Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Engaging the mobile generation using diverse and authentic multiliteracies.

Let's take a look at:

How multiliteracies consider authenticity, choice, making connections, diversity and social justice and how literacy practices impact on how teachers engage the mobile generation.


Why use multiliteracies?


We all know that different students learn in different ways. So it make sense that multiliteracies can help foster these different ways of learning by giving students the opportunity to learn in ways that work well for them.

 By giving students the opportunity to work with different forms of media they can develop a sense of provenance and to improve their skills in identifying what is reliable, authentic information and what isn't.


Negotiating and Planning for Diversity in a Multiliterate World.

How can they be helpful?

By using more than one form of media, students will learn how to make connections between what they read, what they see, what they hear and how all this interacts with their own world. This is a vital part of developing critical literacy skills. Teachers are then able to design suitable opportunities for students to apply their new knowledge in ways that impact upon their own personal experiences (Taylor, Bernhard, Garg & Cummins, 2008, p. 274). BUT, it's important not to use technology just for the sake of using technology. Teachers need to be sure that the media used has a defined purpose as well.

 
Are multiliteracies suitable for use in diverse classrooms? 

Definitely, that's the beauty of multiliteracies. With so many different possibilities and different forms of media to experiment with, there's always some form of media or text that the student will have an interest in and actually WANT to get involved in. The combination of multimodal elements and critical literacy means that students who have a lot of experience in oral and visual modes can apply their knowledge in a classroom context (Pahl & Rowsell, 2005, p. 130).

The increase in technological advances and cultural diversity in schools means that new ways of defining literacy are vital for empowering students and that their cultural capital should be drawn on when constructing these new and multimodal literacy activities (Cumming-Potvin, 2009). These alternate forms of literacy allow greater opportunities for students to get 'a fair go' in their lessons; the massive range of media options available to them means that less students will be at a disadvantage and that MORE students will be able to learn from each other's methods.


What are these 'new' literacies? How do they differ to 'old' literacies??

New literacies are digital literacies; online, messaging, sms, phones and computers. New literacies combine letters, symbols, colours, sounds and graphics to extend language and the ways we communicate (New Literacies & Classroom Practice, n.d.). Traditional literacy is essentially print based, using books, or other print media. As the technological world gets bigger and bigger and more and more people using digital media, it makes sense that forms of digital media and communication have become accepted as types of literacy. We've all heard of people who are or aren't 'computer literate', this shows that many people consider the use of technology a form of literacy without even realising it!



How can they be used to keep students interested?

Most students would be pretty keen to try anything their teacher suggested if it involved using computers or other technology. There are so many ways a teacher can include the use of digital media in their lessons: blogs, video production, documentaries, creating and maintaining websites, or even critiquing their favourite websites, which brings into play their knowledge of the semiotic systems. These new forms of technology are so embedded in children's worlds that it seems foolish NOT to include them in some way!

Comic created by Rachel Povey using Toondoo. (2013)


Also, the use of new literacies can be combined with more traditional forms, or used as a comparison, like comparing a film analysis with the more traditional book review. This way, if a teacher feels more inclined to use traditional literacies they can do so, while remaining fairly confident their students will stay engaged!
 
For more information on multiliteracies, click the links below:





References:


Cumming-Potvin, W. (2009). Social justice, pedagogy and multiliteracies: developing communities of practice for teacher education. Australian journal of teacher education, 34(3), 82-99. Retrieved from http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol34/iss3/4  

Negotiating and planning for diversity in a multiliterate world. Uploaded April 15, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nreco4U1MC8 

New literacies and classroom practice. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.newliteracies.com.au/what-are-new-literacies?/

Pahl, K. & Rowsell, J. (2005).  Literacy and education: understanding the new literacy studies in the classroom. London: Sage Publications.

Schwarzer, D., Haywood, A., Lorenzen, C. (2003) Fostering multiliteracy in a linguistically diverse classroom. Retrieved from Google Scholar.

