Visuals are very helpful with that.
In the last years the way we consume information shifted very much from text to visuals. That is including things like Infographics, interactivity and the use of pictures and video. What is your explanation for that?
Eveline: People don’t have a lot of time so also not a lot of attention. That means that you have to transfer information to them in a short time. Visuals are very helpful with that.
Mareijn: People are overfed with information. They have to check all of their social media, the news apps which they installed, and so on…. Everything is happening quick and that makes them lose attention. People want to see things in a bird view, and it should be clear and done in a minimum of time. Digital story telling is really a good tool in this situation. People can see in the blink of an eye what the video, or other product, is about and then could be interested to watch it in full or participate. Basically, they don’ have to read (a lot of) text anymore
This interactive video is targeted at youth workers. For this profession the approach is new. In what other settings did you use this way of communication?
Mareijn: We used it in eLearning at normal (formal) education. Another example were companies who wanted to show their (potential) customers their facilities and products. Of course, Covid-19 did give a boost for this sort of products since we could not go there anymore to see things on the spot.
The good thing about interactive video is the fact that the user is in control. The user is deciding what the next step will be.
The good thing about interactive video is the fact that the user is in control.
One of the challenges was to make the situation realistic.
Youth work has already for a long time the problem to explain what they are doing and why this is useful. In other words, it sometimes has the image of being a bit vague. You two are from a different sector. How was it to work on a youth work product?
Eveline: It was challenging but also great fun. One of the challenges was to make the situation realistic. Like the youth worker coming to a spot and recognise what is going on.
I like the fact that it was something social and will be used to teach people something.
I really liked to work on this project.
Mareijn: It was of course a completely new target group. There for it was really good that we took time, at the start of the project, with POYWE to discuss things. What do we need, what do we want to tell? How can we put this in something which is compact and in a really easy understandable way? Therefor we created a script and translated it in an attractive visual.
Youth workers probably will start to use this. What do you think is fair to say? This is real eLearning, or it is just fun to do?
Eveline: I think the situations are triggering (in the interactive video). It makes youth workers aware about the position they are in. It looks as fun at first site but it is making them think.
Mareijn: I think this is interesting if you are new to youth work. Especially since you are confronted with choices. But if you move on you need to keep on discussing things with experts to get more focus. The eLearning is a very good beginning but still a beginning. Afterwards you need to continue to learn and try new things. That is not unique to youth work. We all have to do that. Me for example also in my job.
Still it is a useful way to learn about youth work and in that sense it would be good to have more than one video handling different subjects.
If there would be coming more videos like this, what would you do differently?
Mareijn: We should put more energy in creating the script by having surveys about what the needs are of youth workers so we can adjust to that.
Another thing – and we normally do that often in marketing – would be testing. Having a prototype which you test on a group, see what is working and what is not and optimise the product.
Eveline, GoldfiZh – Motion Designer
Mareijn, GoldfiZh – Video Lead
Interview by Marc Boes (2021)
Marc Boes is currently director of POYWE . He is also a trainer and active in different areas of youth work.
Photos © GoldfiZh
Video © poywe
Google+