Category Archives: Knowledge Management/ Training

Interactive Documentary in Evaluation, Learning and Change

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global pillowcase project-idoc

We’ve continued to work with the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (American Red Cross/ IFRC) on the Pillowcase Project International Pilot and its evaluation. Capitalizing on the features that interactive documentary can offer compared to convention linear video products this i-doc was developed not only to create something that would be more engaging than a traditional text-based report and help disseminate evaluation information to a wider audience (still, designed to complement the text report), but also in an effort to turn evaluation materials into something of a toolkit, hopefully expand the utility of evaluation materials by creating this new kind of product. For learning, training, knowledge management type work we think it has a lot of potential.
A basic illustration of interactive features integrated into a specific sequence can be seen in the video titled “Presentation Structure and Features.” It offers a few examples of the way a viewer can move around within a specific sequence and jump to a particular topic, as well as the way we can integrate a video (though it can be any kind of element- photo, audio clip, weblink, map, pop up article or PDF) within the video. The timeline identifies the location of some of the interactive elements. Point is with this first i-doc we’ve only started to scratch the surface of what can be done in terms of interactivity and the opportunities that this format offers to integrate many types and sources of information into the product.

Pillow Case Project International Pilot Peru: Video Case Study

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In December 2014 we went to Peru for American Red Cross/ Global Disaster Preparedness Center as part of the evaluation team. Purpose was to develop a knowledge-rich video case study about the adaptation, implementation and results of the Pillow Case Project in Peru for use by other Red Cross chapters in Peru as they scale up, as well as by other countries considering the project. Six countries were part of the initial international pilot funded by Disney with more than double that number of participating countries anticipated for 2015. The Video Case Study is intended to be an evaluation and knowledge management product that informs design and implementation from country to country. The opportunity exists to develop additional videos from all the footage we captured and interviews we conducted, more targeted for advocacy and communications. Quimera has also constructed the initial installments for a video-based KM archive for the project based on the raw footage collected in the field.

The inclusion of a video drone as part of the equipment mix was a first for Quimera, very exciting. Aerial footage of the the earthquake and tsunami affected communities offered a very powerful perspective and helped to provide important visual context to the project.

One again Taylor Krauss was part of the Quimera team, and brilliant as always.

Click here to watch the full length Video Case Study.

Global Disaster Preparedness Center: Video Case Study of Universal First Aid App

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Disaster preparedness (DP) practitioners have expressed a growing interest in case studies as a way to learn, to better understand the challenges faced by their colleagues around the world as well as the innovative solutions developed to meet those challenges.

As part of GDPC’s efforts to support and facilitate the development of video case studies by Red Cross/Red Crescent societies and other DP practitioners Quimera worked with GDPC and the Argentinian Red Cross to help conceptualize, produce and edit the Universal First Aid App video case. Serving as a demonstration project, highlighting a “participatory video” or “DIY” approach, the video was filmed by team members from GDPC and Argentinian Red Cross on smartphones. Footage was then sent to Quimera for review and editing into a final case study. Quimera provided consulting, case development and technical support to GDPC and Argentinian Red Cross throughout the process.

The video provides an overview of the Program while offering insights into the work of the Argentinian Red Cross during the process of development and launch of the First Aid App in their country.

More broadly, Quimera has been working with GDPC to develop guidance and support that can assist DP practitioners to develop their own case studies, including case studies that integrate video and multimedia.

USAID/ GEM-3 Project Evaluation Video: What Can We Learn about the Evaluation Process

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Quimera was embedded with the Social Impact evaluation team for over three weeks to document Social Impact’s evaluation of the USAID Philippines Growth with Equity in Mindanao-3 Project. GEM-3 operated throughout Mindanao, with a special focus on the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. USAID’s Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research (PPPL/LER) wanted to document the GEM-3 evaluation process as a way to capture evaluation in action, to support and illustrate their new evaluation policy, and to share learnings about what makes a good evaluation, from design to implementation.

In this short snippet one of the evaluation team members discusses some of the challenges of trying to quantify project impact.

To view the entire video click the sections below

Click here to watch Part 1: Framing the Evaluation.

Click here to watch Part 2: Data Collection.

Click here to watch Part 3: Final Thoughts.

US Department of State: Evaluation Training Video Components

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Quimera worked with Social Impact to develop video components for SI’s evaluation training courses provided to the US Department of State, Designing Evaluation and Managing Evaluation. The footage used to create the videos was drawn from the USAID GEM-3 Project Evaluation Video, also developed by Social Impact and Quimera for USAID’s Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research (coming soon to USAID/ LER).

This snippet opens a section focusing on community interview techniques.