Just a reminder of what is due this week: VCI due by Friday noon (here is the link again VCI ); Writing group meeting via Google Hangout or other forum, Resource evaluations for iBook chapter by Nov. 6 at 10 pm.
Have a good week!
Friday, October 30, 2015
Week 11 Understanding and Critiquing multimodal texts
This week we are beginning the module on multimodal texts. You are probably beginning to think about writing your own multimodal text for our iBook. These next 2 weeks should help with that. I want to remind you that we are meeting face to face all day (9-5) on November 14, and our major topic will be multimodal texts and their design.We will spend time in class designing your multimodal texts, thinking about what different modes you want to include and practicing with apps that will help you. So in the interest of modeling being multimodal, I am inserting a short video that tells you what to do next.
Just a reminder of what is due this week: VCI due by Friday noon (here is the link again VCI ); Writing group meeting via Google Hangout or other forum, Resource evaluations for iBook chapter by Nov. 6 at 10 pm.
Have a good week!
Just a reminder of what is due this week: VCI due by Friday noon (here is the link again VCI ); Writing group meeting via Google Hangout or other forum, Resource evaluations for iBook chapter by Nov. 6 at 10 pm.
Have a good week!
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Multimodal text creation is actually the topic of my research project for this class. I have learned a little in the process of gathering research material and reading about the topic. I still have a ton to learn. This is a broad topic. I view it as a fairly new frontier in the educational setting of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about a “text”, I view it as any “mode” that communicates information both written and in other forms. Some definitions specify that “text” has to be a written linguistic form of communication, but I think that is a very narrow view of the word.
The picture placed in the blog relays information. It simply is inferred rather than explicitly spelled out for the audience. In the picture provided, it appears that people are collaborating and making meaning out of various modes of communication. This shows that meaning making is a collaborative process. The people in this picture were using technology and print. There were people using ladder or scaffolding. I think this shows that there are various modes of meaning, and the gathering of the information is a collaborative social process. This picture is an example of meaning making that is not linguistic in nature but is still text.
I'm overwhelmed with how much information I have on my topic, and yet how little of it says anything unique. Multimodal is usually how I communicate, so I'm looking forward to this week. I'm not a fan of calling something that's multimodal a true "text." To me, calling something a "text" is what distinguishes it from a "video" or "interactive media" or "image" or mixture of them. I call it storytelling; in this case, it would be a multimodal story (which could be informative or fictional, but still a story).
ReplyDeleteGames are THE multimodal text: visuals, art, writing, voice, music, user input, and so on. They have everything. It's really a shame I can't make a video game into an iBook chapter so I could teach my piece that way. They each engage in their own way; even a mixture of two or three modes of communication engage someone in a different way than four of them together or only one medium would. So even though games are the ultimate form of multimodal communication, they are not always the correct form for the meaning that is trying to be conveyed.
I come to this subject of text and multimodal communications like everyone-- grounded in ones background experiences. Although I have embedded in my thinking that text is simply words, I also understand a broader interpretation. I received a B.A. in Art History simply because I absolutely loved the aspect of art reflecting a culture, and the fact that art reflects a visual representation of a society in context. Now, with a different lens, technology coupled with literacy is now reinventing ways to define text. Text now encompasses the multimodal aspects of art that captured my attention because of its representation of the current culture and society.
ReplyDeleteI'm easily connecting to new definitions of text being multimodal, but I have concerns that those representations may not be clear to the reader (or as with art, the viewer, or in some cases, the participant). With art, there has always been an understanding that one views or interacts with art on a very personal and unique level--giving validation to ones own personal interpretations. The intentions from the artist are not always meant to be the same for the viewer. I wonder if as a society we are ready to interact with multimodal text all viewing through a different pair of glasses, and willing to accept difference interpretations of what is "read". I wonder if new definitions of text that include audio, images, unconventional use of color and written text, can be accepted by society when interpretations will most likely vary. I believe it is a good thing that will promote critical thinking and dialogue, but do we have society members that can currently engage with new interpretations? Will it separate us and create a bigger gap due to the multitude of understandings and the complexity of viewing the meaning behind unconventional representations? I can't help but wonder where this will all lead, but I know I don't want to miss this journey...
What do I think makes a text a text or what defines a text?
ReplyDeleteLast night before I went to bed, and this morning when I got up I had this question running through my mind. As I thought about it I thought about how text does not consist of words anymore, especially in this multimodal era. Consequently, I concluded my scattered yet organized thoughts with this meaning of what a text is; a text is no longer a compilation of words that tell a story or shares a message, but rather a conglomeration of pictures, links, words and other visuals that deliver a specific message to a specific audience.
As I look at the image placed in the multimodal presentation I do see “texts” and that is because of what I have just defined text to be. Because there are different features within this image working together to produce a message there is “text.”
What defines a text?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion a text is something you read. This can be in print, websites, wikis, blogs, email, texts, or any other form technology. I think it is defined by the literacy part…not the tool with which you read. Now multimodal texts…that is combining at least two communication modes audio, visual, special, etc…to create meaning. But just a strict definition of the word texts…I think that is the written word, reading, literacy. Of course, with my experience in this class my understanding of the word “text” is broadening. I can easily see in the 21st century sense, the definition being more all-encompassing. Yet in a strict sense, I understand text to mean the written word in any form.
