Stories are powerful, they are capable of conveying culture, history, and values with just spoken words. The best thing about them is they trigger our imagination and hence, they stick. And they work with everyone. So, if you thought that stories are just for children, you are wrong. Stories are equally magical for adults and that shows in the increasing number of podcast listeners across the globe. 

Interactive storytelling is the modern method of telling stories with the help of technology. This method is a perfect collaboration of technology, art, and communication and has been proven to boost both imagination and memory in children.

Interactive storytelling is a wonderful way of teaching children all the important values with the help of modern gadgets and tools. So, it’s traditional, yet it’s modern in the outlook and definitely effective.

Let’s talk more about interactive storytelling, its benefits, and some of the most popular storytelling methods that pique the listener’s interest and teach lessons that will last a lifetime.

Benefits of Storytelling

First things, first. What are the benefits of storytelling? Why storytelling course?

1. Storytelling fosters imagination
2. It sharpens the memory
3. It enhances communication skills
4. It instills moral and cultural values
5. It improves listening skills and comprehension

What Makes Storytelling So Effective?

Storytelling Creates Connections

Storytelling is capable of bringing a group of children together. It holds the collective imagination all the way up to the climax and gives children a point to identify with. Since everyone has a different perception, storytelling gives children a chance to think and imagine individually while creating a collective sense of joy or sorrow based on the character’s moods.

So, on the one hand, storytelling is individualistic because our minds are different and magical and on the other hand, it also offers an opportunity for building connections and a sense of belonging. 

Storytelling Takes Care of All Types of Learners

Storytelling is one of the most powerful learning methods that cater to all types of learners. It takes care of visual learners, auditory learners, and even kinesthetic learners. Visual learners receive the mental pictures that are triggered by their imagination. For the auditory learners, there is a narration that builds up the flow and the kinesthetic learners enjoy the emotional connection and feelings built up by the story.

Stories Result in a Lifetime of Lessons

As already mentioned, well-narrated stories stick. So, if you want children to remember a lesson for life, it is best delivered through a story-telling session. This applies to adults also. A beautiful story always remains in the back of the mind and is brought to the forefront whenever needed or applicable. And that is why storytelling is such a profound way of teaching and learning.

Popular Methods of Storytelling

There are literally hundreds of different methods of storytelling. Most are focused on entertainment and learning and only differ in their format. Here are some of the popular storytelling methods that you will find at eTutorWorld.

Puppetry

Puppetry needs no introduction. It is an age-old form of theatre that uses puppets to tell a story and covers most genres. This method is much loved by all age groups and has been proven to be effective to get a point across. Puppetry is a theatre performance with the help of puppets instead of people. The puppets are handled by one or more puppeteers and the process may or may not be elevated with music, light, and special effects.

Interactive Storytelling

Interactive storytelling is one of the basic forms of storytelling that is popular for its use of modern methods, simple narration, and collaboration with the audience. In most cases, the storyline is not determined in this format and the narrators build the story as they go. This way, the audience is treated to alternative endings based on their choice. Interactive storytelling improves imagination, builds confidence, and enables easy collaborations.

Performative Storytelling

Performative storytelling is a beautiful method of storytelling that combines words and actions with imagination and is the basis of theatre activities. It gives stories an easygoing structure and flow that makes for fun storytelling sessions for both kids and adults. This method of storytelling is quite old and was once the only source of entertainment for people across the globe.

Kamishibai

Kamishibai comes from the streets of Japan. It is a beautiful art form that has its roots in street theatre, Buddhism, and picture card storytelling. In this format, the text is written at the back of the illustrated cards to help teachers read the text easily while the students look at the picture and imagine a scenario. Other than storytelling, Kamishibai is used to teach languages, academic lessons, team collaborations, recipes, and even communication.

Several Studies Vouch for the Importance and Benefits of Storytelling

Experts at Harvard Business believe that storytelling is all about influence, engagement, inspiration, and learning. They help us gain a new perspective of the world we live in and make sense of things and situations that surprise us. Science says the magic of storytelling rides on Cortisol, Oxytocin, and Dopamine.

Another study talks about how stories shape our brain, help us relate to others’ experiences and make us more empathetic and generous. Research by Paul J. Zak, an Author and a Ph.D. in the field of neuroscience, dives deep into how stories trigger our sense of belonging and make us into better, likable people who have a positive mindset.

Storytelling at eTutorWorld

eTutorWorld offers a premium storytelling course for 5–12-year-old children. This course is conducted by some of the best storytellers out there and brings some of the most popular storytelling techniques to your home. Register your child today to transform their minds through an age-old method of learning. This is a course spanning 8 story sessions

Sanskrit is a global language, still, we Indians can hardly speak it. Why? Yes, we have evolved but it doesn’t hurt to go back to our heritage. To go back to a language that has become the linguistic backbone of several Indian and European languages.

