An Era of Restrictions & Bans: Collecting Oral Histories
A Professional Development Course for Teachers
July 20 – July 21, 2018
10 AM – 5 PM
co-sponsored by the South Asia Institute, Columbia University
In this Trumpian Era where Muslim Bans and discrimination against Muslims and immigrants is at the forefront of the current administration’s agenda, it is even more imperative to tell Muslim stories. This two-day intensive workshop will focus on how to collect oral histories, how to craft a hands-on oral history project for students, and why it is important to collect Muslim oral histories.
Documenting memories, from which meaning can be preserved and drawn out, is at the heart of oral history. Everyday personal commentaries that escape our collective attention are recorded through well-designed recorded interviews. Recordings are then transcribed, summarized, or indexed and then archived or disseminated in various formats. The method of collecting oral history can easily be developed as a project for students in many grades, one which opens up ways of knowing (literacy, developing research skill sets, networking, publishing) from community members and the significance of documenting localized memories.
Guided by an anthropologist of education, Dr. Amina Tawasil, Lecturer of Anthropology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, participants will be go through every step and angle of developing and executing an oral history project.
The course is organized by the Middle East Institute at Columbia University and has been approved by the NYC Department of Education After School Professional Development Program for professional development credit. If you are a teacher and would like to take the course for PD credit, please register directly on the NYC DOE After School Professional Development Program website and also on the Middle East Institute website through this Google Form. Further details about registration is provided below.
Location: Teachers College, Columbia University
Day 1: Developing an Oral History Project
Led by course instructor Dr. Amina Tawasil, Instructor in the Anthropology and Education Program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University
10-11 AM: Introducing Oral History
11-12 AM: Developing a Theme: Interview Questions
12-12:45PM: Lunch
12:45-2:45 PM: “How do I want to be remembered?”
Breakout Session: The Importance of Background Knowledge
2:45-3 PM: Break
2:45-5 PM: The Follow-up Question: Revision and Troubleshooting, Preparing for the Interview
Day 2: Implementing the Oral History Project
Led by course instructor Dr. Amina Tawasil, Instructor in the Anthropology and Education Program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University
10-11 AM: Peer-Review of Oral History Project Outlines
11-12 PM: Conducting an Interview
12-12:45 PM: Lunch
12:45-1:45 PM: Transcription and Transcribe interview
1:45-2:45 PM: Editing the Raw Transcript
2:45-3 PM: Break
3-3:45 PM: Participatory Editing
3:45-4:15PM: Writing the Introduction and Celebrating
4:15-5PM: Using Oral History in the Classroom
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Participants must be K-12 teachers, two- or four-year college instructors or students enrolled in graduate education degree programs.
To register, please complete this Google form. Registration is free.
For those interested in receiving professional development credit for the course, the NYC Department of Education After School Professional Development Program requires teachers to register on their site and to pay a registration fee directly to the NYC DOE. To register with the NYC DOE click here to redirected.
Readings in preparation for the course will be sent to participants upon registration or three weeks in advance.
If you have any questions, please contact Dahlia El Zein de2304@columbia.edu