Professor Cathy Burnett BA, PGCE, MEd, EdD

I am Professor of Literacy and Education at Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University.

My most recent research focuses on the relationship between new technologies and literacies within and beyond educational contexts. I was previously an editor of the journal Literacy and have led and contributed to a series of research and evaluation projects funded by organisations such as British Academy, Booktrust, UKLA, JISC and The Education Endowment Fund. I am President Elect and joint Research Convener for the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA), and also co-convene the UKLA Digital Literacies special interest group.

My books include New Media in the Classroom: Rethinking Primary Literacy (with Guy Merchant for Sage), New Literacies around the Globe (published by Routledge and co-edited with Julia Davies, Guy Merchant and Jennifer Rowsell for Routledge), The Case of the iPad: Mobile Literacies in Education (with Guy Merchant, Alyson Simpson and Maureen Walsh for Springer) and Literacy, Media, Technology: past, present and future (with Becky Parry and Guy Merchant for Bloomsbury).

Prior to arriving at Sheffield Hallam University, I worked as a primary teacher, for various theatre-in-education companies and for Derby City Education Service. I have published widely for professional and academic audiences, including several books and many journal articles and book chapters focused on literacy education, enquiry and professional education and the connections between literacy and technology.

I am co-editor of the fourth edition of the widely used handbook, Learning to Teach in the Primary School (with Teresa Cremin for Routledge). I have a longstanding commitment to creative approaches to literacy education and to using enquiry as a mode of professional development.

I currently teach on the Educational Doctorate and supervise a range of postgraduate students. I am interested in the relationship between enquiry and professional education and have led a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate modules designed to explore this relationship and work with teachers using enquiry in their professional practice.

My most recent research investigates the relationship between new technologies and literacies within and beyond educational contexts. I have led and contributed to a series of research and evaluation projects funded by organisations such as Booktrust, UKLA, JISC and The Education Endowment Foundation.

Recent projects include iPads in the Early Years and Virtually Drama which explored technology integration within open-ended learning environments. I am currently leading a British Academy Funded project, Doing Data Differently, which investigates teachers creatively visualisation of data related to what matters to them in their practice.

Work is ongoing on the 21st Century Maker Circles Project, which supports teachers to find practical ways to address 21st century literacies in the primary classroom within the framework of the current National Curriculum.

I have published widely for professional and academic audiences, including many journal articles and book chapters which have developed a sociomaterial orientation to the exploration of literacy and technology, and which relate more broadly to literacy education. 

I have also written a number of widely read literature reviews including ‘The digital age and its implications for learning and teaching in the primary school’ which was commissioned by the Cambridge Primary Review Trust.

Key Publications

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Parry, B., & Storey, V. (2018). Conceptualising digital technology integration in participatory theatre from a sociomaterialist perspective: ways forward for research. Research Papers in Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2018.1524927

Journal articles

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., & Neumann, M. (2019). The appearance of literacy in new communicative practices: interrogating the politics of noticing. Cambridge Journal of Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2019.1654978

Neumann, M.M., Merchant, G., & Burnett, C. (2018). Young children and tablets: the views of parents and teachers. Early Child Development and Care, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2018.1550083

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2018). Affective encounters: enchantment and the possibility of reading for pleasure. Literacy, 52 (2), 62-69. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12144

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2018). Literacy-as-event: accounting for relationality in literacy research. Discourse, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2018.1460318

Burnett, C. (2017). Acknowledging and interrogating multiplicities: towards a generous approach in evaluations of early literacy innovation and intervention. Journal of early childhood literacy, 17 (4), 522-550. http://doi.org/10.1177/1468798416645851

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2017). Opening the case of the IPad : what matters and where next? The Reading Teacher, 71 (2), 239-242. http://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1606

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2016). Boxes of poison: baroque technique as antidote to simple views of literacy. Journal of Literacy Research, 48 (3), 258-279. http://doi.org/10.1177/1086296x16668625

Burnett, C. (2016). Mapping Multiple Literacies: An Introduction to Deleuzian Literacy Studies. LITERACY, 50 (1), 50-51. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12034

Burnett, C. (2015). Being together in classrooms at the interface of the physical and virtual: implications for collaboration in on/off-screen sites. Learning, Media and Technology, 1-24. http://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2015.1050036

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2015). The challenge of 21st Century literacies. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 59 (3), 271-274. http://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.482

Burnett, C., Daniels, K., Gray, L., Myers, J., & Sharpe, S. (2015). Investigating student teachers’ presentations of literacy and literacy pedagogy in a complex context. Teacher Development, 19 (3), 275-293. http://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2015.1020393

