Introduction

PhotoVoice was developed by Caroline Wang and Ann Burris as a participatory action research strategy. Since that time, within the literature, PhotoVoice has been adapted as a pedagogical tool to enable students to consider a focal issue and topic that is relevant to their lives at a deep level, while also considering the social justice and social change implications of their work with PhotoVoice. In the present context, the purpose of this PhotoVoice project was to engage students to critically think about a focal topic that relates to them, and to encourage them to express their views through the mixed medium of photos and accompanying narratives. This project hoped to serve as training in advocacy and public and civic engagement, in addition to enhancing writing and communication skills, critical thinking, ability to apply concepts to real-life contexts, teamwork, project planning and execution, peer-learning and peer-mentoring, and to expand their knowledge in an interdisciplinary context of collaborative learning.

In the most recent iteration of the PhotoVoice project at X/Ryerson University, during the pandemic, we made several key modifications to our delivery model to fit with an online format: we used breakout rooms for first year students and their mentors in an upper year course to meet and work together, we shifted from a physical exhibit to a virtual one, and we created an online gallery to showcase the work of students. Through this project, we also expanded PhotoVoice into a co-curricular environment at Centennial College.