Appendix J. PhotoVoice method co-curricular

Overview:

The PhotoVoice project launched in Fall 2021 was led by Centennial College’s Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) and involved 10 students across a variety of academic programs. Partnered with Centennial’s Student Life Engagement and Development department (SLED) and their pre-existing mentorship program, the PhotoVoice project was pitched to their student mentors and mentees. From this mentorship program, 3 mentors and 3 mentees had registered in addition to 4 CALCS student interns. Observed by the facilitator, most students were interested in joining the project due to its unique approach to photography, leadership opportunity and the chance to showcase their work to their community. Moreover, as the project was based entirely online it had provided both an advantage to recruiting students and to making this project accessible to those who were abroad, as 4 out of our 10 students were international students with 2 being in their home countries of India and Colombia. Within the project students engaged in two workshops which allowed them to gain new insights, reflect and practice storytelling as they explored the prompt “I thrive when…”. Moreover, students had the opportunity to not only take photos and craft their narrative but also learn about their peers’ journey and their insights gained through this experiential learning opportunity. As students came from different cultural backgrounds, life experiences and education focus, discussions were rich and commonalities were found throughout the online discussions within the workshops. Although a small group, photos and narratives were rich with detail and provided a lens to the realities of students’ lives and what thriving means to them.

PhotoVoice Project Guidelines and Instruction Sheet

1.  For any accommodation needs with respect to the PhotoVoice project, please inform the Wellness Programmer
2. You are representing Centennial College in the PhotoVoice project in partnership with X/Ryerson University, please abide by the following policies:
   
   • Student Code of Conduct
   • Centennial’s Accessibility and Accommodation policies
   • Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA):
   • Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Policy
   • Centennial’s Sexual Violence Policies
3. Make sure you sign the waiver and release form to participate in this PV project.
4. If you include any person/s in your photograph, make sure you obtain their consent and get them to sign a waiver form, as per Centennial College policy.
5. Instructions for the photos and the narrative:
   
   • Take 10 to 15 photos based on the prompt “I thrive when”
   • Save the photos in a JPEG format
   • The narrative should be 100-150 words
   • Give your photo/poster a title
6. Showed Prompt Resource:
   
   • What do I See here?
   • What is Happening in this photo?
   • How does it impact Our lives? (or my life)
   • Why is it happening? (How can this picture/poster Educate people)
   • What can we Do about it?
     
7. Second workshop: October 26, 2021, at 5 pm
8. Send the photo, narrative and title by November 19, 2021, to mlitonjua@centennialcollege.ca