Oral History Society

Experiment, share, revise: Learning through oral history and digital storytelling Author(s): Martin Bazley and Helen Graham Source: Oral History, Vol. 40, No. 2, REFLECTIONS (AUTUMN 2012), pp. 109-113 Published by: Oral History Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41806362 . Accessed: 01/04/2014 03:39
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ORAL HISTORY Autumn 2012 109

LEARNING

Experiment, through storytelling oral

share, history

revise: and

Learning digital

Martin Bazley: In Conversation Theother side isconsumplearning experience. tion ofthat oral initself andthat hasthe history, to be really usefulforlearning, potential whether towar ora student's veterans, listening what itwaslike togotothe Odeon. gran saying Butthat distinction between and producing - ina good is being blurred In consuming way. thesense that as creator youcanhavelearner andlearner as consumer andthetwocannow connect a little bit more. For a group of example, children andadults other interviewing people whether itis intergenerational ornot- is an active ofengagement. I think that's the process areawhich most interests me. HG: Howdo youthink hasaffected digital that? What hasdigital made possible? MB:There arelots ofways inwhich digital hasmadeiteasier torecord, store andshare. And with allthese Web2.0 services andcheap cameras andmicrophones it's made italllessof a big dealtodo,andit's of opened upnew ways A group ofschool children can do learning. whatever ortheir teacher decide todo. In they technical terms there arenobarriers, andI think that's anenormous difference. making HG: There aretworeally interesting angles there. Thefirst isthe difference tothe of quality which comes from an enquiry based learning MB:Martin modelwhich on in these Bazley (info@martinbazley.com) youcan see going HG: HelenGraham, Oral projects and thesecondis thattheproject Editor, Learning doesn't 'end'as suchandWeb2.0 gives the (H.Graham@leeds.ac.uk) History ofongoing contributions the possibility beyond MB:My main inoral interest anddigital life ofthe history project. wouldbe in their for MB:I think there isananalogy here with web story telling potential - ina couple ofways. TTie of pages. A lotofpeople still think interms ofthe learning process oralhistory, onyour as a publication. Andthere be collecting reflecting expe- website might - as itis for menow- is a elements that aremore rience, likea publication, but justtalking Introduction Notso long todo agoa school group wanting anoralhistory would have useda tape project recorder. theinterviews the Having completed would havebeenon tranemphasis probably forthepurposes of scription. Anyediting would have hadtobedone display bya professional. all this. has,ofcourse, Digital changed indigital Martin is a key Bazley figure learning for museums andheritage andinmy discussion with him heoutlines thesubtle and dynamics for created possibilities learning byoral history andstorytelling with the ofdigital techsupport Possibilities created nology. precisely bythe indigital DIY recording, for capacity editing andpublishing. YetBazley also signals a few notes ofcaution: the inways conflicts inherent inwhich fits within experimental digital learning IT infrastructures institutional andthe need for teachers orfacilitators toframe tasks approprirather than total creative freedom ately implying totheir tohavetorein in them students, only later. Nevertheless that the Bazley argues ways inwhich oralhistory andlearning interact are andpossibilbeing radically reshaped by digital ities aremultiplying allthe time. HelenGraham

