Seeing How to Ask First: Photo Elicitation Motivates English Language Learners to Write

A different lens: Changing perspectives using Photo-Elicitation Interviews

“…In explaining his rationale for analyzing photos, Agbenyega (2008, p. 56) writes, "Images are communication tools and messages they convey reflect the psychological state of the image producer…Communication in any form, whether verbal or non-verbal, is central to human existence and its content represents a unit of analysis." Researchers analyzing photos as well as interview transcripts typically attend to the symbolic characteristics of the photo such as framing, foregrounding and backgrounding, and what is included versus left out of photos (Fischman, 2001;Packard, 2008;Stockall, 2011;Zenkov et al, 2012). Orellana (2008) sought to understand the symbolic representations in her participants' photos by grouping and regrouping photos to find patterns within and between participants.…”

“…Pedagogical tool. PEI has also been used in classroom settings as a pedagogical tool to guide inquiry (MacDonald, 2012;Sánchez, 2015;Sinatra, Beaudry, Guastello, & Stahl-Gemake, 1989;Zenkov, Ewaida, Bell, & Lynch, 2012). Zenkov and her colleagues (2012) use PEI to encourage reflection, discussion, and writing in a middle school ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) class.…”

“…Researchers using PEI with children in classroom settings frequently observe that the technique is also a means of engaging and motivating children (Cappello, 2005;Zenkov et al, 2012). Describing one student in their study, Zenkov and her team (2012, p.6) writes, "Miguel struggled to participate and complete assignments in our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class, but he began to engage with writing tasks when we relied on image-based inquiries into his relationship to school as the starting point for our lessons."…”

“…A final note regarding studies that use PEI for pedagogical purposes is that photos are often used to elicit written narratives or group discussion rather than dialogue in a formal interview (MacDonald, 2012;Sánchez, 2015;Sensoy, 2011;Sinatra, et al, 1989;Zenkov, et al, 2012). The focus of PEI for pedagogical purposes is to help students understand their own experiences and the world around them, rather than to help researchers understand a topic from an alternative perspective.…”

Boundary- and Border-Spanning Collaborations of Educators and Youths

“…It appeals to photovoice methods and youth participatory action research techniques to allow adolescents to examine their perspectives on school with photographs and writings. The project has resulted in numerous authentic outcomes: exhibitions, analyses, presentations of youths' images, and publications of various types (Zenkov, Bell, Ewaida, & Lynch, 2012;Zenkov et al, 2013;Zenkov, Fell, et al, 2012;Zenkov & Harmon, 2009).…”