Multiple Literacies, New Literacies, and Multimodal Learning

Synthesis:

Hinchman and Sheridan-Thomas
(Chapter 4)

This chapter outlines the benefits of the Discourse study. "Discourse organizes and constrains thoughts, words, and actions" (p. 64). Discourse helps teachers value the different literacy identities, interests, and abilities represented in the classroom. Primary Discourses are acquired at home, while Secondary Discourses are learned outside the home by another source (school is a Secondary Discourse). Each Discourse has its own set of rules that make it unique. Matches and mismatches of discourses can affect a student's literacies and learning. Discourses can allow for a greater understanding of different types of literacies. This instructional strategy:

1. values literacies within print and non print text 
2. employs explicit instruction to develop meta-awareness 
3. develops multiple perspectives 
4. analyzes structures of Discourses to identify agency and power to affect change 
5. creates conscientious citizenship 

These are skills that are important for students in the 21st century classroom. 

(Chapter 16) - Multimodality and Literacy Learning

Classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse with varied student populations, cultures and languages, and academic abilities. At the same time, students are being raised in a society that has gown up in a multimodal world. They have access to any sort of information they desire right at their fingertips. Multimodal (visual, auditory, gestural, and kinesthetic) learning uses this access to technology and celebrates diversity as an advantage for the classroom.

In one of the examples of multimodal learning in the classroom, Deborah uses three different text types: a reading, a photograph, and a video clip. The students were able to think about the different text types and engage in different interpretations of a historical event. Deborah engaged her students in critical thinking and her teaching also exemplified how the Common Core State Standards can be taught using different modes of literacy.

Teachers should teach for conceptual understanding. This requires that students use various strategies to help them make connections to their own lives and knowledge. Multimodality and having a "new literacies stance" help students to reach a conceptual understanding. A teacher who uses a new literacies stance uses new types of literacies in the classroom and believes in a dialogic and collaborative classroom. A teacher in this type of classroom knows that using multimodal texts requires students to use skills and abilities beyond those required for conventional print materials. Looking at different types of texts helps students see different points of view and makes them question what is and what is not represented in the text.

Kim and Kamil

• Computerized Instruction: 

The computer can be a good tool to help students and teachers alike. This technology can help make material more comprehensible for students and allows for differentiation in the classroom. Students can use computer practice activities to prepare for standardized testing. Computer instruction can be especially helpful for vocabulary instruction and guided reading. This type of instruction can be used to supplement usual classroom instruction. Before students participate in computer activities, explicit instruction is needed for students to understand how to navigate and properly use computer resources safely. 

• Social Technology: 

Electronic communication can help students engage in literacy. Students have to use their words to make their point and have to learn to explain themselves in a way that is understandable. This type of communication can be valuable for someone who is shy to face-to-face conversations. 

• Adolescent Attitudes Toward Technology: 

Gender and age can affect a student's relationship or attitude towards technology. A student's socioeconomic status or their access to technology at home can also affect a student's knowledge of technology and their engagement. Some students may need more assistance with using the technology and becoming comfortable with it.

Coiro

This text discusses how to foster the development of students' online literacy. Reading online texts can be much different than reading a paper book. Students need to know how to use these types of texts and interact with them to help their comprehension. Cairo gives 5 guidelines for helping students with their online literacy development:

1-  The effective online literacy teacher understands and makes explicit for students relationships between offline and online reading comprehension strategy use.  
2 – The effective online literacy teacher honors the literacies that students bring to school from their daily lives.  
3 – The effective online literacy teacher explores and clarifies expectations about new classroom roles and relationships embedded in problem-based online collaborations.  
4-  The effective online literacy teacher provides time for students to develop positive dispositions toward learning and communicating on the internet.  
5-  The effective online literacy teacher uses self, peer and teacher assessments as inquiry to inform reading strategy use and classroom instruction.  

Responses:

(text to text)

The Hinchman and Sheridan-Thomas text discussed how multiple literacies can be used to accommodate to the diversity of the classroom. We have discussed diversity in great detail in another one of my courses: Culture, Language, and Literacy. Technology can be a great tool to improve comprehension of all students, even those that come from diverse language and cultural backgrounds.

(text to self)

I am a huge fan of technology. I use technology in my everyday life for personal reasons, but I also use and sell technology for my job. I work at the One University technology store. We have a lot of cool resources available to students to use and buy. Many of these technologies can be used in the classroom to help engage students. For example, the 3D printer can be used to create real-life representations of material being studied in class.

(text to world)

I think this reading was extremely relevant to the world that we live in. Students are growing up in a technological world and teachers have to be adaptive to it. No longer is it acceptable to only use conventional texts.

Questions:

1. What are the main types of technology you use in your classroom?

2.  How do you think that we can better support multimodal learning?