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Pahl, K., & Rowsell, J. (2014). The (im)materiality of literacy : the significance of subjectivity to new literacies research. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 35 (1), 90-103. http://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2012.739469

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2014). Points of view : reconceptualising literacies through an exploration of adult and child interactions in a virtual world. Journal Of Research In Reading, 37 (1), 36-50. http://doi.org/10.1111/jrir.12006

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2014). Editorial. Literacy, 48 (3), 113-114. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12042

Davies, J., & Burnett, C. (2014). Editorial. Literacy, 48 (2), 57-58. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12039

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2013). Making sense of the multimodal, multimedia literacy landscape? Literacy, 47 (3), 113-114. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12011

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2013). Editorial. Literacy, 47 (2), 57-58. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12007

Burnett, C. (2013). Investigating children’s interactions around digital texts in classrooms : how are these framed and what counts? Education 3-13, 43 (2), 197-208. http://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2013.800576

Burnett, C. (2013). Investigating pupils’ interactions around digital texts: a spatial perspective on the ‘classroom-ness’ of digital literacy practices in schools. Educational Review, 66 (2), 192-209. http://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2013.768959

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2012). Editorial. Literacy, 46 (3), 113-114. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2012.00671.x

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2012). Editorial. Literacy, 46 (2), 57-58. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2012.00663.x

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2012). Editorial. Literacy, 46 (1), 1-2. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2011.00657.x

Burnett, C. (2011). Medium for empowerment or a 'centre for everything': students’ experience of control in digital environments within a university context. Education and information technologies, 16 (3), 245-258. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-010-9122-z

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2011). Is there a space for critical literacy in the context of social media? English Teaching: Practice and Critique, 10 (1), 41-57. http://education.waikato.ac.nz/research/files/etpc/files/2011v10n1art3.pdf

Burnett, C. (2011). Pre-service teachers’ digital literacy practices : exploring contingency in identity and digital literacy in and out of educational contexts. Language and Education, 25 (5), 433-449. http://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2011.584347

Burnett, C. (2011). The (im)materiality of educational space: interactions between material, connected and textual dimensions of networked technology use in schools. E-Learning and digital media, 8 (3), 214-227. http://doi.org/10.2304/elea.2011.8.3.214

Burnett, C. (2011). Shifting and multiple spaces in classrooms : an argument for investigating learners’ boundary-making around digital networked texts. Journal of Literacy and Technology, 12 (3), 2-23.

Burnett, C., & Davies, J. (2011). Editorial. Literacy, 45 (2), 53-54. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2011.00587.x

Burnett, C. (2010). Technology and literacy in early childhood educational settings: a review of research. Journal of early childhood literacy, 10 (3), 247-270. http://ecl.sagepub.com/

Burnett, C. (2009). Research into literacy and technology in primary classrooms: an exploration of understandings generated by recent studies. Journal of research in reading (special issue: New developments in literacy and technology), 32 (1), 22-37. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9817.2008.01379.x

Burnett, C. (2009). That’s more like they know me as a person": one primary pre-service teacher’s stories of her personal and ‘professional’ digital practices. Literacy (special edition: Literacy and identity), 43 (2), 65-74. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2009.00517.x

Merchant, G., Dickinson, P., Burnett, C., & Myers, J. (2006). Do you like dogs or writing? Identity performance in childen's digital message exchange. English in Education, 40 (3), 21-38. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-8845.2006.tb00798.x

Burnett, C., & Myers, J. (2006). Observing children writing on screen : exploring the process of multi-modal composition. Language and literacy, 8 (2). http://www.langandlit.ualberta.ca/

Burnett, C. (2006). Constructions of professional knowledge among student and practising primary teachers: paradigmatic and narrative. Research papers in education, 21 (3), 315-333. http://doi.org/10.1080/02671520600793773

Burnett, C., Dickinson, P., Myers, J., & Merchant, G.H. (2006). Digital connections transforming literacy in the primary school. Cambridge journal of education, 36 (1), 11-29. http://doi.org/10.1080/03057640500491120

Burnett, C., & Wilkinson, J. (2005). Holy lemons : learning from children's uses of the Internet in out-of-school contexts. Literacy (formerly Reading), 39 (3), 158-165. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9345.2005.00416.x

Merchant, G., Burnett, C., & Keating, C. (2004). Shooting the story. Primary English, 9 (5), 20-24.

Burnett, C., Dickinson, P., Merchant, G., & Myers, J. (2004). Digikids. Primary English Magazine, 9 (4), 16-20.

