Former Deakin librarian Christine Oughtred has spent her career bringing stories to life for young readers, first at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds Library, and now as a PhD graduate of Deakin’s Centre for Research for Educational Impact (REDI).
Her research explores how children engage with digital picture books and the findings are already influencing the future of digital reading.
From librarian to literary advocate
Christine’s curiosity about digital storytelling began more than a decade ago, when she encountered early children’s picture book apps with unexpected artistic and narrative depth. Their creative potential sparked questions about how digital picture books might provide meaningful – and even aesthetic – literary experiences for young readers.
Encouraged by her supervisor Professor Louise Paatsch, Christine transformed these questions into a PhD project examining how interactive digital picture books support children’s engagement and learning.
Research driving digital story innovation
Christine’s PhD investigated how children make meaning from three forms of digital picture books: apps, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
While navigating the challenges of designing a new methodology and balancing work and life commitments, she managed to deliver valuable research findings. She shows that well-crafted digital picture books can complement print texts by:
- supporting deeper engagement
- offering interactive pathways to understanding
- enhancing imagination and meaning-making
- expanding what counts as a quality literary experience.
Her work not only provides clarity for educators considering digital storytelling tools and strengthens confidence in their use, but also offers guidance for publishers engaged in developing digital stories, ensuring narrative quality remains central to children’s learning.
Christine’s research advances Deakin’s strategy to lead in digital literacy and technology-enhanced learning. Her insights broaden how digital fiction is understood and used in educational contexts, reinforcing Deakin’s goal of preparing young people for a rapidly evolving digital world.
‘Skills in digital literacy allow for interest driven, sensory and engaging learning for children and young people today.’
Dr Christine Oughtred
Watch Christine’s story
Learn more about Christine’s journey from librarian to researcher and hear how her PhD is shaping the next generation of children’s digital reading.
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