Week 3 Reading

1. Copy and paste a quote from the reading that causes you to have a strong reaction (agreement, disagreement, confusion...) and explain your reaction.

“On the one hand, we need to attend to the differences between digital and print compositions in order to be able to see accurately and respond effectively to the kind of work our students create in new media. Yancey warned against using the “frameworks and processes of one medium to

assign value and to interpret work in a different medium” (90) because by doing so we lose the chance to see new values emerging in the new medium. On the other hand, we need to work from what we know and to see computers as, in Takayoshi’s (1996) words, “new lenses through

which to look at the central issues of writing instruction” (247).

After reading this article about the assessment of old and new writing in education, it is clear that teachers struggle to assess or grade “old” ways of writing and the new writing in the media age.  I agree that we can no longer apply standard methods of grading to the kind of word our students are creating when given the opportunity to create with new media.  Multimodal texts cannot be graded with a rubric as an ordinary term paper or written assignment.  Students are setting a mood or ambiance to their multimodal projects that give the reader or viewer more knowledge about the student’s insight into the topic discussed. Typically students are extremely interested in developing these “new media” projects to showcase their technology skills and understanding.  Therefore, as teachers we need to develop new rubrics and see new value in these projects and how they add to the education of our students.

2. Have you ever ask students to create a multimodal text?

I have not personally had students to create a multimodal text project or assignment but I have been present in classrooms where these projects were being developed as I substituted in a marketing/business class in our local high school.

Have you ever created a multimodal text for a school related assignment? Described the assignment.  
Yes, I have created a multimodal project in several of my school related assignments.  For example, in the methods of teaching mathematics at FSU I had to develop a PowerPoint presentation on the history of algebra.  It was a new experience for me because it was the first of many classes I had to take to earn my M.A.T degree. 

I also just recently completed a multimodal text presentation for this class EDUC 6809 titled “For the Love of Scrapbooking”.

What were the learning goals? How was it assessed?

 Do you feel the assignment improved comprehension of the content? Why? Why not?

The learning goals were described as a focus on some topic that interested each student and that it should consist of at least 10 slides with five or fewer words to each slide.  The design was to capture the interest of the viewer and display the knowledge and understanding of the topic in a concise and legible way.

The assessment focused on the readability and the graphics used.  Were they enough or too much? Did they make the connection for the reader/viewer and was it meaningful?

I do believe the assignment did improve the comprehension of the content.  Even I, the avid scrapbooker, found information that I did not know previously. I also found that the colors used and the personal creations I included helped others to know more about me.

3. Find a multimodal example of metonymy and embed it in your blog. Is it a good or poor example? Why?

This is a great example of metonymy since it refers to a captain of a ship who needs all deckhands or all sailors on deck. 

4. Find a multimodal example of metaphor and embed it in your blog.

Is it a good or poor example? Why?

This example of a metaphor was a fantastic example of a metaphor since the caption says "Get Comfortable" and there is a potato resting on the couch.  Therefore, a "Couch Potato". Very appropriate slogan or advertisement for Comcast.

5. How does this reading help you think about the use of multimodal text to support writing and learning across content area instruction in school?

The reading has helped me to see the need for use of multimodal text assignments in all content areas of instruction.  In teaching math to high school students I have realized that assigning a multimodal text assignment can facilitate learning and a deeper understanding of any given topic.  Any teacher could use a multimodal text assignment with an appropriate rubric to assess students’ writing ability and help them gain a deeper insight into topics in the curriculum.

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References

Sorapure, M. "Between Modes: Assessing Student New Media Compositions. Retrieved on 4 June 2014

Nunnery, Laura (2011).  "Get Comfortable." [Image]  Retrieved 2 June 2014, from  http://lauranunnery.wordpress.com/

Dor, J., McArthur, T., The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009., The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2013., & Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. (2005, January 1). Metonymy. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/metonymy.aspx