Multimodal Literacies

As digital technologies have expanded, so has the nature of literacy. Literacy has changed from relating to traditional printed and written texts to include a plethora of mutlimodal styles including online pamphlets, magazines, books, etc. Educators and students are using more digital forums to communicate. Multimodal reading and writing benefits students in multiple ways. It offers teachers a new way to engage students. Through using technologies familiar to students, the instruction becomes meaningful to them.

“An Arts-Integrated Unit: Learning 21st Century Literacies While the Teachers Are on Break,” intrigued me. Since my certification lies outside of "core" subjects, it would be interesting to work "core" subject lessons into the classroom where students could learn on multiple levels.

Integrating multimodal reading and writing into schools is a challenging proposition. Resistance from other teachers and lack of student enthusiasm are challenges that I identify with.

 

Here is a Youtube video about Multimodal Literacies.

Print Culture

According to the Wikipedia article, print culture can be defined as any printed form of visual communication. The ability to print has had a profound effect on society. As technology has changed, print culture has evolved.

The benefits of print culture compared to oral and scribal culture are many. The invent of print culture contributed to an uprising in literacy throughout history. Print, over oral and scribal culture, allows for consistency and mass production of information. Scribal and oral culture lend themselves to the "tellers" interpretations and misunderstands. Like the childhood game of "telephone", the message may change several times prior to being received.

As print culture allowed for the expansion of literacy throughout history, it has effected society immensely.

What was the impact of print culture on society?

How are changing technologies influencing perint culture?

What are the implications of these changes for learning in school?

Textual Lineage #3

Written in 1954, Horton Hears a Who! tells the story of Horton, an elephant, who can hear a speck of dust talking to him. It turns out that the speck is inhabited by microscopic beings called "Whos". The speck contains their entire world.

Knowing that Horton can hear them, the Whos call on Horton to protect them from harm. Horton proclaims that "a person's a person, no matter how small" and does his best to protect Who-ville. For believing in something that no one else can hear or see, Horton is ridiculed by the other animals of the jungle.

Although thought of as a children's book, Horton Hears a Who! speaks volumes about tolerance and acceptance. In my life as a mommy, it has been used as an example in many conversations with my daughter. Additionally, as the parent of a very unique personality, I often have to remind myself that just because it isn't my reality doesn't lessen the importance to her.

Watch the Horton Hears a Who! Audio drama here!

Textual Lineage #2

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

~ John Lennon

When I graduated from high school, I had plans. I was going to college, graduating in four years and becoming a successful marketing/advertising executive...some place other than WV. In the mean time, life happened. My mother had several strokes and required constant care. I enjoyed the "college experience" a little too much and at some point decided I wasn't where I wanted to be.  I moved home, got a job, got married, had my daughter and moved on with life.

Sometimes, life gets stale. A few years ago - bored and unhappy with myself for never finishing college, I started making plans. Don't get me wrong. I had a decent job for the area and I love my family. Actually, my love of family probably contributed to my decision to go back to school. I've always wanted a big family. Having determined it was the perfect number for a card game or kickball, I planned to have six kids. However, after it taking five years to conceive my daughter, five more years,  a loss and months of medicine and testing, my ideal kickball family seemed out of the question. I needed to get my mind off of it. School seemed like a good distraction. When I got close to my last semester, I started making plans. What would I do when I graduated? Would we stay in this area? Should I take more classes?

Then life happened...
Meet Torin Quade. He was born two months after I graduated.

Textual Lineage #1

Luke: All right, I'll give it a try.

Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not.
 There is no try.

Perhaps the most poignant movie line of all time, I was too young to recognize the greatness when I first viewed Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at a drive-in circa 1980. As I've aged (and re-watched the movie countless times), I've grown to appreciate Yoda's advice. Sometimes it is not good enough to merely try because we are allowing for the possibility of failure. Just do, we must. :)

Watch the movie clip here!

Literacy is like Velcro

After watching several videos about literacy, I chose to share Literacy is like Velcro. This video gives an interesting view of what literacy is and why it is important in every facet of life.

Re-introducing...

I'm back! After graduating from FSU in December with a Bachelor degree in Secondary Education - Business Ed, I took a small break to settle back into work and add a new member to the family. Now, I'm trying to fight through the fog of baby brain. My home is in central West Virginia. Currently, I'm work as a Financial Secretary for the county high and middle schools. Technology and education are constantly changing. In order to be an effective teacher, we must stay abreast of these changes and teach in a way in which our students are versed and relate to.