Taylor, L., Bernhard, J., Garg, S. & Cummins, J. (2008). Affirming plural belonging: building on students’ family-based cultural and linguistic capital through multiliteracies pedagogy. Journal of early childhood literacy, 8(3), 269-294. DOI: 10.1177/1468798408096481

 


Images Retrieved from:


http://img.scoop.it/0q5h2vhJf6lO0cp0tlMxnz l7 2eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVaiQDB_Rd1H6kmuBWtceBJ 

http://martin-thoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/testing_cartoon.jpg 

http://www.toondoo.com/MyToondoo.toon

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/36744230.jpg

 

Monday, 25 March 2013

Critical literacies, design elements of multimodal texts and what this means for contemporary text construction in our classrooms

Overview 

In this blog I will look at the following -
  • Critical literacies
  • Text production in contemporary times
  • Design elements in multimodal literacies


CRITICAL LITERACY:




Critical literacy is a stance, a mental posture, or emotional and intellectual attitude.
“Text” traditionally referred to written material. The meaning is broadening to include, for example, media texts, oral text, and graphic text. In this sense, text is not synonymous with textbook ("Connecting Practice and Research",2009).








Why is teaching critical literacy important?

* It teaches students important and empowering life skills.
* It teaches students about provenance. That is: to question the authenticity of a text and its contents and the reliability of the source of origin of a text.
* It teaches students to be effective text participants and critical thinkers.

"The development of critical literacy skills enables people to interpret messages in the modern world through a critical lens and challenge the power relations within those messages" (Coffey, 2013).



To learn more about critical literacy: 
Critical literacy presentation        




DESIGN ELEMENTS IN MULTIMODAL LITERACY:



The New London Group (2000) defines the design elements in multimodal texts as:
1. Linguistic
2. Visual
3. Audio
4. Gestural
5. Spatial
6. Multimodal (Clancy & Lowrie, n.d.)  


Multimodal texts are designed for a purpose: 
Multimodal texts are constructed in a  specific way so that the author can  depict an intended meaning using a variety of manipulated media.


Use of the 5 semiotic systems are required to effectively interpret multimodal texts:

Still do not understand why texts are designed the way they are? Check this out (this is a multimodal text by the way)-



"Teachers need to understand the codes and conventions of each of the 5 semiotic systems in order to make or convey meaning through them" (Anstey & Bull, 2010)



Shifting paradigms: the changing nature of texts -
Text production in contemporary times.

The following is a blog entry I did regarding changing literacies (in this instance wiki's).

PART B: CHANGING LITERACIES
CHAPTER 4: From Wikipedia to the Humble Classroom Wiki: Why we Should Pay Attention to Wikis


WHAT DID I READ THIS WEEK? -
This week it was my task to read chapter 4; From Wikipedia to the Humble Classroom Wiki: Why we Should Pay Attention to Wikis (Carrington, 2009, p. 65- 80).
* The use of a range of digital texts has been enabled by digital technologies.
* Many digital texts do not recognise authors or 'ownership' of texts in the traditional manner.
* Television and digital media is playing a role in our children 'losing their childhood' - with the emergence of so much digital media children are being exposed to subject matter with high adult content.
* Wiki is a type of website that allows anyone visiting the site to add, remove as well as edit all content, quickly and easily (http://Wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki).
* A wiki allows collaboration in the way of writing and editing texts.
* The use of wikis has changed the way in which we view what an author is, and the way texts can be formed and distributed.
* Core uses for wikis are: Knowledge management, narrative builder, resource aggregator and value adding.
* Wikis can create a channel of communication for teachers/students/parents; it can create an on line community.

