"Sometimes the Perspective Changes": Reflections on a Photography Workshop with Multicultural Students in Italy

Authors

Robin L. Danzak, Sacred Heart UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2015

Abstract

This article describes and evaluates an 8-week photography workshop, FotoLab, conducted in Italy at an afterschool-tutoring program for students acquiring Italian as an additional language. Seventeen students, age 8-17 and originating from 9 countries, participated. Co-facilitated by three international educator-researchers, FotoLab's purpose was to promote self-expression, collaboration, and visual literacy. Through a qualitative inquiry of the FotoLab curriculum, photographs and videos, field notes, and student questionnaires, this article reflects on themes of multiculturalism and multilingualism, collaboration, and visual literacy within a sociocultural animation framework. While expressions of cultural and linguistic identity emerged, findings emphasize the challenges and benefits of teamwork and shared learning. Participants expressed growth in their ability to create and interpret images, a perception affirmed in weekly presentations of their photographs and in a culminating, community event. Overall, outcomes highlight the flexible and dynamic nature of sociocultural animation as an effective practice for multicultural-multilingual contexts.

DOI

10.18251/ijme.v17i3.954

Recommended Citation

Danzak, R. (2015). "Sometimes the Perspective Changes": Reflections on a Photography Workshop with Multicultural Students in Italy. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 17

Publication

International Journal of Multicultural Education

Volume

17

Issue

3

Pages

55-75