Workshop Description: Register Today
Using Community Connection and Storytelling for Engaged Learning.
Interdisciplinary learning is no longer just about connecting subjects — it’s about connecting students to the world around them. Together, we’ll explore how storytelling can transform learning by linking academic content with real community issues and human experiences. Drawing on case studies from Docathon and LeeAnne Lavender’s storytelling and experiential learning projects, participants will see how stories can spark curiosity, foster empathy, and bring deeper meaning to student work. Together, we’ll uncover practical ways to weave community connection and storytelling, especially via short documentary films, into interdisciplinary learning — helping students see themselves as both learners and changemakers.
As a result of participating in this institute, attendees can expect to:
● Understand how storytelling can frame and deepen interdisciplinary units.
● Explore authentic examples of student storytelling projects connected to real community issues.
● Identify practical ways to integrate story-driven reflection, purpose, and communication into existing units.
● Leave with a replicable activity or structure to try with their own students
● Be excited to learn more via LeeAnne’s course and Docathon.
Target Audience: School Educators
Fees: No cost for AISA Members
Facilitator:
-
LeeAnne is an independent educational consultant, coach and facilitator for international educators, and she is also the Service Learning Program Coordinator at the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA). She specializes in storytelling, digital storytelling, service learning and global citizenship, and she loves partnering with schools and teachers to create learning experiences that have impact and lead to deep learning. She’s committed to helping educators build changemaker/ changeseeker cultures to equip students with skills and mindsets to engage in positive, purposeful action.
-
Thomas Graham is a British author, TEDx speaker, and social entrepreneur who believes in the power of stories to change the world. Over the past decade, he has founded and led social impact-driven businesses in the Philippines, Singapore, and the UK, empowering young people and communities through sustainable travel, social enterprise, and storytelling. His latest initiative, Docathon, is a global youth film program that trains and mentors students to create impactful short documentaries on issues that matter in their local communities. In just the past six months, Docathons have taken place across four continents, connecting students