Burnett, C., Dickinson, P., Mcdonagh, J., Merchant, G., Myers, J., & Wilkinson, J. (2003). From Recreation to Reflection: Digital conversations in Educational Contexts. L1-Educational Studies in Language and Literature, 3 (1/2), 149-167. http://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024540306179

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2003). Y6 pupils have a weird experience. Primary English Magazine, 8 (4), 29-32.

Burnett, C. (2003). Learning to chat: tutor participation in synchronous online chat. Teaching in higher education, 8 (2), 247-261. http://doi.org/10.1080/1356251032000052474

Burnett, C., Dickinson, P., Mcdonagh, J., Merchant, G., Myers, J., & Wilkinson, J. (2003). From recreation to reflection: Digital conversations in educational contexts. L1 Educational Studies in Language and Literature, 3 (1-2), 149-167.

Burnett, C., & Myers, J. (2002). "Beyond the frame": exploring children's literacy practices. Literacy, 36 (2), 56-62. http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9345.00187

Burnett, C., Parry, B., Merchant, G., & Storey, V. (n.d.). Treading softly in the Enchanted Forest Exploring the integration of iPads in a participatory theatre education programme. Pedagogies.

Merchant, G., & Burnett, C. (n.d.). Revisiting critical literacy in the digital age. The Reading teacher.

Daniels, K., Burnett, C., Bower, K., Escott, H., Ehiyazaryan-White, E., Hatton, A., & Monkhouse, J. (n.d.). Early Years teachers navigating discourses; digital technology and children's early literacy practices. Education and Information Technologies.

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., & Neumann, M. (n.d.). Closing the gap? Overcoming limitations in sociomaterial accounts of early literacy. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy.

Book chapters

Burnett, C. (2019). Telling Stories Out of Class: Three Movements in a Reach for Affect. In Affect in Literacy Learning and TeachingPedagogies, Politics and Coming to Know. (1st). Routledge

Burnett, C., & Daniels, K. (2019). Spaces, places, bodies and things: sociomaterial perspectives on young children’s literacy practices. In Woods, A., & Exley, B. (Eds.) Literacies in Early Childhood: Foundations for equitable, quality pedagogy. Oxford University Press, Australia and New Zealand: https://www.oup.com.au/books/higher-education/education/9780190305147-literacies-in-early-childhood

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2019). Stacking stories as method: research in early years settings. In Kucirkova, N., Rowsell, J., & Falloon, G. (Eds.) The Routledge International Handbook of Learning with Technology in Early Childhood. (pp. 143-154). Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-International-Handbook-of-Learning-with-Technology-in-Early/Kucirkova-Rowsell-Falloon/p/book/9781138308169

Daniels, K. (2017). Children's engagement with iPads in early years classrooms: Exploring peer cultures and transforming practices. In Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Simpson, A., & Walsh, M. (Eds.) The case of the iPad mobile literacies in education. (pp. 195-210). Singapore: Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4364-2

Bailey, C.J., Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2017). Assembling literacies in virtual play. In Mills, K., Stornaiuolio, A., Smith, A., & Zacher Pandya, J. (Eds.) Handbook of Writing, Literacies and Education in Digital Cultures. London: Routledge

Burnett, C. (2017). The fluid materiality of tablets: examining ‘the iPad multiple’ in a primary classroom. In Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Simpson, A., & Walsh, M. (Eds.) The case of the iPad: Mobile literacies in education. (pp. 15-30). Singapore: Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4364-2_2

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2017). The case of the iPad. In Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Simpson, A., & Walsh, M. (Eds.) The case of the iPad: Mobile literacies in education. (pp. 1-14). Singapore: Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4364-2_1

Burnett, C. (2017). Reading the future: The contribution of literacy studies to debates on reading and reading engagement for primary-aged children. In Ng, C., & Bartlett, B. (Eds.) Improving reading and reading engagement in the 21st century. (pp. 119-140). Singapore: Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4331-4_6

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2016). Assembling virtual play in the classroom. In Literacy, media, technology: past, present and future. Bloomsbury Academic: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/literacy-media-technology-9781474257992/

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., & Parry, B. (2016). Past, present, future. In Literacy, media, technology: past, present and future. Bloomsbury Academic: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/literacy-media-technology-9781474257992/

Burnett, C., Daniels, K., & Sawka, V. (2016). Teaching Strategies. In Wyse, D., & Rogers, S. (Eds.) A Guide to Early Years and Primary Teaching. (pp. 125-144). Sage: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/a-guide-to-early-years-and-primary-teaching/book244193

