INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHANGES IN EDUCATION
Research Article
Aug 11, 2026 182 53

Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice

Amy Kelly 1 *
1 College of Education and Human Development, Governors State University, USA* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(3), 2026, 349-358, https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
Online publication date: Sep 29, 2025
Publication date: Aug 11, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

This study explores the use of photovoice as a reflective practice tool for early childhood student teachers in a teacher preparation program. Reflective practice is crucial for professional growth, yet traditional journaling often feels disconnected from real-world experiences for student teachers. Photovoice, which encourages participants to capture and reflect on meaningful classroom moments through photography, offers an engaging alternative. This research investigates the aspects of student teaching that candidates find reflective, how their images express satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and how group discussions develop shared understanding. Using a constructivist framework, seven student teachers participated in a semester-long photovoice project. Data were collected through over 350 images, descriptions, and four group discussions. Findings reveal four key reflective themes: instructional resources, student engagement, classroom environment, and relationships. While photovoice enhanced critical reflection and community building, participants were hesitant to openly discuss negative experiences, reflecting challenges in developing self-assessment. The study concludes that photovoice holds significant promise for enriching reflective practice in teacher education by integrating visual analysis and group dialogue and recommends its inclusion in teacher preparation curricula as a strategy for fostering critical reflection and community building.

KEYWORDS

photovoice reflective practice student teachers early childhood education teacher preparation

CITATION (APA)

Kelly, A. (2026). Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(3), 349-358. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
Harvard
Kelly, A. (2026). Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(3), pp. 349-358. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
Vancouver
Kelly A. Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(3):349-58. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
AMA
Kelly A. Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(3), 349-358. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
Chicago
Kelly, Amy. "Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice". International Journal of Changes in Education 2026 3 no. 3 (2026): 349-358. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526
MLA
Kelly, Amy "Engaging Student Teachers in Reflective Practice Through Photovoice". International Journal of Changes in Education, vol. 3, no. 3, 2026, pp. 349-358. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52025526

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