This week’s subject of interest: multiliteracies. This is a topic extremely relevant to educators everywhere, accompanied with interactive resources for use in the classroom.
What exactly does this term mean? The tagged link above gives a more formal definition of the term. My take on this new term is that multiliteracies encompass a whole range of text forms. In addition to the old-school print literacy, there are symbols, images, sounds, videos and other digital text forms that require interpretation from the reader.
If you are interested in learning more about multiliteracies (which I know everyone is!), then check out the below websites for different definitions (some formal, others less so) on multiliteracies and what it means to be a multiliterate individual.
1. A blog from a teacher experimenting with new technologies
2. Wikipedia
With multiliteracies comes a range of exciting interactive resources to play with! I assure you, playing with these technologies is as much fun for the teacher as it will be for the students in your class. Here is a brief list of useful resources for the primary school educator:
• Podcasting & Vodcasting
Many of these are downloadable for FREE! Podcasting/Vodcasting has been around for a little while, but the educational benefits are many. I already use these technologies without even thinking about it. For example, downloading ilectures from the UWA Blackboard system for the times I have missed lectures (which I can assure you is not often).
• Digital storytelling
A resource which I was blissfully unaware of until now. Simple yet effective and even the youngest of students can use this technology. Examples include Storybird, Glogster and Capzles.
• Social sharing
This area can be broken down into four components: textsharing, photosharing, slidesharing and videosharing. Resources I particularly like are TeacherTube (videosharing) and Flickr (photosharing) but there are many more out there to be discovered!
Burning Questions
How might you use pod and vodcasting in education?
After watching BTN (Behind the News), a child-friendly version of news on ABC, I came across a story relevant to this week’s subject. Podclassing was a story about children in Italy who created their own podcasts and vodcasts for an English class. Creating the pod/vodcasts allowed the children to work on their written and oral English, and to experiment with new technologies. The children were required to work in small groups to create the product, which has since been uploaded to the web. Some tasks associated with creating these pod/vodcasts included: writing of the script; allocation of roles (for example who will do the voice over) and recording and editing of the final product.
How might you use digital storytelling in education?
The best way to learn is to try, so I have had a go at creating a digital story for all to enjoy. It is not yet finished so will post it when I have completed it.
Until next time...
About This Blogger
- Madison
- Pre-service teacher at UWA. Looking forward to bringing technology into the classroom in fun and exciting ways!
6 comments:
BTN is great for kids. I used to watch it at school all those years ago and it is still going! That video on Podclassing was very informative and another way to use collaborative learning and kids love making movies or videos that they are in!
Looking forward to your digital story......maybe it will be about a travelling pineapple, we will have to wait and see!
Ah, yes, BTN! I remember watching it at school too. That is another great resource that all pre-service teachers should take note of.
As for the story who knows, don't expect too much! Maybe the travelling blonde pineapple will make an appearance!
Just read your blog and I have some similar points to you. I had never heard of digital story telling either until the lecture and it's a great educational tool which both teachers and students can use. The songbird website is great and I love it. It's a great website for collaborative storytelling and would be a great educational resource.
It's interesting that the very first student task you mention in respect of the 'Podclassing' exercise is writing the script. Of course, when students practise digital literacies, they also practise lots of more traditional language and literacy skills at the same time.
I love the "Reaction Bar" at the bottom of your article!
Kate- get onto the reaction bar!
Mark- Yes, I did think of that as an after thought. Indeed, the 'Podclassing' story is a great example of combining traditional literacy skills with technologies. In this example, the children take it a step further as they are using English (their second language) to produce a podcast.Impressive stuff.
Nikki- I agree, I do love that website. You should check out Jo's Storybird for a great example of a digital story.
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