Interview a Student

Instructions

The best way to discover what students want and need is to go straight to the source. By having a conversation with one student versus a group, you get the student’s full attention, gather meaningful and informative stories, and build a relationship that can lead to more honest feedback and future collaboration. By connecting with a diversity of kids – different grades, dietary preferences, economic backgrounds, etc., you can uncover the full range of needs. Even if you can’t interview a large number of students, going deep with just one will give you huge insight into what it feels like to be a student – which will ground your ideas and solutions moving forward.

Time Considerations: 30 minutes to prepare, 30 - 45 minutes for the interview, 30  - 60 minutes to reflect reflection

Materials Needed: Your preferred method to take notes: pen and paper if you are in person (we recommend not using digital tools, as this can make students feel intimidated), or a digital tool like Word or a Google doc can be used if the interview is done remotely

Participants: An interview partner if possible, a student

Step One

Start by identifying what you are hoping to learn more about. Then, figure out which demographic of students or specific individual might help you uncover more about the problem or opportunity. Is there a moment in the meal experience journey that you would like to learn more about? Is there a group of students who feel particularly relevant to the issue you are focused on? Is there a student voice that’s missing that could be helpful to learn from? Both you and students have limited time, so getting clear on the intention of the interview will allow you to have a focused and informative conversation.

For example:

• Maybe you are trying to figure out how to get students more excited about the school meals. Perhaps you seek out one student who always eats school lunch, and one who never does, in order to get different perspectives.

• Or you are looking to introduce a vegan option and want to know what options would work for kids who follow this diet.

Step Two

Invite the student(s) to the interview. In some cases, you’ll know the student already and can invite them directly. But it’s more likely that you will need help from teachers, administrators, coaches, community organizations and others to identify students who may be willing to participate. Student governments and clubs - food and environment, social justice, and others — are excellent places to find students willing to share their opinion and work with you. Increasingly it is best practice to acknowledge a participants’ time and perspectives with some form of compensation - a gift card, a special meal, or other incentives that show students how valuable their feedback is.

Step Three

Draft a script for the interview in advance. This will help you organize your intentions for the conversation and the questions you would like to ask, and will help you be prepared should the conversation take a detour.  Ask for specifics and stories, rather than generalities, and always ask open ended questions. Follow up and go deeper by asking “Why?” This method of conversation will give you richer information, help you learn more about the deeper needs, motivations, and contexts of students, and uncover unexpected opportunities that you couldn’t have known to explicitly ask about. You don’t necessarily have to follow the script word for word, but it’s a great starting point to make sure you are able to get the most out of your interview.

For example:

• Rather than asking “Do you like school lunch?” you could ask “Can you tell me about a memorable school meal?”

• or “Can you tell me a story about a particularly good or bad school lunch experience?”

• or “Where do you love to eat outside of school, and why?”

Step Four

Before you jump to the hard questions, spend time at the beginning of the interview getting to know the student. Share details about yourself, the most rewarding part of your job, and what you are hoping to accomplish through this interview and subsequent efforts. Assure them that there are no right or wrong answers and critical feedback is actually the most helpful. This is in service of creating a safe space for them to share things that they otherwise might feel unsure of telling an adult or someone in a position of power. 

For example:

• You might start the conversation asking “Will you tell me a little about yourself?”

• What do you like to do outside of school?

• What’s something you’re into right now?

• What is your favorite food?”

Step Five

Reflect on what you heard. After the interview you and your partner should take time to review the notes and your memories of the conversation. What stood out to you? What inspired you? What surprised you? What ideas and opportunities did this spark? What seems feasible to try out?

Tools

Need help downloading and using the tools? Visit our how-to guide.