February 1, 2012
Contact: Cal Poly Liberal Studies Department
805-756-2935; libstud@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Hosts Free Feb. 11 Storytelling Workshop for K-12 Science and
Math Teachers
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Science consultant, oceanographer, author and master storyteller Kendall Haven will conduct a free workshop for K-12 teachers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in The Cotchett Education Building, Room 212, at Cal Poly .
The workshop will focus on using storytelling to teach science and math in the K-12 classroom. Participants will learn how to use storytelling to create an anticipatory set, to deliver content, to bring a story to life, and to present biographical stories on researchers, mathematicians and scientists.
“Storytelling is serious teaching,” Haven said. His workshop draws on a decade of reviewing research from 16 scientific fields -- including neurobiology, developmental psychology, physiology and education -- as well as his experience working with 40,000 teachers and 270,000 students in 1,100 schools across the nation.
Haven is a recognized expert on the structure of stories, the process of writing, and the use of story structure in all aspects of education. His workshops offer educators a unique understanding of the structure and process of creative (story) and expository writing, the performance required to influence student learning, and the skills to teach the craft to faculty, parents and students.
The workshop is sponsored by the Cal Poly Liberal Studies Department. The event is free and open to all educators and Cal Poly students. Reservations are required, as space is limited. For details or to reserve a space, contact Maureen Conner in the Liberal Studies Department at mzconner@calpoly.edu or 805-756-2935
A West Point graduate who holds a master’s degree in oceanography, Haven served for eight years as a senior research scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy before delving into the study of effective communication. He is the author of “Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story.” Haven originally began his career as a storyteller as a way to test communication research theories.
To learn more about Haven and his work, visit www.kendallhaven.com.
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