- English Language Arts and Reading
- Grade 7
- Multiple genres
Share a multimodal text with students such as a slide deck that includes animations, transitions, images, and/or an embedded video. As a class, list and analyze all of the communication modes used in the slides and what each adds to the text. Then, brainstorm other types of multimodal texts and the characteristics of each example.
Note:
Examples of multimodal texts include book trailers, brochures, comics, infographics, broadcasts, animation, tutorial guides, movies, and mobile applications.
Students should be able to examine specific components of a text and make determinations about how particular components enhance the text. Students are expected to have a strong understanding of the attributes of text types, such as understanding that digital text is an electronic version of written text that can be accessed using various equipment including hand-held devices and computers. Students should know that a digital text might include features such as embedded video, images, hyperlinks, or other interactive features.
Anstey, M., & Bull, G. (2010). Helping teachers to explore multimodal texts. Curriculum Leadership Journal, 8(16). Retrieved from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/leader/helping_teachers_to_explore_multimodal_texts,31522.html?%20issue%20ID=12141
Summary: This article is a summary of research centered on multimodal texts. The authors discuss how multimodal texts are commonly delivered and the six systems embedded in multimodal text. The article includes a discussion on how professional learning can be used to build the capacity of teachers.