Project #2: Multi-modal Literacy Narrative

For this project, we will do Assignment Option 1: Literacy Narrative (458-460) from chapter 3 of Writing about Writing, but with a twist. I want you to use some of your visual, audio, and digital literacies to create a multi-modal project, or a project that not only uses print literacy but also visual, digital, audio, etc. The preferred method would be to create something digital using the available technologies. I dont, however, want to limit visual and audio literacies to digital texts, so you are open to use your creativity and ingenuity to create a multimodal project using any number of materials, but your project has to accomplish the objectives of this project in a way that is appropriate for the writing situation. The assignments objectives are to get you think and write about literacy in new and different ways. Option 1: How is YOUR acquisition of literacy dependent upon social, economic and material access? How do your particular literacies shape and inform your political stance, career choice, life goals? How does the value of literacies change and adapt to technological, economic and cultural forces? You'll need to be able to examine your own literacy history and then make generalizations about your history to say something new about literacy, access, technology, etc. Option 2: Use this as an opportunity to reflect on how literacy is changing in a networked culture in which meaning and texts are increasingly mediated through technology, the computer screen, mobile phone, ipad, etc. What has the culture of the screen changed about the kinds of literacies and skills we value? How have mediums, applications, and technologies changed the way we communicate with each other? What sorts of conflicts occurs between academic cultures and internet cultures as a result of conflicting values about literacy? Whether you choose option 1 or 2, your final product should be shaped and informed by the readings we do for the class. This project allows for a lot of freedom when it comes to the genres you might use, but, as always, you need to take into account the particular objectives of the assignment. A highly valued goal in this assignment is saying something new about literacy by engaging with the concepts in the readings of the textbook, your own experiences, or changes in technology and culture in general. You might consider the following options for your project: a web-text, a web-site (probably built and designed using free sites online), a video presentation complete with script and handouts that present your research findings, a multimodal pamphlet or brochure (using good design principles and multiple visual texts), or a physical display (needs to be polished and professional looking), a screencast video or animation, etc. Feel free to come up with your own idea, but keep your purpose in mind.

What Ill be looking for

A creative use of different media, materials, or technology to make an argument about literacy. This could be using a free web-site builder, a blog, or screencast. But could also be non-digital: a collage or pamplet. Demonstrate awareness and engagement with the concepts from the Writing About Writing chapter on literacy: sponsorship, access, the effects of economic forces on literacy, the idea of multiple literacies, the idea that literacy means something different to different groups. An original 'argument' which positions itself with this engagement and attempts to say something new

about literacy/literacy technologies. An awareness of the different affordances of particular media. What can an Xtranormal animation or a Prezi presentation do that an essay can't?

Important Dates:
Lab Time: 6/4, 6/6, 6/11 Final Product due: 6/12 via email, flashdrive, cd rom, physical copy, etc.

Project Resources
The following applications represent a variety of free resources for digital multimodal composition. This list is not exhaustive, however, and groups might find alternate multimodal tools and media to work with. Website/Blog Wordpress Blogger Google Sites Weebly Screencast/Capture Jing Screenr Screencast-o-Matic Presentation Prezi Empressr Video/Animation XtraNormal Vimeo Youtube Editor OverStream Writing Wikia Google Docs Wikispaces Zoho Writer

Digital Audio Avery Myna Audacity

Additionally, digital video cameras, digital still cameras, and digital audio recorders may be borrowed from the Curriculum and Technology Center (McCracken 215) for no charge. The request form can be found online at http://www.cehs.ohio.edu/centers-partnerships/centers/ct/request.htm and requires the instructors signature to avoid fees.