GeoLocation Storytelling for Educators

Geolocation storytelling blends narrative, place, and technology into a learning experience that is both memorable and deeply engaging. By tying stories to real-world locations, authors invite learners to move through landscapes, communities, and history while meaningfully interacting with content. Over the past ten years of producing geolocation stories, we have learned that their power lies not in technical complexity, but in creativity, curiosity, and connection to place.

In this article, I write about augmented reality and geolocation storytelling. I dive into the details of how I created the latest augmented reality/geolocation story in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Stillwater fire department. I purposefully cover this in great detail for the benefit of anyone who wants to get started with this new medium.

Geolocation storytelling reveals something about a location when the student visits the site either physically or virtually. The student can see or hear the narrative on her smartphone when she physically visits a site or clicks on a map marker. In this article I intend to share a project that I’m currently working on. I intend to disclose the inspiration of the project, the brainstorming, and the nuts and bolts of how I am putting it all together. It’s not completed. It truly is a work in progress.