Digital reflection: using digital technologies to enhance and embed creative processes

Abstract

This paper shares the findings of a teaching and learning project (Digitalis) that investigated ways in which digital technologies can be used by teaching staff to facilitate reflection on creative practices within performing and creative arts disciplines. Two types of reflection are considered: (i) reflection on creative practice and (ii) creative forms of reflection, with five case studies from a range of arts subjects representing a spectrum of reflective activity. Drawing on a model of cooperative enquiry, simple technological enhancements were made to the design of five existing modules, and these were evaluated through student focus groups, observation of student work, and reflective interviews with the module leaders. Through a thematic analysis of the data, the paper shares the learning from these modules, along with a suggested model of digital reflection, outlining the place of capture, documentation and organisation technologies in the reflective process. The paper concludes that there are benefits to be gained from digital reflection, given its facility to aid students to 'look again' at their own ephemeral creative processes.

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