all of the story, engaging with their classmates through play, retaining key aspects from the narrative and improving fluency.
Supporting inclusivity
For students who find literature more challenging to access, for example multilingual or bilingual pupils acquiring language; exploring stories through VR supports language comprehension in an inclusive way through shared experience with peers. The visual imagery gives the story context. By exploring a story as an avatar in a scene, students can separate themselves from the pressures of the classroom and escape to a virtual land which in turn, encourages their participation in class.
Check out our new Literacy Land scenes and explore with your classes:
Hare and the Tortoise
Race with the tortoise and the hare. Follow the racetrack through the wood to find out what happens and who wins!
The Ugly Duckling
Travel along the river as the ugly duckling and experience his journey to becoming a beautiful swan.
The Three Musketeers
Be transported to 17th century France and journey from Gascony to Paris as D'Artagnan. Explore key locations and artefacts from this famous story.
Sherlock Holmes
Explore 221B Baker Street and learn about Sherlock Holmes across a range of texts such as A Study in Scarlet.
To learn more about Avantis World and Literacy Land, book a demonstration with our team.
