Cuban Interactive Documentary Project:

Using New Media to Learn, Explore and Exchange Ideas

Jill ChisnellIntegrated Media & Design Librarian

Andres Tapia-UrzuaInstructor & Filmmaker

17 students majoring in:

Human-Computer Interaction

Entertainment Technology

Information Systems

Engineering

English

History

Psychology

Drama

Design

Art

Business

two filmmaking instructors,

a Spanish professor

and a librarian

+

Screenshot: http://ideate.cmu.edu

• Project-based multidisciplinary class• Explored different forms of creating

narratives• Digital interactive media considering

broader issues• Sponsored by educational and

cultural institutions from USA and Cuba

Camagüey, Cuba

map image: https://www.mapsofworld.com/cuba

CEDINMCircuit for Exhibition, Development and Research of New Media

documentary about CEDINM

Screenshots from Camagüey: City of Artists

CAMAGÜEY: City of Artists

Screenshot: https://www.cmu.edu/strategic-plan

Header image: http://ideate.cmu.edu & Bottom image: Jesse Wilson

IDeATe (Integrative Design, Arts & Technology Network)

• Game Design

• Animation and Special Effects

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• Learning Media

• Media Design

• Sound Design

• Intelligent Environments

• Physical Computing

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual

• Information Creation as a Process

• Information Has Value

• Research as Inquiry

• Scholarship as Conversation

• Searching as Strategic Exploration

Source: Association of College and Research Libraries, http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework

Learning Objectives

Info

rmation C

reation a

s a

Pro

cess

Info

rmation H

as V

alu

e

Students were exposed

to knowledge, concepts,

and experiences that reflected

a different cultural frame of

reference, and stimulated their

interest in cross-cultural,

international, and comparative

learning.

Learning Objectives

Students investigated and

addressed critical, conceptual,

and creative questions at the

heart of contemporary nonlinear

storytelling, while underlining

connectivity and historical

resonances with earlier media

formats.

Researc

h a

s Inquiry

Auth

ority

in C

onstr

ucte

d a

nd C

onte

xtu

al

Learning ObjectivesIn

form

ation C

reation a

s a

Pro

cess

Info

rmation H

as V

alu

e

Students became aware

of the implementation and

use of media technology

and art in traditional

societies and lesser

technologically developed

countries.

Learning Objectives

Info

rmation C

reation a

s a

Pro

cess

Info

rmation H

as V

alu

e

Students learned different

modes of artistic and

technological experimentation

and innovation in interactive

storytelling and how to apply

them to non-fiction documentary

production.

I’m very interested in temporarily

breaking the cultural viewpoint

that is American college student

life.

- Maddiesenior, Humanities & Social Sciences

Cuba is a country that we have a

lot of history with in terms of

conflict and to be able to look at it

from a different perspective will be

extremely rewarding.

- Davidsenior, English

I wanted to be in an environment

where I was working with a group

of people that had skills that were

different than mine. Also I just love

telling stories.

- Julianafreshman, Humanities & Arts

We can challenge the medium along with

telling interesting stories. We already

have good subject matter by going to

Cuba. An experience that real and

intimate can be conveyed in the

documentary—not just feeding people

information through video, but making it

interactive so they engage and learn.

- Abhigrad student, Entertainment Technology

Be

fore

Cu

ba

My experience in Camagüey was a

very intimate one. I went as a

tourist, but was still able to connect

with the more sincere parts of what

Cuba actually is.

- Maddiesenior, Humanities & Social Sciences

What I enjoyed the most about the trip

was feeling more human. There was more

human interaction especially because we

had no Wi-Fi or technology. We interacted

with each other face to face. It was very

exciting to capture the moments and

stories of people.

- Junsujunior, Electrical & Computer Engineering

I don’t think I had ever visited a place

before and had to think of an audience

other than myself.

- Bronwynsenior, Humanities & Arts

Aft

er

Cu

ba As an Information Systems major, I

usually see technology as creating things

for businesses or building systems,

databases and software. To see the same

technology being used for a different

purpose and for creating art was really

exciting.

- Jennifersenior, Humanities & Social Sciences

Thank You

Documentary about CEDINM: https://youtu.be/7HLIXz1ll6U

Course LibGuide: http://guides.library.cmu.edu/76374

Jill Chisnelljillianc@andrew.cmu.edu

Andres Tapia-Urzuaatapiaurzua@gmail.com

Unless specified all photography by course instructors, students and tour guides