Interactive Documentary in Evaluation, Learning and Change

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

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

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.