Sanskrit is the “Mother of all Languages” and even great European philosophers like Voltaire, Immanuel and others acknowledged that Sanskrit was the root of all Indo-European languages.

Sanskrit and English

We use several words from Sanskrit vocabulary, even while conversing in English. Don’t believe me? Let me give you some examples. The word Mother has been derived from ‘Mathru’ in Sanskrit and brother comes from the word ‘Bhratha’. Both of these are just the tip of the iceberg, there are many such words that have become part and parcel of European languages.

One very popular example of Sanskrit usage in English is the movie Avatar. When people all over the world watched this mega-hit Hollywood movie, little did they know that the word to describe “alter ego” was borrowed from Sanskrit!

Sanskrit words even got embedded into Greek, Latin, and Persian languages during the peak usage of Sanskrit in ancient times and these words today form a vast majority of the English language.

Evolution of Grammar

It is a widely acknowledged fact that grammar evolved from Sanskrit, way before any known language in the world. Sanskrit has been widely spoken in most parts of the world for centuries, both in direct and indirect forms.

Several ancient scriptures (Vedas, Upanishads, Epics, etc.) were written in this language. Scriptures written on subjects as varied as Medicine, Economics, Yoga, Mathematics, Astrology, etc. written in Sanskrit, were later borrowed by Persian, Greek, Latin, and Arabic scholars. Sanskrit gave birth to many languages and also gave birth to the script (Devanagari) which is the foundation of many popular languages spoken and read in India.

Ironically, the ‘Mother of all Languages’ also considered to be the “God’s Own Language” has not gotten the due credit and respect it deserves at its birthplace – India.

It is quite heartening to read about European nations like Germany, the Netherlands, etc. encouraging the usage of the Sanskrit language in their country. The day is not far when we may find more and more Europeans conversing in Sanskrit than Indians. Maybe that’s when we will adopt Sanskrit and give the language its due. All thanks to our typical mindset of following western practices.

A Village that Speaks Sanskrit and a Sanskrit Daily

Today when we hear of people speaking Sanskrit in their day-to-day conversations in India, it becomes News. Mattur village in Karnataka is one such example. Even news of Sanskrit being introduced in schools or colleges becomes a piece of breaking news, but for the wrong reasons.

The only Sanskrit daily in India that is published from Mysore called “Sudharma” is on its last legs. Appeals were made through social media to revive the newspaper due to the imminent threat of the Press being closed down. For Sudharma, funding was certainly one of the pressing issues but the prime concern was the lack of readership.

How many people in India can really understand the language today, that was once used by every Indian several centuries ago. Today, when a Hindu Priest chants the shlokas in Sanskrit, you may not follow even a word and lose out on the significance of the Ritual, unless the Priest explains the shlokas to you in the language you both understand.

Spoken Sanskrit Course at eTutorWorld

To encourage “Spoken Sanskrit”, eTutorWorld.com is making a small yet genuine attempt, by offering Live, Virtual, or Online Course. It can be accessed by anybody living on this planet, having access to an internet enabled computer or smartphone. People across age groups (8 to infinity) can access the course online from the comfort of their homes without any excuses such as, “have no time; have to travel long distance” etc. The course is designed in such a way that students can start conversing in Sanskrit from Day 1, with subtle introduction to the grammatical aspects.

Next time you speak your mother tongue and hear people speak other languages, you will immediately understand why Sanskrit is called the “Mother of all Languages” and only then will you start appreciating the language much more.

Dear Parents,

Are you all set for Thanksgiving? Is your dinner planned? This year, how about giving your little ones a chance to surprise your guests with lip-smacking dishes?

Sounds like a yummy idea to us. And if you think hard, this will give you a chance to spend some quality time with the children in the kitchen. Scroll down to find some simple yet creative and delicious recipes that the kids can put together in a jiffy. Please note that a few of them will require both parent supervision and help. And of course, all of them make for great food ideas for children at the party.

1. Bread Pizza

This is a quick bread recipe that can be used as an appetizer for both children and adults. Here’s how you can make it.

Ingredients

• Bread Loaf
• Processed Cheese
• Pizza Sauce
• Oregano
• Chili Flakes
• Salt
• Butter

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Take a bread slice. Spread the pizza sauce on it. Sprinkle the herbs and the salt. Top it with butter cubes and grated cheese. You can ask children to help with all these steps.

Place the bread slice on a greased oven tray and repeat the sauce, herb, and toppings procedure for more slices. Once your tray is full (place the slices side by side), slide it in the oven for a few minutes.

