The OHAI Workshops in Oral History
Workshop 1: Starting Your Oral History Project
Learn to ask, listen and build meaningful oral history projects and memories
October 10-11 2020
Application deadline: Sep 15 2020
Open to anyone. No prerequisites!
Overview
This introductory workshop helps you understand what an oral history project involves. The workshop will run online for 2 days for 3 hours each, with a public talk at the end of the day. On day one, you will be taught the basics of planning for an oral history project, budgeting it, undertaking background research, the legal and ethical issues involved, equipment and media and how to keep track of your project. You will also be given samples of permission forms that you could adapt to your project as well as advice on equipment. You will also be given basic forms you could use to keep track of your project.
On day two, you will learn how to use your background research to create a set of questions. You will also learn how to ask questions and record your interview. You will be taught ways of processing your interviews by transcribing and/or summarizing and ways of keeping track of your interviews when writing and how to archive them for the future. Each day’s session will include a Q&A session.
All workshop participants will be given access to a few readings and sample permission and tracker forms.
Oct 10 2020: Day 1 Structure
3 hours online | 1400-1700 followed by a public talk at 1730 hrs
| What is Oral History? | Avehi Menon and Indira Chowdhury | 30 min |
| Oral History Examples | Surajit Sarkar, Fleur D’Souza, Venkat Srinivasan | 30 min |
| Break | 10 min | |
| How to plan your project and budget it | Indira Chowdhury | 15 min |
| Doing background research | Indira Chowdhury | 15 min |
| Legal and Ethical Issues | Indira Chowdhury | 15 min |
| Equipment and media | Vrunda Pathare and Avehi Menon | 30 min |
| Keeping track of your interview project | Indira Chowdhury | 15 min |
| Q&A | 20 min | |
| Break | 30 min | |
| Public Talk | Nandini Oza | 60 min |
Oct 11 2020: Day 2 Structure
3 hours online | 1400-1700 followed by a public talk at 1730 hrs
| Asking effective questions during your interview | Indira Chowdhury | 45 min |
| After the interview: -Transcriptions and summaries -Transcription software issues -Interview summaries -What to keep in mind while transcribing? | Avehi Menon | 45 min |
| Break | 10 min | |
| Editing what you have transcribed | Indira Chowdhury and Avehi Menon | 15 min |
| Processing your interviews for the future | Avehi Menon and Vrunda Pathare | 15 min |
| Q&A in smaller groups | 50 min | |
| Break | 30 min | |
| Public Talk | Saaz Aggarwal | 60 min |
Who can participate in this workshop?
This introductory workshop is for anyone who has not done oral history before but wants to get started. The workshop would also suit those who wish to do family history. Students who are planning to undertake interviewing for their project will also find it useful. It would also work well for oral history practitioners who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge about oral history.
What would you need?
Since we will be conducting the classes online, we will expect you to have a secure and uninterrupted internet connection.
What will the workshop cost?
Earlier, we had advertised that the OHAI Workshop 2020 will cost Rs 1000 for students and Rs 2500 for professionals. However, we have decided to offer the 2-day workshop free of cost! If you have already made a payment, we will be getting in touch with you to return your payment as soon as possible.
But don’t let this stop you from supporting OHAI! Do consider becoming a member of OHAI:
OHAI Membership
Number of participants
Minimum: 10
Maximum: 30
Application and selection process
Applications will be reviewed after the submission deadline (Sep 15 2020) and selected candidates will be notified via email by Sep 25 2020. Given the limited seats, a payment-based confirmation will be necessary by Oct 1 2020.
Important dates
| Announcement of workshop | Sep 1 2020 |
| Submission deadline | Sep 15 2020 |
| Announcement of candidates | Sep 25 2020 |
| Final list (after confirmations) | Oct 1 2020 |
| Workshop dates | Oct 10-11 2020 (Saturday-Sunday) |