In a satisfying moment of blog synchronicity, while we at the Veterans History Project are celebrating the accomplishments of our volunteer interviewers, another LC blog is focusing on student interviewers–specifically, those at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois.
In a blog post on Teaching With the Library of Congress, Harlem High School teachers Nick Stange and David Johnson relate how conducting veterans’ interviews has captured their students’ attention and helped them hone a variety of different skills:
Students from Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Illinois, have begun recording and preserving oral histories of local veterans, from the homefront and abroad. Students learn interview techniques, as well as script writing and storyboarding of ideas, both abstract and concrete. These activities foster critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership. Students learn editing software, filming techniques, and the massive logistics of film direction and production. These skills provide students with 21st Century tools for success.
Be sure to check out the the full blog post on Teaching With the Library of Congress and read more about the Harlem Veteran Project!