Reading and writing that now encompass digital media are referred to as multimodal media. Digital technologies afford opportunities for the design of modes of expression that can include print or digital text, images, gestures, sound, and movement. These modes can be used individually or in various combinations to communicate. When used in the context of pedagogy the phrase multimodal refers to an interconnection between different modes or representations of media to convey meaning beyond “alphabetical communication.” New modes of communication require not only the ability to craft and manipulate media in new ways; they also require that interpreters, also known as readers, develop the ability to understand these modes of meaning making as contemporary literacy pedagogy (Archer,(2008) AU72: The in-text citation "Archer,(2008)" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ; Kalantzis, M. & Cope, B., (2012) ; Kress, G (2003); Kress, G., & Leeuwen, T.V. (2006) .
Published in Chapter:
Literacy Learning and Assessment for the Digital Age
April Marie Leach (Northcentral University, USA)
Copyright: © 2015
|Pages: 17
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch249
Abstract
Multiple forms of media or multimodal media (MMM) available to communicate have expanded the definition of literacy beyond “alphabetical communication” and assessment (Kalantzis, & Cope, 2012; Kress, 2003; Kress, & Leeuwen, 2006). Reading and writing as traditional forms of literacy now encompass digital media. These technologies afford opportunities for the design of communication that incorporates the senses of sight, sound, and movement as part of the message. Newly possible modes of communication require of creators the ability to craft and manipulate these multiple modes of media, and require that interpreters formerly thought of as readers, develop the ability to understand these modes of meaning making as contemporary literacy pedagogy. Reconceptualizing both the interpretation of multiple modes of media and learning how to craft interdisciplinary MMM to address the requirements of the Common Core State Standards and college and career readiness is the new frontier in literacy learning in this first digital age.