NOW - WHAT DO I THINK??
# When I was a child - back in the 80's - there was very limited media available - we watched some television (very 'innocent' programs), and we read books. No computers, no ipods, no laptops, no mobile phones. What we were watching, reading and participating in (socially) was very easy to monitor; we were not being exposed to 'adult' subject matter.
# If used in the right way wiki could be a very effective communicative tool for teachers, students and parents alike.
# A wiki is a fantastic way to teach students about collaborative work.
# I agree that digital media is playing a role in our children being exposed to way too much adult content. As teachers we need to be extremely wary of exactly what we are exposing our students to, we also need to be wary that some of what we are exposing students to may not be approved of by parents. Initially I think it is important to explain to parents the why/when/where/how of wikis - particularly those parents that may be technological immigrants. We need to point out the positives of the use of such digital media in our classrooms



THEREFORE -

- It is very important to teach our students about provenance - we need to teach it in an explicit manner. It is essential that they know how to judge whether what they are reading is a) Accurate and b) Appropriate

This may help minimise misinformation and assist students in becoming better informed participants of the digital world.

It is also important to educate parents on digital media as well. Many parents grew up in the same era as me (if not even earlier) - I grew up in the 80's, where our childhoods were very innocent. The development of so many different texts has changed the way our children grow up and how fast they grow up. Sometimes parents can have a very negative view of technology, so they may resent the use of it in the classroom - if they are better informed on why we are using it in the classroom they may become more accepting of its use.



An interesting article relating to teaching and learning in the interactive classroom: http://advan.physiology.org/content/30/4/135.full


Multimodal mural completed by Lisa Stevens with pictures retrieved from: http://images.google.com.au/


"Skilled multimodal composition requires new literacy design skills and knowledge to enable students to make informed choices within each of the communication modes and to strategically orchestrate the available meaning making resources to effectively construct multimodal meaning" (O'Brien, 2012)







A great link about creating multimodal texts: http://creatingmultimodaltexts.com/



More information and useful links:

* Critical Literacy: Educating all students to be active participants in a democratic society. 

* Slide show on critical literacy in the classroom.

* Multimodal literacy and what it means for classroom practice.








References

Anstey, M & Bull, G. (2010). Helping teachers to explore multimodal texts. Curriculum leadership website. Retrieved from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/leader/helping_teachers_to_explore_multimodal_texts,31522.html?issueID=12141


Clancy, S & Lowrie T. (n.d.). Researching multimodal texts: applying a dynamic model. Retrieved from http://www.aare.edu.au/02pap/cla02237.htm 


Coffey, H. (2013). Critical literacy. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4437


Connecting practice and research. (2009). Literacy Gains. Retrieved from  http://www.edugains.ca/resourcesLIT/CoreResources/Critical_Literacy_Guide.pdf


Gross, A. (2010, March 1). Semiotic analysis. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfymPHC93Uc

Maiers, A. (2008). Critical literacy. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/angelamaiers/critical-literacy-presentation#


Mattpwd (2012, April 10). Multimodal text song. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giITaOoMntY


O'Brien, A. (2012). Introduction to creating multimodal texts. Retrieved from http://creatingmultimodaltexts.com/

Ooms, N. (2011, November 16). Critical literacy in elementary. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giITaOoMntY


Paez, A. (2010). Critical literacy in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/anampaez/critical-literacy-in-the-classroom

Silverthorn, D.U. (2006). Teaching and learning in the interactive classroom. Retrieved from http://advan.physiology.org/content/30/4/135.full

Van Haren, R. (2013). Critical Literacy: Educating all students to be active participants in a democratic society. Retrieved from http://www.aate.org.au/view_article.php?id=8&page_id=48


Walsh, M. (2010). Multimodal literacy: what does it mean for classroom practice? Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 33(3), 211-239. Retrieved from http://www.alea.edu.au/documents/item/63

Wilhelm, J. (2009). The power of teacher inquiry: developing a critical literacy for teachers. Voices From the Middle, 17(2), 36-39. Retrieved from http://blogucation.edublogs.org/files/2010/01/critical-literacy-for-teachers.pdf


Wimba: people teach people. (2013). Critical Reflection. Retrieved from

http://studentweb.usq.edu.au/home/w0060002/EDU8415/Assign2_09.htm


Images retrieved from http://images.google.com.au/