The Exeter Cascade project is a partnership between various departments at the University of Exeter to develop digital literacy skills, especially among postgraduate researchers. The project will conduct research on current digital technology use, identify exemplar practices, and develop initiatives like workshops, modules, and resources to enhance digital capabilities among both students and staff. Postgraduate researchers will help lead these efforts and act as agents of change across academic programs.

1. Exeter Cascade Project
Cascading Research-like Digital Literacy Skills at Exeter
The University of Exeter have been successful in a bid for funding to develop digital literacies,
focusing in particular on the role of postgraduate researchers as innovators in their subject area
and as next generation teaching staff.
The Exeter Cascade project is a partnership between Education Enhancement, academics in
Colleges, and postgraduate researchers. We are exploring how the practices of research and
teaching are influenced by digital technologies and media, and working with Colleges both to
enhance scholarship and to better prepare students for living and working in a digital society.
The activities of the project are being developed in partnership with staff and students, and with
advisers in the library, careers service, academic advisory service and educational enhancement
team. Once we have established how digital technologies are already being used to support
research and teaching, and how staff and students can benefit most, we will develop action plans
for each College. We are committed, however, to several broad activity areas.
Baseline research:
We are using a combination of methods to explore the use of digital technologies in research
and to investigate how researchers develop their digital capability. We are also looking at
University strategies and support for digital literacy, and gathering in-depth evidence from
Departments and Colleges, identifying challenges as well as excellent practice.
PGRs as change agents:
We are working with at postgraduate researchers across the Colleges of the University,
including those already involved in teaching undergraduates. They are acting as co-
researchers on the project, undertaking a programme of personal development, and will lead
digital literacy development in their academic setting during the lifetime of the project and
beyond.
Embedding digital research into taught modules:
Following the baseline process, we are identifying taught modules at all levels of study in which
research-type activities can be embedded to support students' digital capability and confidence.
Some of these modules will be examples of excellent practice in the use of digital media: others
will be using digital technology to address 'troublesome knowledge' and challenges in student
learning. Up to 20 media-rich case studies will support the spread of creative ideas.
New learning/development opportunities:
The project is supporting the development of new opportunities for teaching staff and research
students, for example a new Digital Literacies module in the Researcher Development online
programme, materials for teaching staff, and resources for use by the Careers service. Digital
literacy events will be held in the five Colleges of the University, led by PGRs and innovative
staff. A regional event for Academic Advisers is planned in collaboration with the Association for
Learning Development in HE.
Working with the professional services
We are working with student-facing services across the University to integrate digital
awareness into their work, so that students have seamless support for the use of digital
technologies in their research, study, and personal development.
To find out more and get involved, speak to a member of our team or contact us directly:
We welcome any suggestions, comments and possible collaborations!
Email: cascade@exeter.ac.uk Core Project Team:
Twitter: @exetercascade Helen Beetham - Liz Dunne
Blog: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/cascade/blog Dale Potter - Nikki McMurray