Brainteaser – Do not jump to conclusions too quickly!

Do not jump to conclusions too quickly! That is the message in the Brainteaser, visualized by Nicole Kienhuis and Simon Koolwijk.  Patience can be a valuable attitude in decision making.  Watch the Brainteaser:

Facilitation skills as a key requirement for evaluators

Is monitoring and evaluation a hype? Or is a sustainable change taking place in international development, that embeds M & E processes in the structures of organizations,  governments and projects?  According to Michael  Quinn Patton, lecturer in the E-learning course “Emerging practices in development evaluations”  offered by MyMandE, the demand for M & E has increased dramatically during the last couple of years in international development.  Due to the increasing demand from citizens, civil society and donor organizations for more accountability and transparency, governments and development organizations are investing more and more in M & E systems, staff training in M & E, mid-term reviews, learning networks and evaluations. Knowledge exchange and an increasing need for ‘lesson learning’ under development professionals accelerates this demand.

M & E processes become ownership driven

The client is increasingly becoming the starting point of evaluations.  M & E processes become more client- and less donor driven. The role of donors is changing from the demanding, controlling and directive investor  into the supportive and guiding partner.  Evidence which is showing this development towards ownership driven evaluations are:

• Learning questions,  stakeholders and evaluation tools are formulated by the client with support of the evaluator;
• Project management and staff are fully involved in the evaluation design, data collection, analysis and the process of formulation of conclusions and recommendations;
• (Mid-term) Evaluations become a tool of lesson learning;
• Project indicators are aligned with National indicators;
• Governments and local development organizations increasingly invest in capacity development of their staff and structures  facilitating monitoring & evaluation practices; 
• Electronic discussions groups, such as Yammer, Linkedin and Facebook are used as tools supporting knowledge exchange processes between development professionals.

Watch the video: Introduction to Evaluation:  

  

A changing role of the evaluator

These development show that indeed a sustainable change is taking place. M &E is becoming a necessity and essential activity in organizational development and project interventions supporting organizational performance and lesson learning.  This transformation that is taking place in the profession of M & E, is putting new demands and requirements on the evaluator.  For enabling the delivery of quality evaluations, the evaluator requires:

• Good communication and facilitation skills;
• Knowledge and experience in using and applying social media and internet tools;
• Experience in applying wide diversity of evaluation tools. Knows how to collect and analyse statistical data complemented by video or visual methods;
• Didactical skills in explaining concepts and practices about M & E;
• Leadership skills to facilitate mid-term reviews or evaluations involving local staff and beneficiaries;
• Expertise to encourage exchange about ‘benchmarks’ or ‘best practices’ in the domain the evaluator is doing his evaluation.

Evaluation becomes ownership driven. The project implementing organisation is the driver in its own M & E process. The evaluator is moving from an expert to an expert having facilitating and communication skills as a key requirement.

Playful connections: The Social Media Energizer

Playful connections is the second exercise – energizer Nicole Kienhuis and SimonKoolwijk visualized by video. The exercise can be applied as a warm-up, icebreaker or a fun game at trainings or facilitation events, especially as an introduction to discuss issues on social media. Watch:  Playful connections – The Social Media Energizer.

Energizer – Recognize changes

In 2012 Nicole Kienhuis and Simon Koolwijk filmed a series of energizers. Starting from March up to November ’13 we will share each month an energizer – icebreaker, which you can apply in a training or workshop.  Watch the first one >>>>>>>   ‘Recognize changes’

Characteristics of a powerful video story – Nine examples

If you developing a video story, there a number of key questions you have to ask yourself before you start filming:

• What is the story about?
• Why are you filming this story? What is the purpose you want to accomplish?
• Who will be the target audience? And what is the essence you want to communicate to them? And how are you planning to disseminate this video?
• What is the context?  What is the background of the story? When did it take place? From whom’s perspective is the story told?
• Where is the videomaking taking place? What is the setting and the environment where you are filming? What videoshots do you want to make?
• Who are the actors in the video?
• What is the language and the subtitlng?
• What is the estimated time span of the video?
• When? Where? And How are you going to do the filming?
• What will be the structure and logic of the story?  What are a number of principles you apply in the video you are producing?
• What kind of music will be supporting the story?  Are you planning to use a voice over for telling your story?

All the aforementioned questions will help you or your videomaking team to develop the story board.  However, the filming and the video editing phase are following crucial steps in making an attractive video.  There are five  characteristics that help to build a powerful story.

The video is:

• Engaging from the beginning to the end
• Having elements of surprise
• Finalizing with a clue at the end
• Contains humor
• Simple, short and visually attractive.

 Following is a compilation of powerful stories, which are having some of these characteristics.

A.      Engaging from the beginning to the end

1.      Crisis in the Congo   (26  min.)

This video describes in an involving way the causes and the effects of the crisis in Eastern Congo.  This documentary composed  of interviews with a number of key experts explaining the history and the current situation describing the civil war and the role of the international community and international businesses in this conflict. The video story is well built up supported by visuals and engaging from the beginning to the end.     See video;  Crisis in the Congo…..

 

2.     The story of milk (3 min)

In this story the visual images help to support the story teller. Throughout the video a feeling is created about something magical and mystical. Dreaming and imagination drive the story and keep me as a watcher involved.  See video;  The story of milk. 

B.      Surprise

3.     Photocopier  (1 min.)

This advertisement has a nice surprise at the end. Machines also has a life and their tastes.  See video Photocopier.    

4.     A  squirrel playing soccer(1 min)

What makes a squirrel to play soccer? The video shows something that you would not expect an animal would do.  See video;    A squirrel playing soccer   

C.      Clue is at the end

5.     The Bridge with Paul E. Hendricks  (13 min.) 

An actual life story on how the interviewed person develops in his relationship with his partner.  The clue about his life learning is at the end.  See video; The Bridge with Paul E. Hendricks.

  

D.      Humor

6.     Nolan ’s Cheddar  (1 min.)

On a funny and humoristic way, the video shows what cheese can do with a mouse. The music supports the video on a powerful way.   See video; Nolan’s  Cheddar  

7.     A Pepsi please! (1 min)

This is a  girl who wants the real Pepsi.  She communicates and uses the language in the setting she is ordering her cola.  See video;  A Pepsi please!

E.      Simple,short and visually attractive

8.     Nobody tells who are beginners (2 min)

This video has the principles of KISS.  Keep It Short and Simple.  The video explains that creativity and success does not come by itself. It needs determination and persistance.  See video;  Nobody tells who are beginners

9.      Hans Rosling’s 200 countries, 200 years in 4 minutes  (4 min.)

In 4 minutes a powerful lecture is given on how the status has been developing in 200 countries around the world. Again the story is simple, short and visually powerful in its communication.  See video;  Hans Rosling’s 200 countries, 200 years in 4 minutes. 

If you want to read more on how to develop a story watch the slide share presentation about Building Story Worlds.   Or watch the video >>> MSL Group Story telling – why is story telling important?