Introduction

The next parts of the project are difficult to put a precise time frame on, but it is likely that the next lesson or two will need to be spent on the students first completing and writing up some background research on their topic, then writing and completing the surveys and interviews that they will use to gather data or opinions for their report. 

 

Main task

Groups should nominate a group manager to guide and support their team. It is suggested that they team complete their planning  work on a collaborative document with a system such as Google Docs or Microsoft 365. This will ensure that everyone’s research and work can be gathered in one place and that the group managers can easily keep track of what has been completed and what still needs to be done. 

Group leaders should create a planning document using whichever system is appropriate for your school, and share it with the group members and teaching staff for the lesson. Jobs should then be clearly listed at the top of the document and assigned to each person in the team (or to complete in pairs)

 

Research

Their work should begin around the background research that will establish the focus of their special report. It may be useful to focus in on a key question, for example:

• How ecologically friendly is our school?
• How big a part does discrimination play in our lives?
• What improvements to our community do people want to see?

 

Using some of the ‘five Ws’ might then help them focus their research, for example:

Who - Who is involved or affected by this issue? Who has already contributed or played a role?

What - What has happened? What is going to happen? What do people want to happen? 

Why - Why has it/hasn’t it happened? Why should it happen? Why do people want/not want this? Why do people feel this way?  Why is something the way it is?

Where - Where did it/will it/should it happen?

When -  When did it/will it/should it happen?

How - How did it happen? How can it be changed? 

 

Remind students about recording and crediting all original sources they use. 

 

Surveys 

Teams should have planned the data they need to collect for their report and have an idea of the method(s) that will work best for what they need. They should create any surveys needed and carefully plan out interview questions if they plan to use them, carefully considering what questions need to be asked and why, and ensuring they have a robust privacy statement in place regarding what they are collecting, how they plan to use the information, who will have access and for how long. 

Google and Microsoft Forms are both fantastic and efficient ways to collect data via an online questionnaire. 

 

Google Forms

You can find Google's help and guidance on using Google Forms HERE. 

 

 

This lesson from our Communication and Collaboration unit of work also shows you how to get started with creating Google Forms. 

 

Microsoft Forms

You can find Microsoft's help and guidance on using Forms HERE.

 

 

This lesson from our Communication and Collaboration unit of work also shows you how to get started with creating Microsoft Forms.

 

Interviews

Share this excellent article from Scholastic with the students. ‘How to Conduct a Journalistic Interview’ contains 8 steps to success including pre-interview tasks, planning, timing and conducting the actual interview. 

 

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/how-conduct-journalistic-interview/

 

Depending on the person that is being interviewed, a video call may be a more suitable way to conduct the interview. This will need careful planning for when it is suitable for all parties and a member of staff from school should be on the call with the students at all times  if they are interviewing people external to school. All interviews, in person or online should be approved by a member of school staff before taking place. Please ensure that you are following your school’s child safety and acceptable use policy for the use of technology, and have parental permissions where appropriate. 

If they plan to use the interview footage in their final news report the video call will also need to be recorded. It is vital that everyone involved in the call gives their full consent for this to happen and it should be clearly explained how the footage will be used. 

Face to face interviews should ideally be recorded on a device that will allow students to access the footage later for editing purposes, and so it can be included in their news show. The second half of this unit recommends using an iPad with iMovie.

 

There are lots of videos available online that give guidance for setting up and filming your interviews, but these are a couple that are great to start with: 

 

 

2nd video available here:  https://www.dummies.com/photography/video/filmmaking-tips-how-to-film-and-frame-an-interview/

 

Remind the students to watch the footage back and make sure they have everything they need before they conclude their interviews as it will often be difficult to go back and do it again without inconveniencing people. If they are outside, a sheltered location is essential as wind noise will really spoil the sound quality of a recording. 

 

Plenary

At the end of each lesson needed for this part of the process, ask each team to update the class with their progress of what has been completed and what still needs to be done. Encourage the students to listen to each other and offer critical feedback.