The narrative of Christopher Columbus symbolizes core values that are a part of America's national identity. However, the brave adventurism of the Columbus tale only tells part of the story. Historians have brought to light records about Columbus that include violence and enslavement of the Taino people, the principal inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands long before Europeans arrived. One means to present a complete version of the Columbus story is through educational digital storytelling (DST). DST for education is a communication strategy where people create media that tells a story from a personal perspective to promote new beliefs and behaviors. Viewers who become mentally and emotionally invested can experience narrative engagement which can change beliefs to align with those of the story. However, not all individuals are equally responsive, and individual differences can influence the likelihood of experiencing engagement with a narrative. Openness to experience is a personality trait identified by the Big Five Inventory that describes a person's propensity to imagination, curiosity, and creativity. People who are more able to visualize and imagine may be likely to experience narrative engagement to a greater degree. Those curious about new ideas may also be more receptive to a more accurate portrayal of a previously accepted historical myth. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship of a digital story retelling the Columbus tale with persuasive learning outcomes through narrative engagement moderated by openness to experience. It found that educational DST following a narrative format was more effective at narrative persuasion than the same information presented as a non-narrative, standard lecture, but only through narrative engagement conditioned by openness to experience. With that understanding, teachers and other content developers can create educational material that engages an audience by encouraging openness to promote learning. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]