The value of oral history in family history: student perspectives

Oral History is a core unit in the University of Tasmania’s Diploma of Family History (DFH). First offered in 2016, more than 2000 people have enrolled in the unit, as part of their journey of sharing 14 family stories. Throughout the unit, students explore the role of oral history in documenting family history and learn practical skills, including how to interview, to transcribe, and to share oral histories in a written form. These are skills not familiar to many family history students, and as a result they approach the unit with trepidation. The presentation draws on the results of a survey which seeks to understand student perspectives on being taught oral history as part of their DFH. The survey also sheds light on the opportunities and challenges of studying oral history during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings will contribute to better understanding of the role of oral history in family history teaching.