Co-creation of a human library of digital stories to Advance WMS Inclusive Education Priorities & Foster Belonging.
Note: Stories will be stored and shared for educational purposes. Restrictions on use will be as agreed with the story teller.
Overview
This community-building initiative invites students, staff, and community partners to collaborate in building a Human Library of Digital Stories鈥攁 living, evolving collection of personal narratives highlighting diverse experiences, identities, and ways of learning and being. Through co鈥慶reation, the project aims to amplify voices that are often underrepresented and cultivate a culture of empathy, visibility, and belonging.
Contact:
Project Lead:
Critical Friend: Imogen Davies
Student partnership: Thank you to Lara Hollingworth and Rebecca Hunt for contributing their ideas to this project.
The initiative directly supports WMS Inclusive Education Core Priorities, especially:
Creating inclusive learning environments by valuing individual experiences as essential sources of knowledge.
Removing barriers to participation through flexible, multimodal storytelling formats (audio, video, graphic, written, etc.).
Supporting learner identity, agency, and wellbeing by giving participants a platform to share their stories authentically.
Fostering a Sense of Belonging
Belonging is strengthened when everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. This competition promotes belonging through:
Storytelling as connection 鈥� participants learn from diverse lived experiences.
Co鈥慶reation and partnership 鈥� stories are built with people, not about them.
Representation 鈥� showcasing intersectional identities, cultural backgrounds, neurodiverse experiences, accessibility journeys, and more.
Community engagement 鈥� creating a shared digital space that celebrates difference and common humanity.
Goals
Participants will:
Collect or create digital stories in varied formats (video, audio, animation, podcast, photo essay, interactive media, etc.).
Engage ethically with storytellers using principles of dignity, consent, and agency.
Address one or more WMS Inclusive Education Core Priorities, such as:
Accompanying reflections or impact statements connecting each story to inclusive education and belonging.
Masterclass workshops: developing skills for digital storytelling and effective learning with stories
Aspiring to follow up with:
Public showcase, exhibition
Panel discussion with storytellers
Co-created proposal for next steps
Thank you to the WMS Inclusive Education Committee for allocating a share of their available 25/26 funds to this project. Funding will support:
Paying two students to support project delivery
Costs associated with hosting digital storytelling masterclasses
Vouchers to incentivise participation
Costs associated with presenting a showcase of submissions
Throughout this project we will be promoting and supporting the use of Gibbet Hill CoLab of Curiosity studio space and equipment. Working to reduce barriers to student and staff participation in digital projects such as digital poverty and digital capability.
