Tailored training
We deliver group oral history training in person and online
We can organise an oral history training course tailored to your project. An OHS/British Library accredited trainer will work with you to assess your needs and agree a training programme.
How much does group oral history training cost?
The trainer’s expenses will be added to these costs. Expenses usually include travel and accommodation if this is needed.
There are lots of benefits to joining the OHS. For more information please see our memberships page. Group Membership starts at £64 per year.
What should the training cover?
The first part of a tailored training course is often based on the Introduction to Oral History course programme. It might include all or some of the following topic areas:
- What is oral history?: understanding memory
- Getting started: aims and objectives, who to interview, question approaches, ethical issues
- An introduction to audio recording equipment
- Interview techniques: do’s and don’ts
- After the interview: summarising, transcription, copyright, archiving
If you’re designing your project training programme from scratch (for example as part of a funding application) we recommend that you budget for up to three days’ training, to take place at intervals throughout the project:
- The first course might be an introductory course (similar in style to the Introduction to Oral History course)
- The second could be a feedback/follow-up course to discuss and assess initial interviews carried out by the group (similar to the Advanced Oral History Workshop)
- The third course could begin to evaluate and select interviews for project outcomes such as exhibitions and websites – though you might need to buy in additional training for the technical design and delivery of these outcomes.
In-person training: In-person courses are delivered over full day sessions.
Online training: For online courses each ‘full day’ of training is usually split over two half-day sessions. Courses are delivered by Zoom video call and each participant needs to join the training using their own device.
How to book
If you would like to explore this training option please send the OHS training administrator the following details:
- A brief overview of your project
- The type of interviews you will be conducting – audio / video / in-person / remote
- How many people will join the training? Will there be any under-18s in the group?
- Anything specific you require from the course
- Roughly when you would like the training to take place (bearing in mind that we will require at least six weeks’ notice)
Cancellation policy
As a courtesy to our trainers, many of whom are freelancers, if a training day is cancelled with less than one week’s notice the organiser/project is to pay the trainer the full day fee plus any pre-booked travel expenses.
Higher Education teaching
Oral History Society training is intended to support community organisations and local authority projects. We do not substitute for Higher Education teaching as we believe that oral history should be embedded in university curricula. The OHS has a Higher Education Group that is happy to support and advise on the development of oral history in HE. Please contact us for more information.
