Trainers as storytellers

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Trainers as storytellers

• The effective use of anecdote in teaching
• Dr Tom Alderson

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Workshop

• Introductions
• Group work Do we use anecdotes ?
• What do we know about anecdotes?
• Group work How do I use anecdotes?
• Discussion
• Group work How might I use anecdotes in the
  future?

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Anecdote

• A short story about an interesting, amusing or
  biographical incident which is informal, to
  illustrate a single point and has a narrative
  thread.

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They came in the room, Max came in, sat in the
consulting chair and I said why dont you let
your mum sit there and go in the other chair?"
And he wouldnt go to the other chair, the child
wouldnt come, and Dad grabbed Max round the
neck. In my presence. And Max started crying. And
Kate said Dad just tried to strangle him. I
dont need this in the emergency surgery.
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Anecdote

• Informal descriptions of events, series of
  events or prototypical events used to make a
  point, but which are not strictly narrative in
  structure, and have a large evaluative element.

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Frankie will eat raw green pepper. (Yuck) He
likes grapefruit as well, which lots of children
dont like. And lemon. He eats lemons. He likes
them. So not all children like the same things.
But yes, most wont eat them I agree.
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Anecdote

• Understanding from anecdotes is facilitated when
  the speaker and audience share a common
  background or culture

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Background

• GP trainers state that they use anecdote
  frequently in their teaching questionnaire
  study (Alderson 2002)
• Observational studies in hospital demonstrate
  widespread use of anecdote in educational
  settings (Hunter 1986)
• Similar findings in primary care (Alderson-
  unpublished)
• Anecdotes can be used effectively in education
  (Hunter 1991, Alderson -unpublished)
• Anecdotes have the potential to mislead
  (McNaughton 1995, May 1995)

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Positive use of anecdotes (Hunter)

• Mnemonic to aid retention of information
• Presenting an atypical case
• Aids to socialisation and professionalisation
  (examples of ways of behaving in professional
  life both clinically, ethically and socially)
• Disclosing information about tellers character
• Gaining clinical knowledge/experience vicariously

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Positive uses of anecdotes (Alderson)

• Presenting a dilemma
• Giving advice
• Illustrating ways of behaving in personal life
• Revealing others character as examples

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Negative use of anecdote

• Evidence not generalisable but may be presented
  as such
• Boring reminiscences
• Cases may be too memorable

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Workshop

• Introductions
• Group work Do we use anecdotes ?
• What do we know about anecdotes?
• Group work How do I use anecdotes?
• Discussion
• Group work How might I use anecdotes in the
  future?

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Workshop

• Introductions
• Group work Do we use anecdotes ?
• What do we know about anecdotes?
• Group work How do I use anecdotes?
• Discussion
• Group work How might I use anecdotes in the
  future?

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Conclusion

• One learning point from the session
• One thing I might do differently