Meet a presenter: David Grainger tells HisStory
“Everybody has a story to tell!” says David. And that’s what he is tapping into with his innovative project, MyStory. David is all about making connections with his students, making learning interesting, personal and multi-layered and wants to include the wider community in this learning using current but ‘easy access’ technology.
What is MyStory and what was the motivation for the project?
MyStory is an idea – a website in its infancy – which provides public access to anyone who has a story to tell. It is for all those who want to write a story but particularly for those with low literacy skills and low technology skills – to share their story with cyberspace and learn at the same time. The site is designed for easy access and is totally non-threatening, non-judgmental. Everyone has a story to tell, a personal history they can draw on – and because it is personal, it is an easy and familiar place to start when it comes to writing. For some, MyStory provides the first chance they’ve had to ‘put pen to paper’, but it’s in cyberspace, so for the younger participants particularly, it’s their fifteen seconds of fame.
How was the project put together?
It was an idea born out of existing TAFE literacy programs and initiatives. In Bega we established a Learning Community through ReFraming the Future resources. We also have the Volunteer Tutor Program. Together with community groups, a philosophy of learning communities and the notion of putting the learner in charge – the website was created. But it is just a beginning.
What is the aim of the project?
To quote the website, it is a project which ‘aims to help people throughout the Bega Valley Shire to get reading and writing together.’ It aims to develop people’s reading, writing and technological skills by writing personal stories about themselves, their families, interests and experiences and then publishing them in a variety of forums.
How does it help language and technology literacy?
It operates on the premise of ‘improvement through engagement’. Many learners have had less than ideal experiences throughout their school days. The idea of fronting up to yet another learning institution is daunting for many – but to offer a non-threatening, but in many cases familiar environment, ie the web, it encourages learners to have a go without the ‘formal school room’ environment getting in the way.
What difference does the project make?
It will provide another means of connecting the learners outside a formal training environment - learners with similar interests and experiences. It has already linked families living apart. One participant in particular put his story on the site and this was a link to his family who he hadn’t communicated with for some years – so geography is not an issue. MyStory also taps into community based organisations which can contribute to the development of the site and alerts them to how they can better serve their particular cohort.
Who is involved?
So far, we have Bega TAFE, Bega Valley Network, Libraries, Friends of Libraries, Community Colleges and Museums.
What are the outcomes thus far?
The website itself and although MyStory is at the beginning of its life, it is showing great potential for growth and development as a literacy tool. We also have involvement – people are using the site right now and we’ve even had a ‘hit’ from America. It’s only been operating this year. So it’s going great for such a short time.
Can you see other applications for the technology and/or the project?
That is the idea of showcasing MyStory at this conference. I’m looking for input from colleagues, ways to raise the profile and ways and means to develop the site to eventually put the learner in charge and turn the site into a really relevant interactive literacy and learning tool.
What of the future? Where to from here?
Supporting the volunteer tutors who are key participants in this project is critical and developing the site so this can be done is vital. Developing links to other literacy tools is important, so that once the learner has mastered or experienced MyStory, he/she can then move on and try another, perhaps more advanced site. Developing other ways to tell stories, for example, through digital pictures and videos as well as text based material is also on the agenda. One participant has already begun to do this by taking pictures of her son’s athletics carnival and these will form part of a book.
What have you learned personally from this project?
We need to understand that literacy is the key to getting knowledge. With the younger learners, it is also about ‘the age of individual fame’ – using MyStory to write a story on a public website is tapping into the Gen Y’s headspace. It is one of their ways of communicating with the world. But literacy – language and technological literacy – are significant factors in the success of this communication.
A final word?
Yes – check out the website, have a look at it:
www.mystory.org.au
And then email me with any comments, ideas, suggestions.
David.grainger@det.nsw.edu.au
- Click here to listen to the Session