Activity 2: Skills and Best Practices

Oral History

Interviews with adults in the community are an excellent way to bring generations together in interpreting history. Students have a much easier time understanding historical events when they realize that there are people living in the community who can turn history into a story that they have lived. The History Channel epitomizes this approach as they make history come alive by interviewing those who were part of history: http://www.historychannel.com/classroom/oralhistguidelines.pdf

Here are Guidelines for Oral History Interviews. More detailed information can be accessed at their website:

1. Picking an Interview Topic: Narrowing your topic will give it a focus.
2. Picking Someone to Interview
• Did they live at that time?
• Do they have information about the topic?
3. Make an Interview Appointment
• Make it a special event for the person being interviewed.
• Send a list of possible questions prior to the interview.
4. Preparing For the Interview
• Do some background reading on the topic.
• Use the "who? what? when? where? why?" questions to help you prepare for the interview and to focus your questions for the interview.
5. Write Out Good Interview Questions
• Use "memory questions" to set the mood for the interview
• Use follow-up questions to get more in-depth information
• Encourage the person to tell stories and anecdotes to add a human element to the story.
• Consider using the following kinds of questions:
• Explanation questions
• Judgment questions
• Be an Active Listener
• Send a Thank You Note

Perspective

This activity call for students to take a perspective and to compare this perspective to that of a historian. Perspective taking is a neglected skill in social studies; but is one that is very important. According to McTighe and Wiggins, it is one of the six elements of understanding.

Note: Additional information and the research basis for Understanding by Design can be found at: http://www.nascd.esu6.org/UbDResearchBase.pdf