Educational interview: what is it and what are its objectives?

A summary about the characteristics of the educational interview and its use in the school environment.

In the educational field, this concept is often echoed: the educational interview. But what exactly is it, what is it used for and what are its objectives? Who conducts it?

In this article we will answer these and other questions and, in addition, we will describe in detail what are the five stages of this type of interview, which will help us to know how we can apply it successfully.

Educational interview: what is it and what is it used for?

The educational interview, according to the definition of Rodríguez Rivera (1986), is a conversation between the teacher or counselor of the student, the own student and generally also his parents, that is intended to help us get to know the student better and to guide the parents in their education or in any doubts or conflicts they may have..

It is a technique that is applied by the student's teacher or educator (i.e., it is the teacher or educator who directs the conversation). On the other hand, other authors have defined the educational interview as an intentional conversation that allows us to obtain data from the student (data that, otherwise, would be difficult to obtain, due to its confidential nature).

A type of psycho-pedagogical tool

The educational interview is a psycho-pedagogical tool used to evaluate the aspects to work on with the student and to transmit this information to the parents, which also includes advice to the parents.It also includes advice to the families on the educational aspects of the student.

For this reason, before the interview is conducted, the educator should have already thought of possible solutions (or guidelines) aimed at solving situations that the family is likely to raise.

However, we must emphasize that the interview itself is usually used to gather information, to evaluate certain aspects of the student (and of the family) and to share impressions (and not so much to (and not so much for counseling, although indirectly it can be used for this purpose; thus, it is more of a diagnostic tool that allows detecting the student's difficulties, as well as his progress, strengths and weaknesses).

Difference with the therapeutic interview

The educational interview, unlike the clinical or therapeutic interview, is conducted by the student's educator, tutor, counselor or teacher. On the other hand, in the therapeutic interview it is the psychologist who directs the conversation..

In the educational interview, the aforementioned figure is the one who will select the objectives and content of the interview, and the one in charge of requesting the information he/she wants to know about the student (from the student himself/herself or from his/her relatives, who are usually the parents).

What is it for?

The educational interview allows us to obtain information from the studentThis information is often necessary to make a diagnosis of their academic performance, their academic goals and/or their educational needs.

On the other hand, it also serves to provide help to families who need it regarding their child's education, as well as to foster the teacher-families (or teacher-student) bond..

Through the educational interview, ideas can be shared in order to continue building the student's learning process. In addition, this tool allows to create a space, either with the student or also with his family, to express and manifest desires, concerns, feelings, conflicts, etc.

Finally, the teacher, guidance counselor or tutor of the student, through the interview, can also transmit the observations he/she has been making of the student regarding his/her performance, mood, learning pace, relationship with other classmates, etc., etc.relationship with other classmates, etc.

Objectives

In line with the above, the purposes of the educational interview are educational purposes; this means that its main objective will be to address academic issues. Through this approach the aim is to transmit information about different aspects of the student, such as:

• Academic performance
• Difficulties in certain subjects
• Strengths, abilities
• Conflicts in class (with the teacher, with the rest of the classmates...)
• Future prospects (academic and work)

On the other hand, we can say that at a more generic (and deeper) level, the primary objective of the educational interview will be to contribute to and improve the general well-being of the student, as well as his or her good functioning in school (in all areas: academic, social, personal...).

Characteristics

The three most notable characteristics of the educational interview are the following.

1. Clear objective

The educational interview, like any type of interview, has a clear objective. That is to say, it is never conducted "just for the sake of it".. Specifying and specifying this objective well will be a key factor in achieving success through this psycho-pedagogical tool.

Type of participants

As we have seen, the educational interview is generally carried out between: teacher, student and family (parents or legal guardians of the student). However, There may be cases of interviews involving only the teacher and the student, or the teacher and the student's parents..

3. The teacher/educator conducts the interview

As we have also seen at the beginning of the article, it will be the educator (teacher, counselor...) who will lead the interview.

That is, this will be the person responsible for conducting (and redirecting, if necessary) the conversation, asking questions, clarifying doubts, recording all the information... Logically, the student and the student's parents will also be able to ask whatever they wish.

Phases

The educational interview is divided into the following five phases (and is applied in the following way).

Phase I: welcome message

In the first phase of the educational interview the participants will greet each other and introduce themselves. The teacher will initiate the conversation (ideally, in standard language). The reason and purpose of the interview will be explained.

2. Phase II: initiation of the conversation and active listening

In this stage, the professional will begin by explaining the student's current situation, and will will start asking the family members or the student the pertinent questions..

These questions usually cover aspects that directly or indirectly influence the student's education and performance. The teacher will take any notes he/she considers necessary. In addition, the student's academic goals will be discussed.

3. Phase III: concretion of strategies

In this second phase, the important information has already been collected. Here the teacher will propose the strategies to be implemented in order to achieve the objectives agreed upon in the previous phase..

It is not a matter of the teacher saying the strategies and the others "obeying", but of sharing different points of view, opinions, ideas, proposals, etc., in order to reach a joint conclusion as to the methodology to be applied from this moment on.

4. Phase IV: Agreements

After the previous negotiations, in the fourth phase of the educational interview the objective will be to specify the actions to be taken from that precise moment on. This is the stage of agreements, and the moment in which all parties (participants) will commit themselves to carry out the actions that have been assigned to them..

5. Phase V: Farewell

In the last stage of the educational interview, the last aspects of the interview will be discussed, possible doubts will be clarified, a brief summary of the conversation will be made (objectives set, strategies to be applied...), etc. The teacher, as the conductor of the interview, will be in charge of ending the conversation.

Bibliographical references:

• Albaladejo, M. (2010). Cómo decirlo: Entrevistas eficaces en el ámbito educativo. Barcelona: Editorial Graó.
• Fernández, J. P. (1993). "La entrevista en la Orientación", AMPO Congress, Mexico.
• Woolkolk, A. (2006). Educational Psychology. Editorial Pearson - Adisson Wesley. Mexico.