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ORAL HISTORY 110 Autumn 2012 even then areopentodialogue andeven thing we haveto do is define e-learning'. they My I don't if more so because ofWeb2.0 where content is view seesome know is,let's examples. around theweband then a really definite distinction is syndicated prescriptive being indifferent consumed arestart- helpful. hasarisen because places. story telling People Digital ofwebpresences as more ofdigital. has ingtothink perme- ofthepossibilities Story telling I think ifyou able anddistributed the web. It's the been around for a while! think of throughout same kind ofthing with oral anddigital a Venn aretwo circles history diagram, they overlapping Ifyou inthe aredoing a project then it's with anoverlap but not the same middle, storytelling. anoutcome, nice tohave it's nice tohave thing. quite a showcase andfor the wider audience. But that Oral with the ideaofsomeone history begins isjust onestage ofthe andthe is or howthey feel process option telling youwhathappened there for torefine for others tocontribute aboutwhathappened with a very it, you personal, I andall the while is going on.Again voice ofview. learning single point Digital story telling think that's a really effect of what within a positive digital couldinvolve multiple storytellers hasdone. second ofthe Oral isvery flexrecording. history Interms In terms ofthe learner-as-creator model there ibleinthelong term. ofdigital story- as with areobviously tensions between the freedom when you telling anything your combining - ifyouwantto start andthe values of different give participants production ingredients the outcome andnot the values deconstructing them further down theline it's just production ifyoulike, how'onmessage' itis. Obvi- not so easy. but, ifthere isa fixed itisa deciinrelationthen HG: Thinking about oral ously message history sion for the Itisa trap often fall ship todigital is really project. people storytelling interesting if into haven't done these before. You because ittakes oralhistory outofthe you things original candoanything oforalhistory which is about, onone want, heritage goandsay, 'you guys you I don't want toconstrain itself from Andthen after hand, you'. qualitative distinguishing the first bit 'ohno,I didn't ofwork, mean research andontheother, itself really distinguishing feel in.And research. that'. Then sometimes from archival historical So the distincthey reigned ifyougivequitea hasbeen about itcan enhance tive contribution oforal creativity history interms defined brief. Frame itfrom the start of thelife toother (incontrast history approach the kind ofthings want them tocome out qualitative andthen alsovoices and methods) you Itisworth at experiences notjustdocuments to with. the (incontrast getting parameters right To do that needs a bitof archival thebeginning. emphasizes quite history). Digital storytelling different Often reflection onyour storytelling part. things. digital inmind and often have a certain areain projects People emphasize ownership, authorship will fail control. which but that often people operate they Indigital their oreven realise themselves: whether todefine storytelling people script story, In theold record scan them a topic, attitude the choose that's ormessage. edit, photos, story, the online useiMovie todevelop museums would digital putthings just inthemselves, days, media where because story. Unlike traditional that would be interesting projects they hoping in terms ofthe less there be collaboration find itinteresting, but that ishappening they might is brought backfor andthen thefilm andthis isa function ofdigital because filming now too, atrough cutstage. The discussion tothe is so rapid, instant andpervasive, itis feedback group in is that hardto getawaywiththatkindof thing ideawith storytelling you're digital It is nottaken is thething ofthewhole ButI think that process. people control anymore. for elsewhere. needto be moreawareof and makemore away editing and has many MB: Thatis a great want their theconceptual areathey point explicit: inpeople learn. the for toexplore. ways implications participants when oralhistory is that HG: A key canbe done discusHG: Andthat thing through because it iswasa radical work with? with the sion methodology emerged you people havesomething in assumed that some direction MB:Exactly, but have peoplemight you tosay... wouldbe my interesting mind before off, yousetthem radical idea! which wasa pretty MB:Yeah, suggestion. skills don't need HG: Nowyou What HG: Youmention professional storytelling. digital audio ora digital oredit the differences were between would oral torecord story together. say you between confluences So there's some anddigital interesting storytelling? history a story'. a story' and'authoring I'mnotsure 'telling ofview, MB: From my point isideas oflength. difference I another thedifference. itis todefine howimportant Perhaps isa sense oforal there kind ofdiscus- Insome versions a time when the same remember history and to do the that it take I've could on in relation to were sions recording days going e-learning. interview. should bepilt onthe notime limit at the that tried to sidestepso many discussions isthe the with there sound have been aninterest- But ofwhat could three bite, digital* beginning which works on Facethe first minute with ofpeople, clip,thething saying people ing day

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ORAL HISTORY Autumn 2012 111 EXAMPLES AND DIGITAL STORYTELLING PROJECTS OF ORALHISTORY

