Journal of Business and Technical Communication Oct 2023

Tuning to Place: Using Photos to Better Understand Problems in Technical Communication Classes

Erin Brock Carlson West Virginia University ; Trinity Overmyer Los Alamos National Laboratory

Abstract

This article highlights the role of place in understanding problems, specifically within community-engaged projects in upper-level technical and professional communication courses. Drawing on a year-long participant-generated imagery study with students, instructors, and community partners, the authors argue that photographic research is effective in helping participants and researchers tune to place. Taking photos offers opportunities for documentation, individual interpretation, and collaborative reflection, resulting in a deeper, more nuanced sense of place. Ultimately, this article demonstrates how a greater awareness of place, cultivated through reflecting on visual evidence, enhances engagement projects and helps technical communicators address complex problems.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2023-10-01
DOI
10.1177/10506519231179965
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
collaborative writing technical communication professional writing place and space
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