Method: Eighteen nursing students were given a photo journal assignment as part of a service learning study abroad experience in Nicaragua. Each day of the ten-day trip, students were provided a prompt that required them to take a photograph and journal about their chosen picture. (Gilliland et al, 2016) These prompts were verbally announced at the beginning of the day and were chosen to enhance self-awareness. Examples include; Submit a picture that reflects how you are feeling and title it. Write and reflect on your expectations and hopes for this trip. A second example is: Submit a picture that reminds you of your family and your own community and title it. Write and reflect on what is at stake for these patients, their families, and their community. Two weeks following the return from the trip students submitted their photo journals in electronic form. Focus groups were utilized to explore the students experience and the effect of the photo journal on their affective learning.
Findings: Our experience and student’s feedback confirm that photo journaling provided a learning activity that actively engaged the students in self-reflected affective learning. One students summed it up noting, you had to go deeper and see what was really going on and that the picture could communicate until you could find the words.
Conclusion: Student produced meaningful photographs during clinical experiences that are combined with journaling exercises develop personal awareness of caring as student come to know more about themselves through self-exploration and communication.