BIO7: Environmental Storytelling with ArcGIS Storymaps

Successful collaboration don't just happen.  They require thoughtful planning and intention.  Projects that are successful usually have consistent communication between group members, care for the project and each other and a common set of values that serve as the foundation of the project.  As designers of this project, how will you frame the ways you will approach the work?  

It's important to note that frameworks and process can be established prior to starting the project but the reality of the work may mean things need to be adjusted or scrapped all together.  As a starting place to establish what equitable collaboration will mean for your group, start by articulating roles, responsibilities and backup plans for each step of the process.  The following are a series of prompts to start conversations about what the group dynamic will look like for your project.  

Project Values

• What are the values this project centers?
• How will the group ensure decisions connect back to these values?  How will the group hold itself accountable to these values?

Sharing the work

There are a variety of ways to share the work - what matters is that everyone in the group agrees regarding how content is being determined and how labor and responsibilities are being divided. All members should monitor distribution of responsibilities and a channel for vocalizing concerns of imbalance should be established.  One way to divide up the work is to assign group members specialized oversight of a specific process.  Tasks to consider are:

• Background research
• Gathering sound/doing interviews
• Gathering images and video
• Working on bringing the research together

Another way to divide up the work is to have each group member research a particular topic.  Each member is the lead for integrating their research into the script.  

Accountability, key players and shaping content

• Inevitably a deadline will be missed or an unexpected event will occur that will disrupt your anticipated timeline.  How will these situations be handled?  

• Is this project about a particular community and if so, are you making space for the community to lead how the project unfolds?

• Where do the ideas start and how do you determine content?

• How do you create a welcoming space for generating and sharing ideas?  How will you ensure everyone's voice in the group is being heard and respected?
• How will final editorial calls be made?

When establishing partners and collaborators be transparent about your goals with the project.  Make sure those you are speaking with or about have knowledge about the context of your work.  Pay careful consideration to who you are choosing to collaborate with and whose voice you might be leaving out.When interviewing, be transparent about options guests have when it comes to participation.  You should always have release forms for those you interview to guide this process. Some options to make participants aware of are:

• The participants ability to review notes, transcripts and other data collected during the research pertaining to their participation
• Their ability to decide whether they can be quoted directly and how much is quoted
• The usage of a pseudonym when quoting
• Timeline for publishing and sharing
• Details on publishing formats and access
• Their ability to revoke consent in the future