Ask the little ones to keep an eye on when the butter and cheese melt and your pizza bread is ready. Take it out of the oven and cut the slice into triangles or squares and serve. You can also toast the slices on a stovetop in a covered pan.

2. Cheese and Crackers

This is probably the simplest start for any party. It’s a delicious starter and always a hit.

Ingredients

• Cheese
• Crackers
• Herbs
• Salt

Before you begin preparing this snack, cut the cheese into thin slices or buy cheese slices and cut them as per the cracker’s size. Now ask the little helpers to open the pack of crackers and place them side to side on a tray. Next, ask them to place the cheese slices on the crackers. One slice for one cracker. Now is the time to sprinkle the herbs of your choice. Plain pizza mix herbs work too. Sprinkle some salt and serve. To give it a healthy twist, top the cheese and crackers with a mix of finely chopped veggies like onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and spinach.

3. Mashed Potato Casserole

Mashed potatoes are a must-have with turkey. So, how can we miss it? Here’s a simple recipe that will keep the little chefs busy and your guests delighted. This dish needs some preparation before the children can help with it.

Ingredients

• Russet Potatoes
• Cheese
• Butter
• Milk
• Salt
• Panko
• Sour Cream
• Garlic Powder
• Chives
• Bacon

Boil the potatoes till they are tender. Put them in a big bowl and let them cool off. Ask the kids to mash the potatoes slightly. Now add, cheese, sour cream, and milk to the bowl and mix. Season with salt and garlic powder. Give a good mix. Then add roasted panko and mix again.

Once you are happy with the smooth consistency, add the mix to a baking tray and top it with more cheese. Bake till the mixture is warm and cheese is melted. Once outside, top it up with crumbled bacon and chives. While making this dish, please ensure that the children do not get over-enthusiastic with mashing or you will end up with a gummy casserole.

4. Stylish Boiled Eggs

For this recipe, you will have to do the boiling, chopping, and grating. Children come in only while plating.

Ingredients

• Boiled Eggs
• Salt
• Herbs
• Cheese
• Onion
• Parsley
• Lemon

Finely chop onion and parsley. Mix them in a bowl. Add salt, herbs, and a few drops of lemon to the mix. Peel the boiled eggs and slice them in half. Ask children to place them nicely (face up) on a plate or tray. Next, ask them to place the onion parsley mix on top of the eggs. Top it with grated cheese and the dish is ready to serve.

5. Mixed Fruits with Ice-cream

No party can ever be complete without desserts and never without ice cream for that matter. This recipe is a healthy dessert that can be served in two ways.

Ingredients

• Apple
• Banana
• Cherries
• Plum
• Grapes
• Watermelon

To get this recipe right you have to hit a balance between sweet and citrus fruits. Further, your ice cream should be of a mild flavor so that you can taste the fruits. If you don’t prefer ice cream, you can make a simple custard base.

Dice the fruits and mix them in a large bowl. You can assign the mixing task to the children. Add diced fruits one by one to the bow and let them mix. Place the bowl on a table right after dinner along with a bucket of ice cream. Go for Vanilla for the best result.

While serving, add a spoonful of fruits to a bowl, top it with a scoop of ice cream and that’s it. The dessert is ready. For a fancy finish, you can also crumble some wafers on top. Health-conscious people can simply grab a bowl full of fruits.

We hope these recipes will help you have a great time with your children on Thanksgiving. On this note, we all at eTutorWorld, wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful day with your family and friends.

Going back to work often becomes a tricky task for mothers because of their involvement in children’s academics. After all, with mom in the office, who will help the children with the homework? And who is going to clear the doubts that may crop up with difficult topics such as fractions and the solar system?

Efficient academic support can alleviate this problem by taking care of children’s learning in the absence of Mom. An online tutoring platform can do the job and that is why Returnize is adding eTutorWorld to the resources it offers its clients that are eager to get back to work force but not without good grades.

eTutorWorld and Returnize

While reentering the workforce can be a challenging and tedious process, it doesn’t have to be a dreaded and lonely activity. The Returnize program format develops a support network for women to lean on as they enumerate their strengths and abilities

Returnize offers a structured framework and a supportive community that helps the ladies get their careers back on track.

Since children’s academics is a major concern for women approaching Returnize, Swati the founder of Returnize believes that Customized eTutorWorld tutoring is a great resource for engaged moms.

It offers working moms a learning solution that will take care of their children’s academics while they focus on building their careers. A learning platform that has a team of expert tutors can efficiently take up the academic responsibility and help women get back to offices without worry. This is where eTutorWorld comes in.

