When Dr. Tim Hill looked at how business students engaged with technology courses at San Jose State University, he saw a problem: most weren’t interested. Teaching business systems felt like forcing students to sit through a lecture on retirement accounts at age 20. Not exactly inspiring.
But rather than accept disengagement as inevitable, Dr. Hill found a solution: storification. By weaving a relatable narrative around a fictional student named “Max,” students were drawn into a story where technology became the key to real-world opportunities. Through Max’s blog posts, students followed her journey learning Salesforce, building apps, and helping a startup. It wasn’t about dry technical instruction — it was about a peer showing them that innovation was within their reach.
The results were striking. Students who had been indifferent became enthusiastic. Some even changed majors. The approach helped them build not only technical confidence but also a mindset of innovation — learning how to identify inefficiencies and creatively apply technology to solve problems.
Now, Dr. Hill is taking storification even further. With AI tools, he plans to transform Max into a video character, making the learning experience even more immersive. Students won’t just read about Max; they’ll see and hear her guide them through complex systems, lowering barriers and building lasting skills.
The takeaway? You don’t need to be a coding genius to succeed in the modern business world. You need curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and a basic grasp of how technology can empower innovation. And sometimes, all it takes is the right story to show you the way.