I FINALLY got to conduct interviews today! It was an interesting experience. I thought the kids would be really open and be willing to share their thoughts, but that wasn't exactly the case. I voice recorded each interview and that seemed to cause the students to clam up and not be themselves. I had to ask more questions than I was hoping to get more information, but the answers they provided were honest and to the point.
I conducted 2 different interviews. The first was with four 4th graders and the other was with four 5th graders. The students came to my room, which all but 1 student has had groups in so I was hoping they would feel "at home." It was just the participants and myself in the room. We sat around a bean shaped table by the window where I always run my groups. I tried to keep the atmosphere relaxed and make the students feel comfortable by chatting a little about life before we got started. They shared a few fun experiences from their snow days with their peers. Then, I explained that I would be recording our interview and the fun attitude changed. The light-hearted conversation turned to serious business, their faces went straight, and their chattiness ceased. I was honestly a little disappointed, but I guess talking about testing and writing isn't really that fun of a conversation at any point.
The goal of the interviews was to determine how students feel when answering extended-response questions and about how they feel about testing in general. Both groups gave me very similar answers. Here is part of the script from my fifth grade group.
*(All names are pseudonyms.)
Teacher: How do you feel about answering extended-response questions?
Multiple students: Nervous
Zendaya: I just don't like taking stuff like that. I don't like taking an extended-responses.
Teacher: You don't like taking tests with extended-responses?
Zendaya shook her head no.
Teacher: Why do you not like taking tests with extended-responses?
Zendaya: I, I just always get them wrong.
Teacher: Do you think you know the answer and putting it on paper is hard?
Zendaya: I know it in my head, but when I put it down it comes out wrong.
Teacher: Does anyone else feel that way?
Alexander: Yes. (In an almost angry tone.)
Teacher: Do you want to elaborate?
Alexander: No. (In a short tone, holding his head down, playing with a pencil)
....
Teacher: Does anyone worry about punctuation, spelling...
All 4 students: Spelling!
After a few seconds of silence...Teacher: Do you think when you are trying to spell a word you lose your thoughts?
All 4 students: YES
Reagan: When you have to spell words and I spell them and I get it back I have lots of words circled and rewritten.
Teacher: Do you think that discourages you the next time you have to take the test?
Reagan: (Hesitating) No...
....
Teacher: Do you feel nervous about multiple choice questions?
All 4 students: No, no...
Reagan: I like it more when you have choices.
Alexander: I guess on multiple choice the easiest part is vocabulary.
Teacher: The vocabulary is the easiest, but you still have trouble with the rest of the test?
Alexander: Mmmhmm..
There were small conversations inbetween these snippits, but I learned the most from these three sections. You can tell from the first conversation with Zendaya that she had trouble just getting her thoughts out verbally. "I don't like taking an extended-responses." I knew what she meant, but she just couldn't get it out. It was similiar to her answer. She knows what she wants to say, but getting it down on the paper is a different story.
In the second part all students expressed a frustration with spelling. They all expressed that spelling caused them to lose their train of thought. I was happy to hear that Reagan wasn't discouraged by her mistakes. The look on her face when she told me "no" was almost as though she was worried she was letting me down. I quickly reassured her that I am happy she isn't discouraged and that I want her honest opinion.
The final conversation about multiple choice questions was interesting because all but Alexander expressed that multiple choice quesitions are not a problem. Alexander does seem to have a very negative attitude toward school in general and writing has never been his strength.
I look forward to chatting with these students again after RAP has been taught more.
I’m so glad to hear that you were finally in school to conduct your interviews! I would have thought that the students would have been open and willing to share as well. I can see where voice recording may have had an impact on them being open. I wonder if it would make a difference next time when conducting interviews if you hide the recorder and don’t even let them know you’re taping. Did you have extra questions prepared in advance or did you come up with these questions on the spot? I know with being a teacher it is completely necessary to just be able to go with the flow. I do like that you conducted two different interviews sessions for the two different grade levels. I think it was beneficial that you made them feel at home by “chatting” before beginning the interview process. I can start to see differences within the students by just looking at what they say during the interviews. Alexander gives “yes” and “no” answers and doesn’t like to elaborate much. Zendaya is willing to explain her thoughts although she may have trouble getting her thoughts out correctly. I think there is a lot of information that can be pulled from this interview.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you were able to get some of your interviews done today. I was surprised, just like you were, that your participants weren't as willing to share their responses to the interview questions. I do envy you though, I am not using a voice recorder, I'm just writing down responses from my interviews (info to come soon). I will say, reading through the dialogue that you provided reminded me of my interviews with my participants; they didn't want to elaborate on their responses or give more information that needed. Interesting...
ReplyDeleteDevon, I like the idea of hiding the recorder next time. Now if only I can remember to do that in a few months!
ReplyDeleteLaShanda, recording it was SO helpful! I was able to go back over and over to be sure I was quoting them accurately. On the other hand though, I wish that it was all typed out so I could code it. It will take me some time to get it all written out so I can do that.
It's not uncommon for kids to clam up with the recorder--you might try to have the recording device in a place they can't see. Also, you may want to ask less pointed questions at first just to get them talking. What's your favorite part of the day? Why. What do you like to do in the classroom. Make sense?
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