Burnett, C., & Daniels, K. (2015). Technology and literacy in the early years : framing young children’s meaning-making with new technologies. In Garvis, S., & Lemmon, N. (Eds.) Understanding Digital Technologies and Young Children : an international perspective. (pp. 18-27). Routledge

Burnett, C. (2015). (Im)materialising Literacies. In Rowsell, J., & Pahl, K. (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Literacy Studies. (pp. 520-531). Abingdon: Routledge

Burnett, C., & Bailey, C.J. (2014). Conceptualizing collaborations in hybrid sites : playing Minecraft together and apart in a primary classroom. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 50-71). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C., & Bailey, C.J. (2014). Conceptualizing collaborations in hybrid sites : playing Minecraft together and apart in a primary classroom. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 50-71). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (2014). New meaning-making practices : a charter for literacy education. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 154-166). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (2014). New meaning-making practices : a charter for literacy education. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 154-166). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (2014). Changing contexts for the 21st century literacies. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 1-13). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (2014). Changing contexts for the 21st century literacies. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 1-13). New York: Routledge

Burnett, C. (2014). Why teach. In Owen, D., & Burnett, C. (Eds.) Getting into primary teaching. (pp. 5-23). Northwich: Critical Publishing

Burnett, C. (2014). Why teach. In Owen, D., & Burnett, C. (Eds.) Getting into primary teaching. (pp. 5-23). Northwich: Critical Publishing

Burnett, C. (2014). Teaching, research and further qualifications. In Cremin, T., & Arthur, J. (Eds.) Learning to teach in the primary school. (pp. 632-642). Abingdon: Routledge

Owen, D. (2014). Preparing to apply for a teacher preparation programme. In Owen, D., & Burnett, C. (Eds.) Getting into Primary Teaching. (pp. 24-42). Northwich: Critical Publishing

Owen, D. (2014). Learning to be a teacher. In Owen, D., & Burnett, C. (Eds.) Getting into Primary Teaching. (pp. 43-63). Northwich: Critical Publishing

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2013). Learning, literacies and new technologies : the current context and future possibilities. In Larson, J., & Marsh, J. (Eds.) The SAGE Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy. 2nd ed. (pp. 575-587). London: SAGE

Pahl, K., & Burnett, C. (2013). Literacies in homes and communities. In Hall, K., Cremin, T., Comber, B., & Moll, L.C. (Eds.) International Handbook of Research on Children's Literacy, Learning and Culture. (pp. 3-14). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell

Pahl, K., & Burnett, C. (2013). Literacies in Homes and Communities. In International Handbook of Research on Children's Literacy, Learning, and Culture. (pp. 1-14). http://doi.org/10.1002/9781118323342.ch1

Burnett, C. (2011). Technology and literacy in early childhood educational settings : a review of research. In Pahl, K., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) Early childhood literacy. Sage

Burnett, C. (2009). Personal digital literacies versus classroom literacies: investigating pre-service teachers' digital lives in and beyond the classroom. In Carrington, V., & Robinson, M. (Eds.) Digital literacies : social learning and classroom practices. Sage

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., & Myers, J. (2007). English and ICT. In Cremin, T., & Dombey, H. (Eds.) The handbook of primary English initial teacher education. (pp. 81-101). Leicester/Sheffield: United Kingdom Literacy Association/National Association for the Teaching of English

Burnett, C. (n.d.). Research and Professional Development. In Learning to Teach in the Primary School. (4th). Routledge

Books

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2018). New Media in the Classroom Rethinking Primary Literacy. SAGE.

Cremin, T., & Burnett, C. (2018). Learning to Teach in the Primary School. Routledge.

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Simpson, A., & Walsh, M. (Eds.). (2017). The case of the iPad: Mobile literacies in education. Singapore: Springer. http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9789811043635

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Simpson, A., & Walsh, M. (Eds.). (2017). The case of the iPad: Mobile literacies in education. Singapore: Springer. http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9789811043635

Parry, B., Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (Eds.). (2016). Literacy, media, technology: past, present and future. London: Bloomsbury Academic. http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/literacy-media-technology-9781474257992/

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.). (2014). New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. New York: Routledge.

Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.). (2014). New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. New York: Routledge.

Owen, D., & Burnett, C. (Eds.). (2014). Getting into primary teaching. Northwich: Critical Publishing.

Burnett, C., & Myers, J. (2004). Teaching English 3-11 : the essential guide. Continuum.

