Using Photovoice to Teach Ecological Systems Theory in the Social Sciences
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Abstract
This article describes the use of photography as an entry point for undergraduate students to learn about Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory (EST). Specifically, we discuss how an adapted form of photovoice can support students’ understanding of the “system” levels in EST. The activities discussed in this article were implemented in two undergraduate courses: one for early childhood education students at a two-year community college and one for public health students at a four-year university. Through photovoice, students shared autobiographical photographs accompanied by narratives that illustrated examples of the EST system levels in their own lives. This paper discusses how arts-based learning engendered insights about a theoretical framework as well as opportunities for positive interactions with peers.
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