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ORAL HISTORY 112 Autumn 2012 andthestructure ofwhat is available Wefilmed inthe students birds book, galleries drawing the that androcks andstuff andthen for online shapes editing might goon. put clips MB: I think that's a really For theteacher andothers toreview so we could goodpoint. for from it.Asa prototyping researchers, refine tool, learning, everyone apart Wordpress.com the ideaofchunking down hasbecome is great because itis so easy tochange andnot things Itisa good ingeneral. The only oneperson canchange it- anyone very important. thing you side ofthat, it's a symptom choose canhave access. So you canhave lots of flip people might say, ofanattention I'mlooking iterations. deficit When I think iteration iskey todigital learnsociety. todo things I'mthinking like this two orthree ing, tokeep back andrefining, andthat's going but lots oftwo andthree I loveWordpress.com. minute There areloadsof minutes, clips why whole. It'sdoing someone others, Tumblr but has making upa greater Blogger, Wordpress.com the ofchopping itupinto little bits so been around for a while sothere's lots ofsupport courtesy that itis easier tointeract with it.So they can available onforums. consume itasa whole, but itchunked If want a permanent then '.com' having up you presence means know where aregoing. isn't the togo.Wordpress.org. is they they probably way HG: You've found that when Youneed webspace that install it helps people alsofree. you areusing websites? ontoanda little bitoftechnical noustoget it MB:Yes,infact it'soneofthe number one going. much thesame as '.com' but Pretty you to focus on. In fact italso helps with have a lotmore freedom over howitlooks and things Semantic Theidea how itworks. And itismore stable. Google rankings. consistency. that a page hasa clear andsubtiI was doinga project withan title, summary Recently tles. takes note ofthat andclearly weas archive andwehadbeen resources Google developing readers doaswell. That for audio and video for schools. Itseems like have goes Wordpress.com too.Andrealistically theonly their so it way youcando updated image gallery functionality, that for audiovisual media istochop itinto bits. looksreally nice.However, it doesn't now Doesn't mean can't consume itas onething, provide access tothe size. you really bigsizeimage a playlist. Butifyouare And teachers with their white board justas youcanwith they might about tobeusedbythe tozoominto a particular areaandthat's thinking things general want short isgood. weknow wereally want toprovide. public, something A website is a good analogy of that.A So there's an example ofhowWordpress.com website is more than thesum ofitsparts. Not isn't as stable for serious websites. But itiseasy itintoolinear Ifyou've toget about a way. so great for develthinking upandrunning, agile interview ofa soldier back opment orprototyping. gota long recently from that take HG: Oneofthe about France, might placeover many magical things digital - isthe hours. So you'll want a sense ofsequence, but - atthe risk ofsounding a bit evangelical that mean itupinto little possibility for doesn't can't ... you chop just doing-it-yourself bits. MB: I've gota coupleof 'buts'. I go to Ifyou HG: A really were museums and say'why don'tyoudo Wordpractical question. a teacher for a platform that students press'? Andthey have looking say'ourIT departments beable tousethemselves toedit andshare banned us from Ofcourse might using Wordpress'. oral where would canstill but then worried history, you go? they goahead they're MB:There areloadsofthem andthey are onceI'vefinished them theIT departhelping all thetime. Audio also ment won'tsupport it. I liketo see digital Boo,there's changing Audio Farm. Sound Cloud. With can resources outas you iPadio as an experiment, you finding from a phone calltobroadcast live goandhopefully some onalong learning going go straight within the for the on theweb,which sounds a bitscary tome. the as well way, organisation Mustmakesureyoudon'tleave it on by 'learners'.It's thesamewithoral history one websites: three downthelineit looks mistake! Buta really clever idea.Another years todo itina different whichI can't go without is dated oryouwant way. mentioning I stay inwork, is the need which hasbeen useda lotbythe Onereason RadioWaves goback It's not 'reit's anddoprojects for the same War Museum. Youcandoitlive but people. Imperial - it's like a publication the web aimed ataudio orvideo which hasbeen doing it', keeping mostly Ifyou aremaking a alive andevolving. andedited. recorded presence table for like a coffee Twoflavours ofWordpress, beautiful publication print, Wordpress. orcopyright want errors It'seasiest togetgoing with book, '.com'and'.org'. any youdon't some ifyou a issues etc.But arepulling onthe web.So within '.com'. Itallhappens together it forschoolsin formal a website andwithin resources few seconds canhave learning you inmy so much view. That's one video. doesn't matter a few seconds canupload you how I use Wordpress.com 'but'.Youweresaying forprototyping. issue.Theother there aremany institutions who with the Ashmolean freeing itis.But I'vebeen Recently working itundermining the authoron some areconcerned about Museumof Artand Archeology andthe institutions. for A-level students. itative voice ofthe curator resources onJohn Ruskin

