Oral History

Lesson objective:

To gain a sense of how world events affect people's lives.

Grade level and subject area:

7-12/ U.S. History, Global Studies & English

Activities and strategies:

Oral history, documenting stories from someone's past, works well in several curricular themes (Immigration, War, Change) as well as time frames (early 1900's or even today). As a class, develop some core questions students can use as a basis when they interview a parent, grandparent or other relative. The documentation can include words, pictures, art or some other medium. Depending on the focus of a course, students can report on the whole oral history, or pull out a date in the person's life and do research to see what was happening in the world at that time. Students could also design some kind of artifact which would reflect the culture of that person.

Resources and materials:

Brody, B. & Singer, A.J. (1990). "Franklin K. Lane High School Oral History Project and History Magazine." Magazine of History, Spring, 1990, 7-9, 18. ERIC is packed with other oral history examples and resources.

Susan Getting, Franklin K. Lane H.S., 999 Jamaica Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11208

This document was last updated 6/29/97 by Chandra Hawley.
Copyright1996 Indiana University - Center for Adolescent Studies, all rights reserved.
Kris Bosworth hey improved their language skills by discussing their local environments and communities.

Why do teachers use the Internet? Michael Yoakam, of the Center for Excellence in Education at Indiana University, says teachers use it to "model new ways to access information that will become the reality for the students' future." Teachers can help students' to hone their research skills by unleashing the enormous potential of the Internet.

By gaining access to the Internet, teachers and students can also: use retrieval systems like "Gopher" to find information for research projects; browse through the Library of Congress card catalog; send electronic mail to colleagues around the globe; read and post notices or lesson plans on electronic bulletin boards (Several Teacher Talk lessons have come from these); or subscribe to any of hundreds of newsgroups, which are like topical newspapers read on the computer screen. Newsgroups cover a broad range of topics including Distance Education, Autism, Ethics, or Politics.

To link up to the Internet, you need a computer, a modem, and a telephone line. Next, you will need access to an institution or agency that is linked to the Internet. Most colleges and universities are linked, as are most state's Departments of Education. To learn more, contact the technology coordinator at your school or call the Department of Education in your state. We look forward to meeting you and your students in cyberspace!

With so many services, how does one gain access to this valuable resource? Universities and corporations can sometimes provide access for nearby public schools. Several online computer services provide limited access, but offer additional services available only to subscribers. Only a few road maps are available for the "information superhighway." Therefore, you are encouraged to explore and to ask directions. Remember, though, even if you get lost, you will never be far from home. Most state departments of education have a consultant well traveled in "cyberspace."

Additional Reading:

Online Computer Services

(involve user fees):

Access Providers:

For additional information about access providers, call InterNIC Information Services at 1-800-444-4345.

This document was last updated 6/29/97 by Chandra Hawley.
Copyright1996 Indiana University - Center for Adolescent Studies, all rights reserved.
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