Anchoring adult learners’ experiences through photovoice: Jamaican students’ meaning-making during COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Within the Caribbean, the number of students pursuing postgraduate studies in higher education institutions (HEIs) has increased over the years. Consequently, locally contextualised epistemologies and empowering methods are needed to help adult learners in Caribbean higher education (HE) navigate their studies. This paper presents findings from a photovoice study undertaken with postgraduate adult learners at an HEI in Jamaica. Participants used photographs, written reflections and group discussions to explore their HE journey. Given the intervening nature of the pandemic in the immediate period after the study was conceptualised and participants engaged, this paper focuses on the ways in which photovoice offered participants opportunities to make meaning of their HE journey. Findings demonstrate that the use of photovoice was transformative in how it empowered participants through the opportunity to engage in self-discovery and discuss their thoughts and emotions, facilitated peer support, and how it enabled adult learners to forge resilience as they undertook their studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Adult learners
• COVID-19
• higher education
• Jamaica
• photovoice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. To protect the participant’s identity, the photo was cropped so that only the mask and the locs are highlighted. Additionally, the photo is black and white to ensure the colours of the mask are not revealed.

2. During the height of the pandemic, the wearing of masks in public spaces was mandated by the Jamaican Government.