Multimodal Meaning Making and Reading Digital 'Texts'
For our purposes, attending to multimodality means gaining an awareness into how meaning is expressed and constructed through multiple modes-- beyond just linear text. We will view a variety of digital texts in order to dig into how meaning is constructed through the author's choices but also through our own (and differing) interpretations.
Extending Author's Craft into Digital Spaces
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This handout includes tables from Hicks' book Crafting Digital Writing that provide an overview of how craft is extended in digital contexts and the types of choices author's might make when attending to multimodality.
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Walking through Mentor Texts
In order to be intentional about author's craft and multimodality in designing digital texts, it can be helpful to explore how these choices make an impact on meaning through the lens of mentor texts. Consider limiting your focus to the dimensions of craft you find most important for a particular writing project, particularly as more complex digital texts often require more complex design choices. To get started, we'll take a look at the mentor texts below. Then, you can explore more examples in the Digital Salon.
Text 1: Digital Story for Everyday Mutts
The first digital text was created by an MCEA student as a mentor text for her classroom. As you watch this video, consider how meaning is communicated through multiple modes and how these decisions are related to author's craft. |
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Text 2: Podcast for Artemis Fowl
This digital text was created by two 7th grade students in response to their choice reading selection of Artemis Fowl. As you listen to the podcast, consider the constraints and opportunities provided by the modalities. Also, consider the design choices as they relate to constructing meaning within the given medium. |
Text 3: Infographic for Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of a Shopping Mall Gorilla
In this example, an MCEA student created an infographic on the topic of gorillas after reading about the story of Ivan the Gorilla. This demonstrates how an informational text can complement a narrative story in order for students to "dig deeper" into issues that might have been raised in the book. |