Story From an Image

Class size suitable for: 10-100 students
Level suitable for: All levels
Time needed: 15-20 minutes total
Class setup: Any room setup
Materials needed: Image cards, or access to web images, or magazines

How This Embodies Teaching Otherwise

This practice introduces creative methods as legitimate academic work without requiring art supplies or extensive preparation.

It embodies care as curriculum by creating a non-confrontational space where all perspectives are valued. It demonstrates criticality as method by surfacing students' existing knowledge and assumptions without judgment. It activates collective imagination as essential work by positioning storytelling as a way of accessing understanding that analytical methods might miss.

This is essentially photovoice in the classroom - using images to draw out what students really see and think about any concept. The power lies in surfacing student knowledge that already exists rather than imposing external frameworks. There are no wrong answers because the goal is understanding what ideas, assumptions, and insights students bring to the subject.

The pedagogical shift: From "here's what you need to know" to "what do you already see and think about this?" From expert transmission to collaborative knowledge surfacing. From individual right answers to collective meaning-making.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Image Selection (3 minutes)

Provide students with:

• Physical image cards spread on tables
• Access to stock photo websites (Unsplash, Pexels)
• Magazine pages with workplace/people images
• Or pre-selected image collection shared digitally

Ask them to choose one image that draws their attention. Not because it's "right" but because something about it speaks to them. Trust their instincts - they're drawn to images that connect to their existing knowledge and experience.

Step 2: Story Creation (7 minutes)

Ask students to create a 2-3 minute story inspired by their image, connected to any concept you're exploring:

• Opening a module: "What do you see about [subject] in this image?"
• Introducing a topic: "Tell the story of [concept] that this image sparks for you"
• Any subject: "What's really happening here? What's underneath what we can see?"

This works for any discipline - economics, psychology, engineering, literature. The image becomes a window into what students already know and think about your subject.

Emphasise: This isn't about what's literally in the image, but what ideas it surfaces. What do you really see when you look at this?

Step 3: Story Sharing (8 minutes)

In pairs or groups of 3, students share their stories. Not presenting or performing, just sharing what they see. Listen for:

• What knowledge and experience students already bring
• What assumptions emerge about the subject/concept
• What different perspectives arise from the same images
• What insights surface that you might not have anticipated

This is collaborative knowledge-building. Students discover they already know more than they think, and that their classmates see things they miss.

Step 4: Brief Reflection (2 minutes)

Ask the whole group: "What did you notice about what we already know?" Don't analyse too deeply - just acknowledgment that students bring valuable knowledge and that different perspectives enrich understanding.

What to Expect

Image selection: Students usually spend time choosing, often drawn to images that connect to their own experiences or concerns.

Story creation: Initially hesitant ("What kind of story?"), then increasingly engaged as they realise there's no wrong answer.

Sharing: Energy typically increases as students hear how differently others interpret similar images. Often surprised by the insights that emerge.

Common Issues and Fixes

"This isn't academic enough"
Response: "Stories are how humans make sense of complex information. We're practising a thinking skill that's essential for understanding organisations and people."

"I'm not creative"
Response: "You tell stories every day - when you explain what happened at work, describe a problem, or share an experience. This is the same skill."

"What if I choose the wrong image?"
Response: "There's no wrong choice. The point is what story emerges from your thinking, not the image itself."

Quick Adaptations

Online: Use shared screen with image collection, breakout rooms for story sharing
Large lectures: Focus on individual story creation and a few volunteers sharing with whole group
Short sessions: Reduce to 10 minutes - quick image choice, 1-minute stories, brief pair sharing
No technology: Use magazine pages or pre-printed image collections

Success Indicators

• Students engage with the task without extensive resistance
• Stories reveal assumptions and values they hadn't articulated before
• Educators see that creative methods generate substantive thinking
• Students are willing to try similar exercises in future sessions
• The practice feels academic while being accessible

This small creative intervention demonstrates that storytelling belongs in academic spaces and generates insights that traditional analysis might miss.