A Reflective Account of Use of Photo Elicitation for Interactive Learning in a Community-Based Medical Education Setting in Rural Central India

Background: Photo elicitation is a participatory learning tool. The process involves the elicitation of thoughts and ideas by introducing photos and videos to a group of people to carry out a group discussion and analysis. It has been used as a teaching-learning method in medical education. This technique was used in a community-based medical education rural setting during one of the social service camps for students.Methods: 100 students participated in the process. Two different photographs related to child development were shared through a social application. The images were at the center of the discussion, initiating and guiding the discussion taking place by stimulating the students’ minds and provoking them to think about possible inferences that could be drawn based on those images. Guided interactive discussion was used to explain the concepts related to child development.Results: Students involved in the process, found it to be an interesting and interactive teaching method.The method stimulated their thought processes and enabled free discussion. The concepts became easier to grasp, owing to their active participation, and led to a better understanding.Conclusion: Photo elicitation can be used, with some limitations, as an effective and interactive learning method with a large group in a rural setting as well. Simple social applications that are available, can be used to implement this method. However, the method used must be altered according to one’s conditions as the teaching-learning settings and context may vary.