“There’s only one interview technique that matters… Do your homework so you can listen to the answers and react to them and ask follow-ups.” – Jim Lehrer
Our learners are inundated with news and information on a daily basis. In order for students to make sense of all this information and evaluate what is true they need to develop a critical eye. Part of this critical eye is learning how to gather knowledge from reputable sources. We can help our students learn this important process by getting them to conduct interviews with peers or experts. Conducting interviews and piecing together a newscast is one of the missions in my new book, Hacking Digital Learning Strategies: 10 Ways to Launch EdTech Missions. Below, I have listed resources and web tools to help students practice conducting successful interviews. In my book I provide additional resources including an interview request template and evaluation form for analyzing professional interviews.
Get your copy of Hacking Digital Learning, The 30 Goals Challenge, or Learning to Go. Ask me about training your teachers, ShellyTerrell@gmail.com!
Interview Resources
- Students can use artificial intelligence to interview a person, such as a police officer or zookeeper, about a profession. Students download the free Google Voice Assistant app on Android or iOS devices. Students say, “Ok Google, talk to everyday heroes.” Then the Google Assistant will provide you with a choice of people and professions to interview. Students ask the professional questions with tips from the Google Voice Assistant. These are pre-recorded responses from real people who describe their jobs and answer other questions.
- Storycorps has several resources to help students conduct an interview, which include the following:
- Storycorps has amassed a list of Great Questions divided by topic for students to use to conduct their interviews. I have students choose a few to ask their peers as an introduction lesson to interviewing.
- Check out Storycorps lesson plans and resources for educators with ideas and resources for students to conduct interviews and podcast.
- The Storycorps (iOS/Android) app walks students through the process of great interview techniques then allows them to record a quick interview and archive it.
- Flipgrid is is a video discussion iOS and Android app. Create a Grid (group), add your question or topic, and students contribute short video responses. You send students a code or link to make the discussion private. You can determine the length of the video, embed the videos, and download the videos. Students will enjoy the fun emojis they can add to videos.
- Skype in Education has a great list of guest speakers who students can contact to request an interview. One of the best features on Skype is the powerful machine learning voice translator, which works in 8 languages and the text translator is available in more than 50 languages. The more students use the translator, the better it works! Get students to try conducting an interview with a person in another country and test the power of the translator.
- The quickest and easiest way to record is with the free web based tool, Vocaroo. Registration isn’t required. Email the recording, provide a link, or listen with the QR code provided. You can embed this recorder on a website or blog and students can quickly click record and you’ll have the recording.
- You can have students copy and use the Student Interview Buncee template embedded below to conduct peer interviews. A list of questions has been provided. Buncee allows students to record responses via their microphones or webcams.
- Find great examples of students conducting interviews on the Scholastic’s Kid Reporters Notebook website and the Voice K website.