Online Learning Through One-to-One Sessions

eTutorWorld offers top-notch online tutoring for students in K to 12. It offers subject tutoring, grade tutoring, and standardized test prep and also takes care of special courses such as Coding, Space Science, and Artificial Intelligence.

eTutorWorld and Returnize are now joining hands to make back-to-work, a worry-free possibility.  With their collaboration, both the platforms aim to enable women to rejoin the workforce as and when they want while providing them all the critical support they require.

Online learning has become a necessity as of late, and it is likely it will continue to be prominent in 2024 and beyond. Online learning and tutoring can be challenging for some, but it will evolve as it becomes essential. You can expect a few things of value in the field this year, including some points relating to unique technologies within the industry. These developments will make online learning easier to support.

Incorporating Virtual Reality

People are always trying to find online learning forms as close to the real thing as possible. Virtual reality could be one point that makes learning easier.

Virtual reality is an exciting concept that will influence the online learning world in 2024. Virtual learning entails people exploring a real or fictional world through a virtual reality device. A person can move through the environment and explore many features.

Virtual reality is ideal for studies on sciences and other physical concepts, but it could be adapted to cover any other subject. It provides a format for learning that will interest people. It also removes the idea of language from the learning process, making it easier for people to comprehend what they are studying.

Accessibility on Mobile Devices

People will become more mobile in 2024. The online learning world will adapt to this by making it easier for people to access their learning content through their phones or other mobile devices.

Mobile learning lets people access their study materials through their phones. People can review their data while traveling or doing other things. It becomes easier for people to see what they are studying at any moment.

The development of 5G wireless technology will simplify online learning. With people having access to faster speeds and online connections, it shouldn’t be tough for people to access whatever learning details they wish to manage.

Learning is a twenty-four-hour process. Mobile learning makes it easier for people to figure out what they are studying.

Will 5G Make a Difference?

The 5G concept is essential for how it makes communications easier to manage. Raconteur writes that 5G data works at a higher radio frequency to transfer more data over the air. The setup reduces latency and congestion, plus data become accessible in less time. While 4G technology uses a bandwidth of 200mbps, 5G works at 1gbps.

Having significantly faster times for loading data will be critical for online learning for many reasons:

• Educators and online tutors can utilize more virtual and augmented reality programs.
• Internet of Things-enabled devices may also be available.
• Teachers and tutors can plan their projects and send more data out to their students.

It may take a while for 5G systems to move through all parts of the country. But 5G connections will become more visible after a while, especially as people start to use devices that can support these links. The hope is for about a quarter of the world’s population to have access to 5G technology within the next five years.

Is Artificial Intelligence Going To Make a Difference?

Artificial intelligence has become more commonplace in today’s technical world. AI systems allow machines to think and respond to different ideas in real-time. A machine learns from its environment and interactions and starts producing personalized responses.

As convenient as artificial intelligence can be, it can never be a replacement for one-on-one interactions. People will continue to choose online tutor services that help them understand their subjects and can cater to their unique needs.

But don’t be surprised if tutors start working alongside AI solutions to assist them in their teaching efforts. Online tutors can use AI to identify what students understand. AI systems could review the subjects being taught and what gaps are still open. The AI system can work with the distinct intellectual and pedagogical concepts the tutor recognizes.

What Is Gamification?

People want to be motivated when they are learning. Gamification makes it possible for people to feel motivated in their work.

According to BI Worldwide, gamification is a concept where game mechanics enter a non-gaming environment. It uses a few steps:

1. People are provided with objectives to complete.
2. A user will receive feedback when finishing the work.
3. The user will be rewarded after doing things right
4. The program then provides more steps on what things someone should complete next.

Gamification encourages people to work towards the objectives they wish to finish. The goals one must complete are easier to understand. People will also notice whatever things might be more interesting in the work they manage.

Gamification is necessary for education, as people will feel motivated when learning. They will feel that by completing their educational efforts, it becomes easier for them to know how to study.

Video Becomes More Prevalent

Traditional learning entails reading things and studying what one’s texts say. While text materials can feature plenty of details, they might not always be easy for people to follow. You can expect video to become more visible in the online learning world in 2024 and beyond.

Video learning allows people to see things in action. Students become more invested in the work, as it is presented in a lively form that supports interactions. Some advanced programs may include questions, menus, pointer phrases, and other features.

Online video is highly accessible, as seen through platforms like YouTube. You can expect video learning to become more popular as people start to pick up this format.

The only issue with video becoming more visible entails how people can produce and script videos. Teachers and tutors must review how they can convert their lesson plans to video formats.

A Final Word

The excitement of online learning will continue to be worthwhile. There’s a possibility that online learning will evolve further in 2024. But as it becomes more of a necessity, it will need to change with the times. The increasing role of technology in society and the simplification of how teaching works will make online learning more valuable.