1. Copy and paste a quote from the reading that causes you to have a strong reaction (agreement, disagreement, confusion…) and explain your reaction.
"In today's world, visual images play a role in most everything we do."
I agree with this quote:
We live in a world now, where everyone is running a mile a minute to get things done. Most people don't have the time to sit and read lengthy material. When I read this quote I immediately thought of the saying, "Never judge a book by its cover," but we do this everyday. We look at things and decide if we like it based on how it looks. Images can provide a wordless story. When you are younger, and can't quit read yet, you rely on visual literacy to tell the story.
2. Why should educators care about multimodal texts?
Educators should care about multimodal texts because the multimodal approach takes into account how linguistic and visual (and other) choices fulfill the purposes of the text, the audience and context, and how those choices work together. The text tells us that first, teachers need become more familiar with the terms and concepts of multimodal text before we are able to teach it to students. Our world is changing and as educators we must keep up!
3. How is your definition of literacy different or similar to the definition of literacy presented in the book? Or how did the reading change or expand your definition of literacy?
The books definition of literacy: a set of cognitive skills that individuals acquire to function in society.
This definition is similar to my definition in the sense that literacy is the ability to read and write. The reading expand my definition because now I have added visual literacy. Which is different from just reading and writing, with visual literacy you must understand visual forms of communication such as body language, pictures, maps, and video
4. How can visual literacy support the development of the kinds of reading and writing we want children to learn through schooling?
Visual literacy can support the development of the kinds of reading and writing we want children to learn because it is an important way to foster reading comprehension. As I have disused in earlier blog posts, comprehension is the goal when it comes to reading and writing. If we don't understand what we are reading then it is pointless.Visual literacy allows students to become more engaged in their reading and use their imagery to draw conclusions, create interpretations of the text, and recall details from the text.
5. Find an online resource that addresses issues of visual literacy in education. Link it or embed it you your blog.
Visual Literacy Link
6. Find an image that relates to the ideas presented in this week's reading.
Resources
Eye On Education. (n.d.). Routledge RSS. Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.routledge.com/eyeoneducation/blog/2756/
Serafini, F. (2014). Reading the visual: an introduction to teaching multimodal literacy. New York: Teachers College.
Visual Literacy. (2012). Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.iste.org/docs/excerpts/MEDLIT-excerpt.pdf
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about how the world around us is full of images in which we must interpret and find meaning. We as educators should utilize all the resources we have to teach effectively in the world in which we live. Many times students are better equipped to make sense of music lyrics and images because they have been more immersed in the technology of our culture. They are more motivated to engage and learn when technology and multimodal strategies are introduced in the classroom.
Great point you made in posting that as our world and its technology changes so must our teaching. We MUST keep up with the ever-changing and progressing effects of digital media.
Ashley – I think that you make a valid point in reminding us that, every day, both we *and* our students are participating in a society that is heavily reliant upon multimodal texts. We are bombarded with information that contain multiplatforms, and we develop our interpretation of those things based upon the texts we’ve received. In addition, you make a great point when you state that pre-reading children are singularly relying upon visual texts to develop their knowledge bases.
ReplyDeleteI also think that you make a great argument when stating that we must employ a multimodal approach to our instruction in order to not only explore how the various digital media devices work together to contribute to the text but to also keep current with our students’ needs to better prepare them for their future in an ever-changing global arena.
I agree with you that after this weeks reading I added visual literacy to my definition of literacy. I think we are lacking this skill in the school system and need to become more aware of this new literacy to better our students.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how in you're reading your pointed out how imagery along side with written text helps students recall details. In the article I found this week that was their main focus and I am glad you picked up on that as well as I believe they help each other more then hurt each other.
I chose the same visual image that you shared on your blog. I agree with your quote! I agree that we live in a world where we are so busy, that visual images are quicker to look at then reading a book. I also agree with your comment that young children can rely on visual images to tell a story. I think that is what social media is so popular! You can instantly post a picture on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Like the old saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words."
ReplyDeleteIt is so very sad that most people don't have the time to sit and read a lengthy book, as you pointed out. Life can get too hectic if you let it. I think people could carve out more time in their lives to do the things they really enjoy, the things that relax them or make them happy. I know people have pointed this out before, but isn't it sad people miss out on developing relationships and communicating more face to face because they are on their smart phones on Facebook or whatever. I was out to dinner with my husband a few weeks ago, and noticed what would have been a lovely mother/daughter dinner date (beside us), was filled with each of them on their iPhones staring mesmerized at the screen the whole time. They didn't really talk or engage with each other, and this made me so very sad for them. Made me happy that these new inventions came out after I hit adulthood and had been on my own a while and knew how to cultivate valuable relationships. I do fear that if children aren't given limits, than this type of situation will increase in occurrence and become the norm. I hope not! I have faith in parents to not let this happen. This was a side thought that I was drawn to share from reading your post. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI agree Laura! Digital Media provides us with exciting new ways to communicate and forge and sustain relationships that we otherwise may not be able to. However, I think it is important to teach children to also be in the here and now and engage with people who are in the room with you!
DeleteAshley-
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment that our every day life is full of images we must interpret. I think this is why so many students are such visual learners and depend on images to gain an understanding of something. I also liked and agree with your point that our world is ever-changing and constantly developing through technology and it is our job to try and keep up with it! We must always remember that there is always something new to learn! Great post!
Ashley,
ReplyDelete"In today's world, visual images play a role in most everything we do." I love this quote! It is so true. I agree with you that in this fast paced world we live in today we do judge a book by its cover! We look at it and if it looks good to the eye we’ll buy it, if it doesn’t we don’t! It’s that simple. I do agree that as our world is changing a mile a minute we as educators do need to “keep up”! That was my main goal of taking this course even though I have already completed my master’s degree I wanted to be able to incorporate technology a little more in my classroom so I thought I’ll take a technology course and here I am! I have learned so much in the last 4 weeks it is crazy. I knew there were many ways to utilize technology with our students but I’m having probably a harder time keeping up and figuring things out than they would I think! I want to be a teacher of the future and not a teacher of the past. So I’m so glad that we are learning all the new tricks! I enjoyed your post! :)
Britney