This document outlines the reflexive approach to project methodology developed in the context of JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee)/HEA (Higher Education Academy) funded project "Digital Futures in Teacher Education" which took place at Sheffield Hallam University between October 2011-October 2012. For more information about the project, see project blog http://deftoer3.wordpress.com/ and project website www.digitalfutures.org

1. Digital Futures in Teacher Education reflexive methodology
This document outlines the reflexive approach to project methodology developed in the
context of JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee)/HEA (Higher Education Academy)
funded project "Digital Futures in Teacher Education" which took place at Sheffield Hallam
University between October 2011-October 2012. For more information about the project,
see project blog http://deftoer3.wordpress.com/ and project website
www.digitalfutures.org
Outline of reflexive methodology
The team have developed a collaborative method of working with project partners, with an
emphasis on reflection in the process of exploring digital literacy practice and open practices
within teacher education contexts. A guiding principle was that through structured
reflection, teaching practices can be critically reviewed and hence better understood. This
helped in articulating approaches to digital literacies which mapped onto the experiences of
project participants. In terms of practical realisation of that approach, all project
participants (core team, teachers, course tutors and students) contributed to a series of
reflexive tasks in which they responded to prompts provided by the project team at five
points in the project lifecycle. These prompts varied slightly for each of the groups in
acknowledgement of their particular working context. Participants were encouraged to offer
their responses in a variety of formats such as text, audio or video, depending on personal
preferences. The responses were then collated to identify emerging themes and to gain a
sense of developing understandings of DL. A digest of these reflections was shared amongst
participants shortly after each stage, thus contributing to a cumulative sense of meanings
generated by the group.
Email sent to project participants
Dear [insert name],
The project team would like to capture our ongoing reflections on how the project is impact
on our collective and individual understanding of digital literacy and Open Educational
Resources. In order to do this, we would like to ask if you would engage in a number of
reflections on what your understandings are and how they change as the project develops.
Therefore, at various points in the project, we will ask you to send us some reflections,
based on a prompt question. You can respond either through sending written or oral
(podcast or video) reflections. You may already be keeping ongoing reflexive notes/ diaries
This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK:
England & Wales http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
2

2. as part of the project and you may wish to send us these - you do not need to do this, of
course, we would be happy for you to keep these private if you would prefer. Any notes you
send us may be used in reports and publications, but they will be anonymised before any
future use. Please note that all team members will be taking part in this process of
reflection, as we feel it will be important to trace all of our changing understandings of
digital literacy/OERs.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this process. In the
meantime, we post the first prompt question below. Please could you let us have your
reflections/ comments by [insert date].
Reflexive prompts for teachers
1) What understandings of digital literacy underpin your work for the project? What digital
literacy skills/ knowledge and understanding does your project aim to develop?
Reflection point 2
2) How has your understanding of digital literacy developed during the project?
3) How has Digital Bloom* influenced your understanding and practice?
4) What impact did DeFT have on your understanding and practice of Digital Literacy/Open
Educational Resources?
*The "Digital Bloom" installation celebrating the work of the pupils of schools participating in the DeFT project
took place in Sheffield Winter Gardens between 9-13 July as part of Sheffield Children's Festival. For more
information, see http://deftoer3.wordpress.com/category/digital-bloom-2/
Reflexive prompts for PGCE tutors:
1) What understandings of digital literacy underpin your work for the project? What digital
literacy skills/ knowledge and understanding does your project aim to develop?
Reflection point 2
2) How has your understanding of digital literacy developed during the project?
3) What impact did DeFT have on your understanding and practice of DL/OER?
Reflexive prompts for project team:
1) What understandings of digital literacy do you have? How do you conceive of OERs?
2) How is the project impacting on your understandings of DL/OER?
3) What are your reflections on the Digital Bloom showcase?
4) What impact did DeFT have on your understanding of DL/OER?
This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK:
England & Wales http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
2