Pilot Study Day 2 - "Do you know anything about the 1980s?"

Where to begin!!? There was so much to take in in this session with the research group, all of whom were able to attend (so we were six in total). This session was designed to begin exploring methods for collecting data, and also thinking about ethics (a bit). So, we talked talking methods to start, as the group was quick to point out that one way of eliciting information from someone is to ask them about something. So, we gave this a whirl, with the question 'what is your favourite school subject?' used for a brief role play between interviewer and interviewee. As an interviewer, I conducted an interview to show exactly how not to do it (it was over and done in about fifteen seconds with perhaps just two-three words spoken by my interviewee), and then the rest of the group had a go at this. Great merriment all round as the group tried out these roles; however it dawned on me quickly that the interviews were far less interviews and much more performances, as each pair aimed to outdo the couple before with hilarious pseudo-BBC-style interviewer antics! There were musical intros, voices and accents of all types, and much wild gesticulation. Not what I had in mind, but I went with the flow on this, mentally noting to self that unexpected outcomes are half the fun in learning! Nonetheless, it was all valuable: some good questioning, and also - I think - apprecaition that interviewing can be challenging; some good comments also about the need for structure, and using structure in a flexible way. We tried, too, a focus group - and now the real mayhem began! So much talk about school and subject preferences (most of the group, it should be noted, emphatically indicating History as their favourite), but so much of talk overlapping, and chairs being pumped up and down!, and what appeared to be very little listening as the group members jostled for position and for their voices to be heard. Wow!! If the interviews hadn't woken me enough by this time in the morning, the mock focus group certainly did! Should be noted, though, that they universally preferred the focus group to the interviews - although my feelings were somewhat at odds with this! What was really interesting in the session (for me, at least, but I think the children also) was discussion of using surveys. Following the focus group 'madness' we gathered around a computer to explore how Google Forms can be used to set up a simple survey. Almost instantly, this seemed to grip the group - excellent/unusual questions & suggested answers emerged from the group in the brief time we had to look at this (all their ideas): What period of history are you interested in? --> Ancient Greeks/Ancient Eqyptians/WWII/Napoleonic Wars/Other; Do you like to do any of the following in class...? --> read books about history/do investigative questions/ask people about history/research on the internet or in books; and, (interestingly...not sure where this came from) Do you know anything about the 1980s? --> open-ended answers. We has some multiple choice questions, some more open-ended, but just really evident that the group can think on their feet and produce usable questions. But what was really noticeable was how much fun the survey seemed to be (they called the survey 'History Royale Example), how easy it was to play with questions and set things up, and also what other ideas and discussions this prompted. One of the group at the end started talking about gamification in research, and how game approaches could stimualte or motivate interest. Their words here:

(make a video game so it is more fun ask historea questions every time you get a question rit you get 100 coins 1000 coins is enuf for a skin - sic) It was a great session, and I left feeling like I had attended a child's wild birthday party as well as some sort of Silicon Valley start-up planning meeting. Lots to think about, including the gamification idea - which I love - as well as returning to matters of ethics. More here soon.