Reports

Thomas, P., Jay, T., Willis, B., Taylor, R., Merchant, G., Moore, N., ... Stevens, A. (2019). Dialogic Teaching: Addendum Report. London, UK: Education Endowment Foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Projects/Evaluation_Reports/Dialogic_Teaching_addendum_report%C2%AD_final_for_publication.pdf

Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2017). Using stacking stories to investigate children’s virtual world play in a primary classroom. Sage. http://doi.org/10.4135/9781473982260

Jay, T., Willis, B., Thomas, P., Taylor, R., Moore, N., Burnett, C., ... Stevens, A. (2017). Dialogic Teaching : Evaluation Report and Executive Summary. London, UK: Education Endowment Foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Projects/Evaluation_Reports/Dialogic_Teaching_Evaluation_Report.pdf

Burnett, C. (2016). The digital age and its implications for learning and teaching in the primary school. York: Cambridge Primary Review Trust. http://cprtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Burnett-report-20160720.pdf

Maxwell, B., Burnett, C., Reidy, J., Willis, B., & Demack, S. (2015). Oracy curriculum, culture and assessment toolkit. London: Education Endowment Foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects/school21-and-cambridge-university/

Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Daniels, K., & Garrick, R. (2014). Expert Review of Booktrust Resources.

Burnett, C., Wolstenholme, C., Stiell, B., & Stevens, A. (2014). Evaluation of Beyond Booked Up.

Burnett, C., Daniels, K., & Bailey, C. (2014). The Impact of Early Years Bookgifting Programmes on Literacy Attainment: A Literature Review.

Theses / Dissertations

Doak, L. (2018). Exploring the multimodal communication and agency of children in an autism classroom. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Burnett, C. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00125

Daniels, K.D. (2018). Movement, meaning and affect: the stuff childhood literacies are made of. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Burnett, C. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00079

Childerhouse, H. (2017). Supporting children with social, emotional and behavioral difficulty (SEBD) in mainstream: Teachers' perspectives. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Burnett, C., & Dunn, K.

Burnett, C. (2008). Primary student-teachers' perceptions of the role of digital literacy in their lives. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Barrett, E.

Bailey, C.J. (n.d.). Investigating the lived experience of an after-school Minecraft club. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Burnett, C., & Merchant, G.

Other publications

Burnett, C., Myers, J., & Merchant, G. (n.d.). English and ICT. National Association for the Teaching of English: http://www.ite.org.uk/ite_topics/english_and_ICT/001.html

I lead the Language and Literacy Education Research Group within the Sheffield Institute of Education.

I am a Trustee and President Elect for the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) and founding co-convener for the UKLA Digital Literacies in Education special interest group. I am a previous editor of Literacy and an editorial board member for Literacy, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy and the Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. I am also a sub-panel member for the REF assessment phase, Unit 23 Education.

I am currently supervising PhD and EdD students including:

Pat Moore. Sheffield Hallam University. Biology Autobiographies: personal subject experiences and biology teachers' pedagogical thinking. Giovanna Battiston. The work-place literacies of a marketing department. EdD (PT).
Giovanna Battiston. The work-place literacies of a marketing department. EdD (PT).
Christine Hibbert. Registered nurses’ perceptions of reflection as a process for exploring new knowledge
Jemma Monkhouse. What is generated exploring Shakespeare through drama in an after school club?
Cara Doxey. What is ‘reading’ in primary school?
Sarah Proctor. Stories from the Nursery- newly qualified Early Years Teachers experiences of professional learning.

Completions include:

Alison Tyldesley. Sheffield Hallam University. A sociocultural approach to Higher Education students' experiences with academic literacies.
Richard Pountney. Sheffield Hallam University. Making the Curriculum: a case study of course planning in higher education.
Sam McMahon. Sheffield Hallam University. Becoming a professional in early childhood education and care.
Helen Childerhouse. Sheffield Hallam University. Teaching children with ‘SEBD’: teachers’ perceptions.
Chris Bailey. Sheffield Hallam University. Investigating the lived experience of children engaged in collaborative virtual world play
Karen Daniels. Movement, meaning and affect: the stuff childhood literacies are made of.
Lauran Doak. Sheffield Hallam University. Exploring the Multimodal Communication and Agency of Children in an Autism Classroom.

cess for exploring new knowledge.

Completed Doctoral Researchers

Alison Tyldesley. Sheffield Hallam University. A sociocultural approach to Higher Education students' experiences with academic literacies.
Richard Pountney. Sheffield Hallam University. Making the Curriculum: a case study of course planning in higher education.
Sam McMahon. Sheffield Hallam University. Becoming a professional in early childhood education and care.
Helen Childerhouse. Sheffield Hallam University. Teaching children with ‘SEBD’: teachers’ perceptions. 
Chris Bailey. Sheffield Hallam University. Investigating the lived experience of children engaged in collaborative virtual world play.