Susan's+Final+Project

Beginning of the Year Interviews

Time Frame: Two weeks (early September)

Lesson 1: Introduction to Interviewing • Short discussion to describe interviewing o What do you already know about interviews? o Where do you hear/see interviews? o Why do people interview? What’s the purpose? o What makes an interview memorable or interesting? • Explain how we will use interviewing in our class to learn about each other • Show students the Katie Couric interview/video from youtube/users/reporterscenter - http://www.youtube.com/user/reporterscenter#play/user/561E221DA45F7F8D/0/4eOynrI2eTM • Identify qualities of a good interview from video clip. Teacher records class responses.

Lesson 2: The Art of Questioning • Identify types of questions o Yes/no – closed/open o Question starters • Tell me about… • Why do you think? • How do you feel about… o Follow-up questions • Introduce class blog o What is a blog? o Blog etiquette o Answering questions and responding to classmates o How to access from home o http://4gintrotointerview.blogspot.com/?zx=4d2dd1aacf8c1525 o Discuss homework – Blog question - Compose five questions for Mr. Wilson, our new principal. Be sure to consider the types of questions we discussed in class today.

Lesson 3: Appropriate questions • Discuss homework o Blogging experience o Share examples of questions from the blog • Know your subject - do some background research • Appropriate questions vary depending on the person you are interviewing • Watch Travis Smiley discussing the interview as a conversation http://www.youtube.com/user/reporterscenter#play/user/561E221DA45F7F8D/6/loPmtnxI12o • As a class make additions to list of qualities of a good interview from Lesson 1 (be sure to discuss the importance of following a line of questioning. Don’t always have to “stick” to the plan, if it is more interesting to follow another train of thought.

Lesson 4: Class project – Interviewing our Peers • Apply what we have learned to our class project • Discuss as a class questions to avoid – what do we already know? o Avoid the basics. • School, camp, siblings, age, where we live, grade level o Ask questions that will elicit an interesting answer. o What do you really want to know? • Examples: “What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?” and “What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?” • Ask students to come up with five questions they think will generate interesting responses. • Share questions and create a class list

Homework: Use three of our questions from the class list and conduct an interview with a parent. Take notes in your social studies notebook. Remember to only take notes. Remember to focus on having a conversation, not just asking three isolated questions. Respond to blog question: How did the experience go for you? What worked? What would you do differently next time?

Lesson 5: Capturing an interview through Audio (Teacher reminder – book mobile lab/lab time) • Discuss homework from previous lesson – How did it go? o Challenges o Taking notes during an interview o Strengths/surprises o Questions – did the questions you selected work? o Did you talk about something unexpected? o Did your interview become a conversation or a question and answer session? • Introduce how to record an interview o Tools – computer with free, downloadable program Audacity • Practice using tools with a partner • Choose a question to ask partner • Record responses • Regroup and discuss experience

Lesson 6: How to conduct an Interview (Book mobile lab/lab for lesson 8) • Watch Katie Couric interview again http://www.youtube.com/user/reporterscenter#play/user/561E221DA45F7F8D/0/4eOynrI2eTM • Review list from previous lessons – Qualities of a good interview • Be sure to include how to use your voice o Vary the volume – intonation o No monotone voices o Speed o Speak clear, don’t mumble • Discuss how to make a guest feel comfortable • Introductions – How to begin an interview • Discuss how to finish/wrap-up an interview appropriately o Don’t just end with an answer • Assign partners

Homework: Write a list of at least ten appropriate questions to ask your partner during your interview. Be sure to add a follow up question to each. Remember to focus on having a conversation. You may not need all of your questions, but need to be prepared. Your interview should be ten minutes long.

Lesson 7: Modeling an Interview • Watch teacher created mock interviews • Discuss positive/negative aspects of interviews • Make any additions to class lists • Teacher prints last set of “Qualities of a Good Interview”

Lesson 8: Conducting our Interviews • Discuss computer lab etiquette – voice volume • Distribute “Qualities of a Good Interview” reminder sheet • Review use of Audacity • Students conduct interviews Homework: Students respond to the following question on the class blog.

Sarah and Susan's Interview Video

Return to Main Page