PictureIt JMU! wiki

This is the wiki developed for the James Madison University PictureIt project conducted by the Office of Institutional Research

Background

There is an old adage that says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Typical research on undergraduates focuses on data gleaned from surveys, tests, interviews, and other means. The research conducted by the JMU Office of Institutional Research for more than 35 years has focused on collecting and analyzing demographic and survey data about students and faculty. These data have been enormously useful in helping management make important decisions about JMU. The collection and dissemination of these data will continue. However, there is more to be learned about the JMU undergraduate experience that numerical and survey data cannot tell us. The purpose of the PictureIt JMU project is to gain knowledge through images and discussions about these images that can be used to improve the JMU undergraduate experience.

In 2005-06, JMU's student affairs and university planning division (SAUP) first provided innovation grants to division departments. In 2006-07 the division funded OIR’s PictureIt JMU! to learn about the Madison Experience through the eyes, images and comments of 16 freshmen. A sampling of freshmen were invited to participate. Incentives included moving into residence halls a day early, a photo book of their first year, food, a generous stipend and listening ears.

During three two-week periods (Orientation and first week of classes, early November, and mid-March), these students took pictures of what was important to them.  They uploaded the pictures to a picture-sharing Web site (Flickr.com), and they joined OIR staff members as well as other JMU faculty and staff members in conversations about their images. Through their pictures and our discussions with them, we learned what it is like to be a JMU freshman, how they adjusted to college life and how they changed.

The project was so well received by these students that they asked to participate as sophomores. Funds have been provided by SAUP to follow their Madison Experience until they graduate.

The links to the right and below will take you to summaries of each year.

The First Year

The Sophomore Year

PictureIt Summary 2007-08

The Junior Year

The Senior Year

Important Links

Project website: http://www.jmu.edu/pictureitjmu

JMU Current Student Homepage: http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/students/

Why Use a wiki?

The purpose of this wiki is to provide a safe environment in which the project staff and students can participate in the creation of summaries about the project. This will also be a place where announcements are posted and updates to the project are found. Project staff and students will be free to add to and edit the summaries.

Enjoy!