Chapter 5: Envisioning Photovoice as a Pedagogical Innovation During Covid-19 Within Higher Education Contexts

Photovoice is a research approach that integrates photography and critical discussion to examine issues with the goal of promoting change at the personal and community level and to promote a sense of empowerment. In this chapter, we discuss the use of photovoice as a pedagogical innovation to empower students and foster engagement in a college classroom from the instructor and student perspectives. First, we will define photovoice and situate this methodology within youth participation action research. We then describe how to prepare for and implement photovoice in the classroom with examples taken from the literature and elsewhere. From there, we will expound on our own use of photovoice as a pedagogical innovation to empower young people. Readers will have access to step-by-step procedures for planning and carrying out a photovoice project within a research methods class from the first day of class through to a gallery exhibit at the end of the semester. Concepts and experiences will be illuminated through the chapter by student reflections in addition to photographs and findings from student photovoice projects. Additionally, student reflections on the experience of using photovoice to process COVID-19 as we lived through the first months of the pandemic are presented, including reflections on the experience of pivoting to remote learning and living.