Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The course aims to introduce students to the theory and practice of oral history in the wider context of public history. It will aim to provide students with the skills necessary to conduct, record and edit an audio oral history interview to current broadcast and archive standards.

Outline Of Syllabus

Building on Newcastle University’s research strength through the Oral History Collective, this module will introduce students to the theory and ethics of oral history and its use in public history. Students will gain an understanding of a range of current theories within oral history, including:
• ‘experience’, ‘collective memory’ and ‘social remembering’
• the relationship between individual narratives, group narratives and public memory
• historical consciousness and public history
• ageing and historical justice

Two-hour sessions weekly delivered: a mix of seminars, practical workshops and drop-in sessions.

Students will be introduced to basic audio recording and editing techniques, as well as the ethical and legal considerations of conducting and (re)using oral history interviews for public audiences.
Students will present short introductory sessions around the seminar topics and receive feedback. They will each conduct a life history interview, which will be collectively evaluated and discussed in one of the seminars.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will gain an understanding of a range of current theories within oral history, including:
•       ‘experience’, ‘collective memory’ and ‘social remembering’
•       the relationship between individual narratives, group narratives and public memory
•       historical consciousness and public history
•       an insight into the ethical and legal implications of collecting and (re)using oral history interviews.
Students will also through case studies gain an overview of the different ways of collecting, interpreting, and presenting oral histories as public history including in audio presentations. This will include knowledge of:
•       the technical standards in oral history recording and metadata
•       the application of theories of memory and history in interviewing

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:
•       Conduct an oral history interview and produce accompanying documentation and metadata. This will include developing skills in:
o       Organising
o       Questioning
o       Interviewing
o       Active listening
o       Initiative and decision making
•       Organise and collaborate within small working groups which will also involve:
o       Project and time management
o       Joint analyses, critical thinking and decision making
o       Sharing and respect
•       Create an oral history audio presentation for a public history audience and further develop:
o       Public communication
o       Digital literacy
•       In addition, students will be able to reinforce their individual presentation skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Seminars will introduce students to case studies. This includes how the theories of oral history might be applied to public history, and examples of how oral history interviews have been used in public history settings and products.
Small group teaching will allow students to develop their skills in group work and collaboration. Skills workshops will scaffold students learning of specific skills (see above) to successfully complete assigned tasks.
Practical working, the interview, metadata construction, and audio presentation will enable students to practice and refine skills. The outputs will also provide students with evidence of their competence in applying knowledge and skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

It will test students' ability to conduct independent research, relate primary source documents to broader problem, design a research question, ability to formulate an interpretation of evidence in response to a question, and academic writing skills.

Practical working, the interview, metadata construction, and audio presentation will enable students to practice and refine skills. The outputs will also provide students with evidence of their competence in applying knowledge and skills.

General Notes

N/A