Using Photo-based Communication in the Classroom: Improving Children’s Self-esteem through Photographic Expression

Abstract

Photo-Based Communication (PBC) is an educational program that aims to increase self-expression ability and self-esteem through communication activities using photographs. It is composed of two sub-programs: “Discovery” and “Taking Photos to Express Thoughts”. The objective of this research project was to determine the psychological and educational effects of PBC on participating children. To that end, study was conducted. Study was a questionnaire survey of 29 students in the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school. The results of the survey showed that children felt an extremely high degree of satisfaction with participation in PBC, and that participation in PBC caused them to improve the self-esteem through photographic expression, as well as to understand that they and their friends see things in different ways. Some thoughts on the effects of PBC on children and the significance of using PBC in the classroom are offered here based on these results.