Oral history and local cultural study
Understanding local culture underlies the important goal of preserving it. Through oral history and local cultural study initiative, we encourage rural public and school libraries to preserve and study local culture, including collecting tangible and intangible elements of local culture, and researching the culture in danger, esp. using oral history as an important way of gathering information when the lack of existing related literature is a norm. The work products of these projects are archived in the local library and shared with the community, to bring the community a better understanding of its local culture and attachment to it. As for the team that has conducted this exploration, whether it is public library staff and volunteers, or school students, they are drawn near to the culture more than ever, with their research capability improved through this inquiry-based and collaborative learning process.
Pilot Project: TianZhu oral history project (May 2009 - May 2012)
This project is a 3-year project starting from May 2009. To cultivate historical sense and research capability of students, as well as preserve and promote local culture, TianZhu No. 1 High School teachers and students, with the guidance from experts, study the oral history methodology, and design/implement a project to collect oral history and folk culture, form a digital archive, and display and promote the collection through media and on Web. The school will also develop a inter-disciplinary (history, literature) school-based curriculum "Oral History and Folk Culture" based on this project.
By June 2010, 15 students and 5 teachers have participated in Phase I of this project, and completed 7 interviews and related organization and archiving of text digest, audio, and video. The interviewees include the Minority Tu History scholar, traditional art AnZhao artist, and Thang-ka artist, etc. The training and interview practices arouse the interests of teachers and students towards oral history, help establish the complete working process, and help the project team receive many positive feedbacks from the scholars and folk artists. Moving forward, the project team will extend the depth and breadth of the project, including guiding the students to 1)improve interview skills and depth; 2)develop derivative works and learn to analyze causal relationships between historical facts and interpret history; 3) actively participate in selecting topics.The project team will also publicize the project via local museum, festivals, exhibitions, media, and Evergreen conference and website.
