Images of research: Visualising the essence of educational research

1. Introduction

The Doctoral College at the University of Plymouth supports the diverse and multi-faceted research conducted by its postgraduate students and research staff. The annual Images of Research competition provides a unique platform to visually communicate the essence and impact of the research being undertaken. I am delighted to have entered the competition for the second year running, in 2022 and 2023, and am pleased to share the images and descriptions that illustrate my research journey.

2.2022 Submission: Stimulating creativity through digital storybook creation

Image Description:

Being involved with content creation can stimulate children’s creativity and inspire them to write or draw something. Digital storybook creation as an extracurricular activity may help children to communicate with the world and act as catalyst to explore their 21st century skills.

Category: Postgraduate Research Student

3.2023 Submission: Growth and Exploration through Digital Storytelling

Image 1: Capturing learning through the lens

In Space 1, a young girl stands in a museum, camera in hand, ready to capture the vibrant art around her. This space represents a journey of self-exploration and education, reflected in my research project, which aims to use digital tools such as interactive storybooks to enhance students' language skills. Here, the camera symbolises a digital tool that acts as a lens through which students can understand and engage with a rapidly evolving world full of unfamiliar but exciting possibilities.

Image 2: Steps to growth

Space 2 captures the same girl in the second scene at a moment of physical and mental challenge. Just as this climber learns and grows with each step towards her goal, this research aims to help secondary school students improve their language skills through the use of an interactive storybook, enabling them to adapt and develop in digital storytelling environments. This image is a metaphor for the climbing that the educational context can facilitate for students, equipping them with the steps they need to grow.

Category: Postgraduate Research Student

4.Conclusion:

The Images of Research competition not only showcases the depth and scope of research conducted at the University of Plymouth, but also emphasises the potential of visual communication in conveying complex research topics. Through these images, I would like to provide a tangible and accessible insight into the potential of digital storytelling in education, emphasising its transformative potential in building students' language and creative skills. The future of education is vibrant, and as researchers all of us are at the leading edge of understanding and designing this evolution.