1. What is the main argument presented in this article?
Basically, this article stresses how being literate in the 21st century is much different than being literate before. "Literacy, no longer confined to communication through reading and writing of traditional printed test, has expanded and figuratively exploded, particularly within the past decade" (pg. 1). It focuses on how students are creating, sending, receiving, and reading by using the new technologies. Another main point is how an individual needs to know how to read via paper-based and online texts - use dynamic Web 2.0 tools, and integrate new multimodal texts.
2. Why is it imperative that teachers and educational policy makers recognize the role multimodality plays in redefining literacy in the 21st century?
"For educators and students, it's here - technology and the desire to create and read multimedia and multimodal texts" (pg. 2). This quote is perfect for this question. I have said it as well, it is inevitable that technology is going to be integrated in almost everything we know in schools. We need to work to make sure that we "engage and build upon the new literacies that students bring with them to class" (pg. 2). We as educators need to be knowledgeable and prepared to use these tools with our students. Also, as educators, we have a responsibility to provide these new literacie to our students so that they know how to communicate in the new technological world.
3. What is the fundamental philosophical orientation of educators who engage in multimodal literacy instruction?
Children and adults learn better when they are "engaged in complex, socially constructed, personally relevant, creative composition, and interpretation of texts that incorporate a variety of meaningful communicative modes or symbol systems" (pg. 3). There is not just one particular mode that can carry a message or information. We need to be aware of it all.
4. What is the rational for engaging children in learning through the arts promoted by educational philosophers like Maine Green and Elliot Eisner? Do you share this philosophical orientation? Why? Why not?
According to Maxine Greene, "the arts in education enable a person to become different and look through the lenses of various ways of knowing, seeing, and feeling in a conscious endeavor to change one's perspective on the world" (pg. 5-6). According to Elliot Eisnor, he feels that the arts form different forms of thinking and understanding. I do share these philosophical orientation because I know that some students are very inclined when it comes to the arts. If they can learn through the arts better than anything else - why not include the arts in all of the curriculum for them to actually understand what is going on.
5. Name three benefits of multimodal reading and writing for students? Be specific and use quotes from the text to support your claims.
"Within digital texts such as PowerPoint presentations, webpages, and digital films, framing involves placement of a visual images, selection of the best image for the intention of the message, and choices concerning text or image size and font types. In creating such texts, the textmaker considers how each of these elements interrelates and how this relationship will inform a viewer's interpretation" (pg. 8).
-This is a benefit because not only are the students learning about the topic at hand, but they are learning how to use and understand the modes of technology.
"If educators read such multimodal texts to uncover the child's sedimented experiences, they may find connections between home, school, and other spaces and facilitate conversations that bridge home and school literacy practices" (pg. 9).
-This benefit speaks for itself. Teachers can really get to know their students this way.
"Further, in framing their ideas and drawings, the revealed themselves as individuals, as members of families, and as members of their school through art and writing" (pg. 9).
-Once again, this is a benefit because the students are revealing themselves for others to get to know.
6. Give an example of how blogging supports the four aspects of multimodal theory proposed by Kress and Jewitt.
Materiality - This is the images that we choose to represent our thoughts and ideas.
Framing - This is the way we format the blog postings. This is the words, paragraphs, and images and the way that they look to the viewer.
Design - This is the design of our blogs. My blog is loud, bright, and colorful. I feel that like describes me.
Production - This is the actual text of our blogs. This is the ideas and concepts that we develop as we type.
7. What can teachers learn about their students from their image productions? Why is this important?
Image productions explain who the student is - and what the student may have gone through. It is the connection between the home, school, ad other places. This helps teachers by getting to know their students and knowing things about them that they cannot get through sitting in a classroom teaching from a textbook.
8. According to this article, why should teachers use technology in their teaching?
"... it allows for greater participation, collaboration, and distribution of knowledge that has not been possible with our previous uses of technology" (pg. 11).
- We are able to share, experiment, innovate, and integrate while using technology in the classroom.
9. How does multimodal literacy realte to 21st century literacy?
We are doing the same things we have always done - we are just now doing it in a more technological way. With the 'new technical stuff' and 'new ethos' - these are elements used in the 21st century.
10. What project described intrigued you the most?
I really enjoyed the one that is talked about it Chapter 6 - "backpack lesson". My boyfriend is in the military and he has been deployed twice. Therefore, I enjoy that they are to use new literacy skills to learn about the soldiers.
11. What challenges to integrating multimodal reading and writing into schools do you most identify with?
I agree that most teachers teach what the know best, what they are the most comfortable with, and what they enjoy. I am one of those teachers who is not a good singer. Therefore, I would use the technology available to me to have someone else singing, but still enjoy the process.
12. Why is mulitmodal literacy essential in preparing students for work, play and democratic participation in the 21st century?
Multimodal literacy teaches in a variety of ways. Everything thinks differently - so when using multimodal approaches, we can touch all students. Also, it is a technological world. Therefore, the more prepared our students are - the better chance for them to survive in the world outside of school walls.