The picture posted definitely conveys a message. The people were working together, viewing things from different perspectives, using ladders to scaffold their communication, some were in the “clouds” retrieving information, etc.. This was a pictorial representation of how learning is collaborative and social in nature. By viewing this picture and sharing our interpretations of its meaning we are participating in a collaborative, social learning process to internalize the meaning of multimodal texts. But we all won't get the same message from that picture. I wonder if this is the new definition of text…no words needed. I am anxious to read other posts concerning this, which will help me deepen my understanding.
What makes a text a text? I think that anything that conveys information to someone can be considered a text. I understand multimodal text to be a combination of any two forms of communication by definition. I like to think of it as something that uses forms of technology to communicate a meaning. Any picture can convey a message, the message may be different for all that read it. I believe you can even read people as a text.
ReplyDeleteI think that anything that communicates an idea or information is a text. For example, I would consider pictures, songs, videos/movies text even though they don't often don't display printed text. Like Tabitha said, I also wonder if oral communication can be considered text. In order to understand someone else's message, you have to read their body language, facial expressions, and voice tones.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a text a text?
ReplyDeleteSomething that conveys a message or information would be a text, in my opinion. This could be something traditional with words or symbols like a book, poster, website, etc. But, it could also mean anything that has pictures or a combination of letters/words/symbols and pictures. When it comes to pictures, the different images combined conveys a message to the person who is looking at it, so therefore it is considered a text.
I have always thought that the written word in a book, on a poster/sign, or anywhere makes a text. It can be a single word, a sentence, a paragraph or a long story. Once words have been used it is a text.
ReplyDeleteI do not see any texts in the picture, but it does convey a message as I look and interpret it. I don’t think you can just pick up something or look at something and say it is a text. This is because you have to interpret it. A text evokes a message/real meaning once read whereas a picture can mean anything.
I think text is anything that we need to comprehend, for any purpose. So I agree that a video, audio clip or image can be text if we are analyzing to make meaning. I think that with the ever-changing face of literacy, and the introduction of new literacies, text is a term that can now include a number of things - not just words on a page anymore. I think the question of whether spoken language is text is such a valid point, too! Hopefully our readings can give us more insight into that this week.
ReplyDeleteBroadly, I think that a text can be defined as any form of communication that is conveyed through a particular medium using any mode, including speech, writing, images, etc. I think that I would limit my definition of a text to something that has a particular medium--I wouldn't define speaking to someone in person as creating a text, but I would define speaking to someone through a video recording, picture, or e-mail as creating a text. The picture in the video is a little blurry for me, but from what I see, it is full of people creating and interpreting texts. I think I see several people looking at books, pieces of paper, and the technology to interpret a message of some sort. I also think I see people arranging images on the giant phones and getting ready to paint something on a billboard-like area.
ReplyDeleteJohn's Answer
ReplyDelete<-- This is my multimodal answer for this week's discussion. :)
However, just in case, I also typed in my answers in the traditional text format just as below. Thank you.
1. What defines a text?
The discussion we had in the classroom a month ago has broadened my horizon about the definition of a text. I thought the alphabetical letters are only texts, but now I believe that “any symbols that can convey meanings to communicate” are texts. For example, a picture, a video clip, and even a emoticon can be a “text” based on this notion. This aspect could be a part of literacy 2.0, as we are becoming more and more equipped with these diverse symbolic tools with the advent of web 2.0 technology.
Do I see any texts in the picture above?
In the given picture, I saw a message that says “we are living in a ubiquitous world by using the mobile devices and cloud technology.” The pictures and the layout of the images are saying that message to me. So, this picture could be a "text" as well, which contains many micro "texts" in it, I think.
John, I loved how you shared your answer! Thanks for sharing. :)
DeleteSmartie Pants! lol Nice mulitmodal representation of your answer! I likie!! (Wish I would have thought of that!)
DeleteThanks Mara & Krystie! :) I hope you enjoyed it, lol. :)
DeleteI, like many others have stated, no longer have the same understanding of what defines a text as I did 2 months ago. Prior to this class I would have never hesitated to define text as written symbols or letters that convey meaning. I would now add that images that convey meaning can also be considered text, as well as voice or audio forms of messages that convey meaning can also be considered text. There has been a recent surge of videos (some may refer to them as vlogs) that have floated around Youtube and Facebook that show a person with a series of messages written on index cards or sheets of paper. The person in the video does not speak, but simply flips the sheets of paper so that the viewer can read them. I believe that the idea behind them is that the message is more powerful when read than spoken (although I could be wrong), but regardless of intention I think that the video itself can be considered text, rather than just what's written on the cards or pages. The person, the lack of spoken word, possibly the addition of music, in addition to the written words, convey a significantly different message than just the words would by themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat defines a text?
ReplyDeleteI think the definition of text has changed over time, with the emergence of technology. Text used to be just words that you read on a paper. Now, text can be on paper or can be digital. I also think the definition of text can be extended to include other means such as images and video. We have to evaluate these "texts" in the same way that we read words and evaluate them. We strive to understand them and make sense of them for our own lives. You could also say the same thing about songs, audio books, podcasts, and forms of oral communication. We look to comprehend these other forms of text and use our background knowledge to do so.