Part 1: Why Create a Video?
As evaluators, we are always looking for compelling ways to share our work and connect with our audience. One way to effectively achieve this goal is through video. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we outline why you might consider creating videos to disseminate your work. In Part 2, we detail how to produce a short animated video using PowerPoint, including tips and takeaways from our own experience creating Magnolia Consulting’s submission for the American Evaluation Association’s 2017 video contest (check out our video below!).
Through this process, we learned about video’s potential for disseminating information and sharing findings. We have added this option to our dissemination toolbox, and we encourage you to do the same. Here are some reasons why:
- Videos are more visually compelling and accessible than text. A short video will hold the viewer’s attention more easily than a dense, text-heavy report. Given that a video relies on visuals and audio to convey its message, this form of media will share your story and draw on viewers’ emotions in a more powerful way than text alone.
- Videos are concise. You can convey key findings in a few minutes, making video a much more concise way to disseminate findings than a lengthy report.
- Videos can be inexpensive and easy to create. In today’s world of accessible technology, including cell phones and a multitude of free editing software, it’s easier than ever to create a video as a beginner. We made our video in PowerPoint, which is a program that most evaluators have ready access to and already know how to use.
- Videos can be disseminated to a wide audience. Videos can reach a wider audience via YouTube, social media, and other online platforms.
Are you ready to create your own video? In Part 2 of this series, we’ll show you tips and tricks for creating a video in PowerPoint.
