Measuring Joy and Community in Schools

Résumé fourni par la source

Traditional approaches to assessing school climate – most commonly reliant on surveys and standardized metrics – often fall short in capturing the nuanced, lived experiences of students, educators, and families. This chapter advances Photovoice as a qualitative, participatory methodology capable of addressing these limitations by illuminating the cultural, emotional, and relational dimensions of school life. Grounded in the author&s;s multiple roles as teachers, educational leaders, community builders and researchers, the chapter analyzes photographic documentation collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, reinterpreted through Creswell&s;s image coding framework and popular lens in a dynamic-critical perspective in democratizing knowledge and information. The analysis reveals key themes of community connection, cultural representation, and joy – elements frequently overlooked or not privileged through conventional assessment models. In addition to presenting empirical findings, the chapter outlines a practical framework for integrating Photovoice into educational leadership practice, from collection of observables through stakeholder engagement, policy reflection and practice as policy. Positioned as a complement to quantitative tools such as surveys and equity audits, Photovoice offers school leaders an alternative pathway for cultivating more inclusive, human-centered learning environments.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.