In this year’s version of our ongoing series of public training workshops, we will feature a range of introductory online oral history workshops taught by OHMA faculty. The workshops will be complementary, each exploring a different approach to the practice of oral history. They assume no specific prior knowledge, but welcome all of the varied experience participants bring to the sessions.

Workshops will be 2 or 3 hours long and will feature interactive elements. Registration will be on a sliding scale, with registration free for participants based outside of the United States, and starting at $5 otherwise.

These events are open to all. You can use this quick survey to let us know how we could make these events more accessible for you. Note that we are able to provide ASL interpretation for any event, but need two weeks' notice. Please contact Rebecca McGilveray at rlm2203@columbia.edu with specific access requests or questions.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

Friday, September 30, 12-3 EDT (Workshop 1)

Introduction to Using Oral History for Research

Amy Starecheski

Friday, December 2, 1-4 ET (Workshop 2)

Interviewing for Podcasting

Sayre Quevedo

Saturday, February 11, 1-4 EST (Workshop 3)

Introduction to Oral History and Justice

Zoë West

Wednesday, March 29, 1-4 EDT (Workshop 4)

 Introduction to Indigenous Oral Tradition and Anti-colonial Oral Histories

Sara Sinclair

WORKSHOPS

1# Friday, Sept 30, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Introduction to Using Oral History for Research
Amy Starecheski

Oral history - a conversation about the past, happening in the present, and oriented towards the future - is a core part of human life. Oral history can also be a more formalized research practice. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to oral history as a dynamic tool for engaged, collaborative research, in applications from qualitative social sciences to the creation of primary sources for historical archives. Topics will include: 

• Critical history of oral history as a research practice

• Interviewing and listening

• Consent, copyright, and legal releases

• Tools for audio recording

• Project design and planning

2# Friday, Dec 2, 1-4pm ET
 Interviewing for Podcasting
Sayre Quevedo

One of the most important and challenging elements of podcasts and oral history is the interview. In this workshop, we will delve into approaches and techniques for producing interviews that are cohesive and satisfying to listen to and conduct. We'll turn to examples from contemporary audio documentaries, construct a narrative toolbox, and develop our own blueprint for interviews. The foundation of the lessons in this workshop will take from narrative documentary, the techniques and approaches taught in this workshop will be useful for documentarians and oral history alike for executing a thoughtful and well-organized conversation.

Topics covered:

• Story formats for audio storytelling

• How to construct a narrative arc for interviews

• Pre-interviewing

• Organizing questions for sensitivity and fluidity

• Rules of thumb for day of interviewing

3# Sat, Feb 11, 1-4pm EST
 Introduction to Oral History and Justice
Zoë West

This workshop will explore the diverse ways oral history can be used in response to injustice and oppression. Through interactive exercises, participants will be introduced to concepts & practices that can guide our work in the following areas:

• Deep listening & difficult stories

• Accountability & power

• Collaboration & relationship

Using case studies of different projects, we will delve into key considerations for different stages of a justice-oriented oral history project — planning & design, interviewing, and curation.

4# Wed, Mar. 29, 1-4pm EDT
Introduction to Indigenous Oral Tradition and Anti-colonial Oral Histories

Sara Sinclair

In this workshop, we will think about how to take an intentionally anti-colonial or indigenizing approach to the planning, execution and presentation of oral history.

We will consider how who we choose to tell certain stories, the questions that we ask of them, and the additional information that we use to supplement their narratives, ensuring that the stories we amplify empower the people who share them with us.

Exercises and discussion during the workshop will explore project, interview, and editorial design.