The Centre. Voices of the city

Project Team: Iliana Ferrer (PI)

The Center is a collective experiment in transmedia non-fiction narratives in Latin America that seeks to innovate in the teaching of audiovisual languages ​​and transmedia narratives in university degrees related to communication, through the creation of multi-format content by students from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá, Colombia, the Pan-American University in Mexico City, Mexico, and the International University of Ecuador in Quito.

Using Project-Based Learning (PBL), 5 faculty members and 127 students worked for 2 months in multidisciplinary and inter-university teams to produce non-fiction narratives that expand across various platforms and formats. This approach fosters the practical application of theoretical principles, the development of critical thinking, and the acquisition of skills in emerging technologies. A total of 32 audiovisual pieces were produced in 17 different formats, including: photographs; illustrations; magazines; Written, audiovisual, and educational reports; podcasts; soundscapes; experimental videos; short documentaries; interactive maps; and more. The process was documented with photographs, behind-the-scenes videos, audiovisual pitches, written self-assessments (individual and group), interviews, and final project evaluations.

Qualitatively, preliminary results highlight the project's potential to optimize the student educational experience; train participants to face the challenges of their careers and the job market; foster creative expression, teamwork, and cultural exchange; and promote a collaborative and innovative learning environment. The project's resulting content is planned to be disseminated through university media and other platforms (websites, social media, events, etc.). Some of the offline content expanded to online formats has already been showcased at participating universities, highlighting the innovative approach of this type of transnational collaborative teaching. At the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​this project is expected to continue to be developed within the framework of the Audiovisual Languages ​​subject of the First Year of the Journalism degree.

Methodology

The project utilized Project-Based Learning (PBL) to facilitate the application of theoretical knowledge acquired in the courses and to develop creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative work. The project design was carried out by the teaching team, and a guide was provided to the students with key information, including the project presentation, background, objectives, methodology, timeline, audiovisual references, etc. A list of deliverables was also included, consisting of narrative content in three formats, a behind-the-scenes video or photographs of the production, and a written dossier justifying the chosen topic, formats, sources, self-assessments, and project evaluation.

The work plan was structured in several phases:

1. Lectures on audiovisual language, new narratives, and trends.
2. Project planning in inter-university groups, using WhatsApp as the communication channel. Students were responsible for selecting topics and formats that connected the four participating cities.
3. Presentation of the initial pitch (video) to justify the chosen approach and formats, receiving feedback from the teaching team.
4. Production and post-production of the content. Tutoring sessions were held during production, and students received written feedback on each format after the first submission, with a period allotted for corrections and adjustments.
5. Presentation of the final pitch, final products, behind-the-scenes content, and evaluation dossier. In addition to the written dossier, the project was evaluated through group interviews.
6. Distribution of products (under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license) at events, university media outlets, social networks, etc.