The School of My Dreams: Perceiving the Unspoken Desires of Undergraduate Students Through Photovoice

Abstract

Students do not typically have a voice in the institutional evaluation in Romania. Involving the students to improve a school is an effective means. By using a participatory action research through photovoice and appreciative inquiry, this study aimed to give a voice to the undergraduate students on what they dream for their school to become. The study was anchored on the empowerment education philosophical framework of Paulo Freire. Eight participants who were students from Pedagogy, Social Work, and Theology disciplines completed the photovoice process. Data were collected through photos, interviews, and the researcher’s analytic memos. The themes were developed by the participants through photo essay and were analyzed together with other forms of data such as interview transcriptions and observation fieldnotes. The results showed the need for improvement in teacher-student relationships, academic expectations, social projects, and institutional administration. The policy makers made important decisions during the exhibit, planned to implement several recommendations, and expressed the desire to have students’ yearly evaluation of the institution through photovoice.