Collecting Primary Source Oral History
The Student Challenge:
In December 1989 American Heritage Magazine began a unique series of articles called "My Brush with History". The magazine asked its readers to recall a moment in their lives when they were touched by events or forces that became a part of our historic record. The powerful and sometimes humorous accounts submitted every issue add personal insight to the events of our times.
As a student of history, you have the opportunity to collect a Brush with History. You can contribute to the historical record by interviewing and recording an encounter with an event that history texts only describe in broad terms. By posting this account for others to see, you will give us all a better understanding of the historical record described in the words of those who were brushed by its events.
Start with Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/
More than a collaborative discussion board, Google Groups, provides students with a location to post collected data, create webpages and contribute to conversations.
In Google Groups teachers can restrict or open up access levels. Invite students, staff and parents to participate. Students can add "Pages" and "Files" to the Brush with History Group, building out the site with historical artifacts. As the group manager, teachers can set the access, change the appearance and manage many more aspects under "Group settings".
The Student Task:
1. Students find a person (primary source) who witnessed or participated in an event that has been described in historical sources (textbooks, websites). The person could have encountered a famous person or been caught up in the events of a time. This must be a first hand account experienced by the source, not a story told to someone. Students make an appointed for a formal interview with their source.
2. Students research and read about the historical event or person your source will discuss during the interview.
3. Students write several pre-interview questions that they'll ask their source based on reading and research.
4. Students conduct interviews and record or take notes.
5. Students describe in a well written (powerful, entertaining and accurate) discussion board post, under the appropriate topic, the event they collected from their sources' Brush with History.
6. Students upload files or create "Pages" in the Group including further information they have gathered from their source (photos, sound files, links to video sources).
7. Student and teachers use rubric posted in Group Pages to evaluate.
Google Timeline and Book Search
As students do research they can explore Google Timeline with Google News Archive Search. http://news.google.com/archivesearch and use Google Book Search to search and browse through old magazines that might carry photographs or articles on the history of their event. http://books.google.com/books
To access a sample of this lesson: http://groups.google.com/group/brushwithhistory
Cheryl Davis - Acalanes Union High School District
Thanks to the Miramonte High School students who collected the oral histories used as samples in this lesson.