Dear Fellow Educators,

A photonovel (or photo novella) is like a comic book, but uses photographs
and balloon captioned text.  Participatory photonovels are written,
directed, acted and photographed by participants themselves. They can
serve as an empowering tool for marginalized groups to codify and think
critically about their realities, and then engage in cumulative action to
create visibility about various topics, in efforts to create social change.

Inspired by Paulo Freire's approach to critical pedagogy, my MA research
involved having immigrant ESL speaking women create a participatory
photonovel about eating well in Canada. My research found that having the
women as active participants in creating a health literacy material was
very empowering for them. The participatory process also built community
amongst the women and represented their voice in their new country.  To
view the photonovel the women created, and others, go to www.photonovel.ca

My MA research won a Canadian Population and Public Health Masters
Research Award and was shortlisted for the Canadian Language and Literacy
Masters Research Award.

Creating a photonovel is very user-friendly and economical. All you need
is a digital camera, laptop and a comic-producing program that costs 40
dollars (Comic Life, which can be bought online).

Here is some more information about photonovels:

Nimmon, L. (2007). Within the eyes of the people: Using a photonovel as
a consciousness-raising health literacy tool with ESL-speaking immigrant
women. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 98(4), 337-340.

Rudd, R., & Comings, J. (1996). Learner developed materials: An empowering
product. Health  Education Quarterly, 21(3), 313-327.

Wang, C., & Burris, A. (1994). Empowerment through photonovella:
Portraits of participation. Health Education Quarterly, 21(2), 171-186.

In response to the growing interest in photonovelas as an empowering
literacy tool, I have created a new website at www.photonovela.com
The goal of this site is to have a place where photonovels can be shared
and disseminated more widely.

Should you have any questions about the facilitation of photonovels,
please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Sincerely,

Laura
--
Laura Nimmon
Doctoral Fellow
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
University of British Columbia
Literacy Education
www.photonovel.ca