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ORAL HISTORY 113 Autumn 2012 - it's ofdigital andalsooral a goodthing I would is usually history. learning saythat views arechanging MB:Implicitly, andopening aboutbeing your you up new disruptive I think hasmade the time. other But canseethe oflearning. sphere digital point allthe you ways interms ofthe more I do oflearning much this comes often ofview. Quite plastic, up when of ofthings I didonerecently for the Bodleian kinds user youcan do andthekinds testing. of anditopens aredoing, a thing calledTreasuresoftheBodleian*. things uplots people Themain focus is onhowpeople other tocomment possibilities. There's a facility for people it towards and shifting think treasure is are doinglearning what andtobeabletosay they voices andparticipation And it's engagement, isthe best treasure andwhy. andwhich multiple internal Tmnot inter- as a wayof learning. for tosay, not uncommon Vygotsky's people There andactualizing I'minterested inwhat the curator dialogue inthat. ested thoughts. your ofevidence that want aresaying hastosay'.They things thinking proper areall kinds they on your ownor them informed externalizing through, opinions. opinions, is a really with the users aresaying? HG: That's what others, goodwayoflearning. Which is us todo that. is really butit'snottheprevailing Digital MB: Some, helping yes, which? Does thetailwagthedog? tocomment and changing Lotsofpeople arekeen view. tell us. would as Newton one They There's readother wageachother, people'scomments. as the I wouldsortofsee digital of In a way, to a series calledYourPaintings, relating hasbeen force. Oralhistory ThePublic primary on theBBCrecently. moving programmes it is really for a while, a project around Foundation have been changing digital doing Catalogue like include inbuild- very andif art todigitise national collections, things digital you rapidly kept itwill toseewhere it's hard never see.Theclever story which most really telling, people ings of time. Different and beintwo orthree isgetting totag aredoing types years people thing they willbe catching Butpeople as comment on these up functionality. Something paintings. afforded which arebeing the 'Yellow'. as 'hastrees'. possibilities 'Style:Landscape'.with simple tools that It's not the tools. andit's by 100softhese comments You're digital just digital getting in base skills it's our useful ofinterpreta- arechanging, accumulating body up a really building ofwhat we cando. Somepeople It's being aware tion.Really activity. interesting learning in this crowd sourced I'mnotinterested tofocus ondetails. Interesting say, you encouraging Andifit tochange. That's dothe same information. Noreason couldn't going project. why you cando the kinds ofthings then Get togothrough does with oral you change histoiy. people thing about as well.Andthat's Reminds meof willchange own annotations. andaddtheir coming thewaywe It'schanging website based onChurchill's becauseofdigital. a great interactive to the thewaywe relate with of interact Iron Curtain where news, speech, youhavelayers and validate sources. the we relate to as well as a tranoff the information news, audio, way hung is thestronger with You couldsaydigital similar You coulddo something moving script. - if which hadtosay is moment force atthe comments. crowdsourced you I'llhave togofor theoretical HG: Oneofthe which, digital. questions people changing tothe last line or HG: Well that'll bea brilliant talk doestechnology about, shapesociety, conversation'. but in does society shape technology? Big question interms MB:Yes, for waswondering how reflect onthat digital! you going

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