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[HealthLiteracy 2508] Re: Evidence-based? ... Literacy benefits?
christina
zarcac01 at imail.mssm.eduTue Nov 25 09:37:47 EST 2008
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Julie, Susan, ...
I think of photonovellas the way I do about any
text. And as Susan so rightly put it - is is one
of many texts - verbal, visual, print, that
contribute to advancing a person's engagement and
understanding.
Therefore "evidence based" is so medical and
narrow a standard - in some ways setting the bar
too low.
If a text has meaning for someone it will give
voice, empower, and democratize what is too often
the rarified, closed codes of science ( or other
technology). Not all of these powerful things can
be accomodated in our "evidence based" tool kit.
What tempers my enthusiasim for novellas ( or any
one kind of text) is that I see too often that
"it" becomes the default. Therefore instead of
struggling with the messiness of true
collaboration to see what the text is/might need
to be, we decide it will be a novella for X
community, for y subset of the population. We can
become wooed into thinking that is the one true
answer.
Another concern with text formats that "work" is
that we have to learn more about what they work
at. Can they convey more than the information
given. The gold standard for me is, can the text
convey the information in a way that is
productive - allows the user to use something of
the information in a new way, in a new context.
What prompted me to post today is there is some
breaking news on the all the morning
Study: Do breast tumors go away on their own?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-24-breast-cancer_N.htm?csp=34
Perhaps not totally on the topic of novellas -
but a text question in its own right.
What do the texts we create ( alone or with our
collaborates) do to promote an active engagement
with concepts as much as the literal facts or
information?
Thanks for a stimulating discussion this past week.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all,
Chris
Christina Zarcadoolas, PhD.
Health and Environmental Literacy Initiative
Dept. of Community and Preventive Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
One Gustave L. Levy Place
Box 1057
New York, NY 10029
212-824-7061
Visit my blog www.zarcbark.blogspot.com
>Hi Julie-
>It's nice to finally be back on-line!
>
>The question are photonovellas an
>"evidence-based" strategy made me pause.
>Empirical studies could help us arrive at a
>'yes' or 'no' answer. However, given the level
>of variability in design, development,
>populations, objectives, and usage, the
>generalizability of the findings would be quite
>limited (which I think is what you were getting
>at when you suggested it's not an easy yes or
>no). This makes me wonder if it would be more
>helpful to ask how empirical research and
>different cultures of inquiry can help inform
>our development and use of photonovellas to
>achieve our stated objectives. An
>interdisciplinary approach seems ideal, drawing
>from fields such as medicine, public health,
>education, communications, and social psychology
>(I'm sure there are others).
>
>As I reflected on the question, 'evidence of
>what?' my thinking came full circle, back to Dr.
>Chris Zarcadoolas's comments last year about the
>problems that can stem from defining health
>literacy in terms too narrow, or from not
>incorporating our powerful creative abilities as
>human beings to use language to make meaning and
>change in our worlds. Evaluating the
>photonovella challenges us in this regard
>because, as many of the shared experiences
>reflect, we must consider not only the results
>of the creative process but also the mystery of
>creation, the intuitive, spontaneous elements.
>As Laura Nimmon's mentioned in her most recent
>post, that she trusts the creative potential of
>the participants and that in and of itself is a
>means to restore human agency. The experiences
>of John Comings, Rima Rudd and others suggest
>that it is possible to help a community in this
>way also.
>
>Thanks to the pioneering efforts of many members
>on this discussion list, the health literacy
>movement is growing and evolving. Evaluation of
>programs and approaches to improve the health
>literacy of individuals and communities is a
>critical part of that proces. I appreciate and
>am encouraged by the interest expressed in
>developing, using, and evaluating photonovellas.
>I look forward to continuing the dialog as we
>move forward!
>
>To clarify the difference between using a
>photonovella and using the Teach-With-Stories
>(TWS) Method:
>
>You can use a photonovella in different ways:
> --develop a photonovella as the intervention
>(like Laura and John discussed) and then, for
>example, the group can use it to teach others in
>their community
> --use it for information dissemination
>(distribute at health fairs, clinics, home
>visits, etc.),
> --use it to reinforce health information
>provided in a different format (e.g., we
>provided radio health program then had same info
>in a novela available in local businesses)
> --use to spark group dialog and provide
>education. The photonovella provides the
>'curriculum' structure for both health and
>participatory literacy instruction.
>
>The Teach-With-Stories Method is a 6 step
>participatory group facilitation process. This
>method of facilitation can be used with
>any 'spark' (e.g. photonovella, video, plays,
>article, current event)
>
>We developed the method to assist educators in
>making the shift from a traditional, didactic
>approach (that typically relies heavily on
>written communication) to a culturally
>appropriate, participatory approach that builds
>on oral traditions (like creating a play and
>keeping the focus on dialog).
>
>Our website is currently being renovated but
>should be up in the next couple of weeks. We
>will have additional details about the TWS
>facilitation training and training materials for
>the De Madre A Madre prenatal program. Also, we
>will be posting the findings from our TWS study
>re: Lay Educator Prenatal Outreach Program for
>Latinas. I will let you know when it's up and
>running.
>
>Susan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
>[<mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov>mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]
>On Behalf Of Julie McKinney
>Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 2:30 PM
>To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
>Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2494] Evidence-based? ... Literacy benefits?
>
>I'm glad that Marty brought up evaluation!
>So...John, Susan and others, can we call
>phonovellas an "evidence-based" strategy? For
>public health?
>How about for literacy teaching? (My guess is it's not an easy yes or
>no!)
>
>We have not heard from many adult literacy
>teachers: for you all, what benefits do you see
>in literacy gains using photonovellas vs. other
>authentic materials?
>
>And one question for Susan: what is the
>difference between using a phonotovella and
>using the TWS (teach with stories)method?
>
>Thanks to all for great questions and answers!
>
>Julie
>
>Julie McKinney
>Health Literacy List Moderator
>World Education
>jmckinney at worlded.org
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>
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>Email delivered to christina.zarcadoolas at mssm.edu
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