The Internet is not the only place to get information. We all know that; students behave like they don’t. No matter the class, unless you specify where students get their sources, they will almost always stick with Internet resources. The usual remedy is to require a physical book. I have a suggestion that will satisfy both the different source and fact finding requirements. Personal interviews are a great way to achieve this. I think you’ll find the opportunities are greater than you might think.
Of course there are limitations, but they can be offset by the ability to ask follow up questions. Students can find a lot of information online, but are usually limited in finding answers the resource doesn’t have. When speaking with someone directly, not only can students ask those follow up questions, they can also veer off the path as questions develop in their mind. For example, suppose a student is interviewing someone who has lived overseas. She asks a question about popular foods. Not only will the question be answered, it can also trigger follow up questions. This is something much more difficult to do online.
Interviews can also provide a new perspective that is harder to discern online. A generational interview about a subject’s time in school gives the perspective of time. A cultural interview can provide context for historical trends and different perspectives. Even interviewing a peer can provide a new way of looking at something.
Now you are limited by the availability of those to interview. The interview process opens up the door to better understand a written primary source. Students simply switch from asking the questions to analyzing the answers of those from the past. Regardless, the very process gives students not just a new perspective of the past, but a skill to utilize for a lifetime.
Ryan Wagoner
Lyceum of History
“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” ~Alexander the Great
Lyceum of History 
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