2.18 Oral history

After a brief review of the Principles and best practices for oral histories we created a list of some of this readings most important points about the definition and practice of oral history.

Definition:
oral history is both the practice and the product of asking questions (an interview) about a participant's life story as it unfolds within a particular time, place, and cultural context.

Some observations about doing oral history:

Contact your participant before the interview

Do your background research

Outline topics/questions beforehand (but be flexible in the interview)

Do your interview in a quiet place

Make sure to distribute/sign permissions/release forms prior to the interview

Remember that oral history will be public information

Be sure to let your participant know s/he is free to withdraw (stop the interview) at any time

Avoid stereotypes

Defer coming to conclusions

Encourage participation in convreation

Interviewing style
After talking through the Oral History Association's handout, I let you know that you would be doing some short informal "oral histories" about your classmates' experiences with Valentine's day.  You took a minute to think of/map out some questions, and then we had a short conversation about how to "do: your interview.  Some points that came up included:

using a conversational style

starting with "easy" questions

making sure you waited long enough (didn't get upset by the silence) for your partcipant to answer

Interviews!  You then did your interviews - using your phone to record the conversation.  In our wrap up, after the exercise, you noted that:

It was hard to stay on topic

Needed more time to prepare

Other questions seemed to arise in the interview process

Some of your questions were answered before you get to them

Check your equipment!  (make sure it works)

Ask open-ended questions

You did a great job on this!  I'm hoping each of you got a feel for interviewing - and for your strengths and areas to work on. 

For next class
Blog 7:  Listen to the recording of your oral history.  Write up some observations about what you have learned about interviewing.

Read:  How Student Beliefs in Giftedness and Teacher Competence Affect Writing Self-Assessments by Amber Watson

In class on Thursday we are going to go through the giftedness essay quickly.  Pay attention to how Watson designed and used her survey (in the methods section).  Also pay attention to the "form" of this essay.  What do you think works?  What do you think would work better if she presented it differntly (say, in a differnt order, or as a chart, or with more discussion, or with different headings. . . etc).  Then we are going to talk about the research projects and creating a research plan.  

You are doing a great job on this course - even though we seem to have had about half the required meetings!   See you Thursday.