Having done this all of my life as a documentary filmmaker, and using students before, I would recommend that the most important things are the microphone and the training of students in how to provoke valuable and meaningful responses. The tape recorders I have found most successful are actually old-time cassette recorders using full-size analog audio cassettes. We use Marantz portables which are not small, are inexpensive and of high quality. The microphones used are wired lapel microphones, not wireless. Placing the microphones properly makes a big difference. Most important are the kinds of questions the student asks the student asks to provoke powerful answers, knowing when to interrupt and where not to, helping the presenter to understand that this is an important moment and that their reflections are valuable rather than trying to "make them not nervous." David Hoffman Varied Directions International _www.thehoffmancollection.com_ (http://www.thehoffmancollection.com)