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Traditional Navajo Storytelling as an Educational Strategy: Student Voices

abstract: This mixed methods action research study explores the phenomenon of Navajo storytelling from the student perspective, exploring views of their experiences, and how those experiences and perceptions impact their learning. Navajo storytelling reflects the traditional teachings of the Dine, and serves as the foundation to character building promoting the concepts and processes of T’aa Sha Bik’ehgo Na’nitin (“sense of direction”). The design of the study supports the students’ achievement by utilizing a storytelling approach to teaching that organizes learning around the principles of critical thinking (nitshakees), planning (nahata), reasoning (iina), and creativity (sihasiin) found in the Dine educational philosophy model, Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon. Goals of this study focus on the subject of traditional storytelling, Navajo folktales, to determine how the teaching and learning influences the processes by which a student makes decisions. Through oral storytelling the teachings place priority on creating a nurturing, respectful, and culturally inclusive environment based on Diné knowledge and language. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2016

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:asu.edu/item:41247
Date January 2016
ContributorsYonnie, Tammy (Author), Puckett, Kathleen (Advisor), Kleinsasser, Robert (Committee member), Begay, Harold (Committee member), Arizona State University (Publisher)
Source SetsArizona State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDoctoral Dissertation
Format147 pages
Rightshttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, All Rights Reserved

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