The UP Open University’s Faculty of Management and Development Studies (UPOU-FMDS) recently organized a Storyline Workshop for the Sto Domingo Elementary School in Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Bay, Laguna. The workshop, held on 14 February 2024, aimed to ignite creativity and critical thinking among the young learners, focusing on themes of sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Led by Dr. Camilla Brudin Borg, a distinguished visiting professor and expert in literary studies from University of Gothenburg in Sweden, the workshop immersed students in a world of storytelling where they created characters and developed a storyline set 20 years in the future. Through this imaginative journey, students were encouraged to envision and articulate their ideas of a better world, one that is environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
Phase 1: Setting the stage
The workshop began with an exciting boat trip, where students embarked on a journey of imagination. In this initial phase, they crafted their characters and discovered the unique groups they were part of: a group of “explorers”, a group of “rich people”, a group of “lawyers” and the “avenger group”. This initial phase allowed students to think about the perspectives and backgrounds of their characters, setting the stage for the storyline to come.
Phase 2: The Adventure Unfolds
In a twist of events, the boat sank, and the students found themselves stranded on an uninhabited island. Despite the absence of people, the island was filled with traces of past civilizations that had thrived in harmony with nature. This discovery prompted the students to explore and unravel the secrets of the island, pondering why its previous inhabitants had lived such fulfilling lives.
Driven by their curiosity and guided by Dr. Borg, the students embarked on a quest to create sustainable and ecologically harmonious new worlds. Each group defined what was most important to them in this new society, working diligently to craft an environmentally friendly future world.
The workshop’s impact extended beyond the classroom, as students learned valuable lessons in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. By engaging in the storyline method, they developed a deeper understanding of complex issues and the importance of sustainable living.
UPOU-FMDS’s initiative to organize such workshops underscores its commitment to innovative and transformative education. By inspiring young minds to think critically and creatively, UPOU-FMDS is shaping the future leaders who will drive positive change in society.
As the workshop concluded, the students left with a newfound appreciation for storytelling and its power to inspire change. They were empowered to take action and make a difference in the world around them, one story at a time.
Written by Donalyn Piamonte ♦ Edited by Larry N. Cruz ♦ Crossposted from FMDS Website
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