Storytelling Pedagogy for Creativity and Critical Thinking in Level VII History through Storytelling in Tech-Limited Settings

Abstract

This action research explores the effectiveness of storytelling as a pedagogical strategy to enhance creativity and critical thinking skills among 64 Grade VII students (aged 12–13) in a technology-limited, middle-class school in Pakistan. The study was motivated by persistent challenges in traditional history education, which often relies on rote memorization, leading to student disengagement and a lack of higher-order cognitive development. The investigation employed a quasi-experimental design conducted over a two-week period. The intervention consisted of a pre-test to establish a baseline, two structured storytelling practice sessions, and a post-test. During the sessions, students were guided to create and present their own historical narratives using the “4 Ws” framework (who, what, when, why) to scaffold their analytical reasoning. This methodology was intentionally designed to be a low-cost, replicable model for educators in developing countries with constrained resources.

Quantitative results demonstrated substantial improvement. The average score for story writing increased by 25%, from 57% to 82%. When assessed against a 5-point rubric, creativity scores rose from 2.80 to 4.28, and critical thinking scores improved from 2.77 to 4.13, indicating significant growth in both skill sets.

Qualitative data from student narratives provided deeper context, revealing an enhanced ability to connect historical causes and consequences. A notable finding was students' spontaneous use of perspective-taking, often drawing narrative inspiration from the popular historical drama Diriliş Ertuğrul.

While the study is limited by its sample size and short duration, the findings strongly suggest that storytelling is a viable, low-tech pedagogy for fostering higher-order thinking in resource-constrained settings. Future research should involve longitudinal studies with larger samples to validate the long-term impact and explore cross-disciplinary applications.

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