A multimodal text combines two or more semiotic systems like picture book, in which the

textual and visual elements are arranged on individual pages that contribute to an overall set of bound

pages; webpage, in which elements such as sound effects, oral language, written language, music and

still or moving images are combined; and live performance, in which gesture, music, and space are the

main elements.

 Written or Linguistic meaning: for spoken and written language through the use of vocabulary,

generic structure and grammar.

 Audio meaning: for music, sound effects, noises, ambient noise, and silence, through use of

volume, pitch and rhythm.

 Visual meaning: for still and moving images through the use of color, saliency, page layouts,

vectors, viewpoint, screen formats, visual symbols; shot framing, subject distance and angle;

camera movement, subject movement.

 Gestural meaning: for movement of body, hands and eyes; facial expression, demeanors, and

body language, and use of rhythm, speed, stillness and angles.

 Spatial meaning: for environmental and architectural spaces and use of proximity, direction,

layout, position of and organization of objects in space.

Culture comes in many shapes and sizes. It includes areas such as politics, history, faith,

mentality, behaviour and lifestyle. The following examples demonstrate how a lack of cultural sensitivity

led to failure:

Language. The business world is littered with poor translations that have caused great embarrassment
to their perpetrators due to their lack of cultural sensitivity. The following are some of the choicest

Tools for Analysis

Analysis and simulation tools support knowledge construction by allowing learners to

manipulate information and visualize information in different ways. The curriculum in History,

Mathematics and Science includes learning elaborations that involve students collecting,

organizing, analyzing and interpreting various forms of data and information. Some examples of
technological tools that support these processes include:

• Concept or mindmapping tools: These tools help learners to identify and link relevant

concepts and represent those concepts visually.

• Database software: This type of software allows learners to record, sort and report on a

variety of data in numerical, textual and media forms.

• Spreadsheet software: This type of software allows learners to record, sort, mathematically

analyse and represent numerical data in tabular and/or graphical forms. Using technology to

communicate.

BLOGGING

Journal writing has long been an activity utilised in the primary classroom. Journal

writing allows students to reflect on what they are learning and how they are learning. This

traditional, notebook-and-pencil activity can become digital when wordprocessing software is

used. Or it can go online as a blog. Blogs (a short form of the weblog) are personal journal

websites on which a user can type an entry, add images, video and links to other websites.

Readers of a blog usually can post comments.

Multimedia is content that uses a combination of different content forms such as text,

audio, images, animations, video and interactive content. ...Multimedia is distinguished from

mixed media in fine art; by including audio, forexample, it has a broader scope.

A presentation program is a software package used to display information in the form

of a slide show. It has three major functions: an editor that allows text to be inserted and

formatted, a method for inserting and manipulating graphic images, and a slide-show system to

display the content.

A multimedia presentation differs from a normal presentation in that it contains some

form of animation or media. Typically a multimedia presentation contains at least one of the

following elements: Video or movie clip. Animation Sound (this could be a voice-over,
background music or sound clips).

Twelve Tips for Creating Effective Presentations :

1. Design a template that is free from distracting items.

Strive for simplicity and readability. Most PowerPoint templates contain distracting elements such as
borders or shading that can detract from your messages.

2. Ensure your template promotes readability.

Choose color combinations that make it easy for the audience to read your slides. If your

audience is unable to read your slides, then your message has been compromised.

3. Select a sans serif font.

Limit your fonts to two, at most. Serif fonts, such as Garamond, Times New Roman or

Century Schoolbook, have protruding “feet” (called serifs) that extend beyond the main shape

of the letters.

4. Always use fonts that are 24 point or larger.

Displaying text that is too small to read compromises your message and frustrates your

audience.

5. Incorporate high quality photos, images or diagrams that reinforce your verbal message.

Research has shown that communication is enhanced when a verbal message is combined with a
powerful image on the screen.

6. Use phrases or abbreviated sentences, rather than full sentences.

With the possible exception of short direct quotes, keep full sentences in your oral presentation and off
the screen.

7. Use bullet points sparingly. If using bullet points, be sure they are less than six words long.

The most effective sliders are often with the least text. “Your presentation is for the benefit of the
audience.

8. Eliminate the use of headings or titles unless they communicate the main message.

Headings should not be used to introduce or identify the topic of the slide, though they may be useful to
call attention to the main finding in a chart or graph.

9. Use animation, slide transitions, audio, and video sparingly and if used, do so only to reinforce a key
concept. No examples are provided because they would be difficult to illustrate in this written format.

10. Highlight the most important information in tables and graphs.

If needed, use builds to present data in a series of bite-sizes pieces. There are manyresources about how
to create effective tables and graphs (e.g., Few, 2004; Sanders & Filkins,2009).

11. Create a handout to accompany your presentation.

Many presenters try to make their slides function as both a handout and a presentation and end up
failing at both attempts.

12. Be passionate about your topic.

Regardless of how well designed your slides are, the success or failure of your presentati

on willhinge on how effectively you engage your audience.

Creating is defined in the Australian Curriculum as ‘the development and/or production

of spoken, written or multimodal texts in print or digital forms’ and is an

embedded literacy expectation across all disciplines.

Multimodal is defined in the Australian Curriculum as the strategic use of ‘two or more

communication modes‘ to make meaning, for example image, gesture, music, spoken

language, and written language.

While the development of multimodal literacy is strongly associated with the growth of

digital communication technologies, multimodal is not synonymous with digital. The choice of

media for multimodal text creation is therefore always an important consideration.

A multimodal text can be paper – such as books, comics, posters.

A multimodal text can be digital – from slide presentations, e-books, blogs, e-posters, web

pages, and social media, through to animation, film and video games.

A multimodal text can be live – a performance or an event.

And, a multimodal text can be transmedia– where the story is told using ‘multiple delivery
channels’ through a combination of media platforms, for example, book, comic, magazine, film,

web series, and video game mediums all working as part of the same story.

Transmedia is a contested term and Henry Jenkins is worth reading for more

background. Jenkins argues that transmedia is more than just multiple media platforms, it is

about the logical relations between these media extensions which seek to add something to the

story as it moves from one medium to another, not just adaptation or retelling. Transmedia

enables the further development of the story world through each new medium; for example

offering a back story, a prequel, additional ‘episodes’, or further insight into characters and plot

elements. (Jenkins, 2011). It also can require a more complex production process.

Development of multimodal literacy knowledge and skills

To enable our students to effectively design and communicate meaning through such

rich and potentially complex texts, we need to extend their (and along the way, our own)

multimodal literacy knowledge and skills. Skilled multimodal composition requires new literacy

design skills and knowledge to enable students to make informed choices within and across the

available communication modes to effectively construct meaning.

Creating a multimodal text, a digital animation for example, is a complex meaning

design process requiring the strategic orchestration of a combination of modes such as image,

movement, sound, spatial design, gesture, and language. The process of constructing such texts

is also truly a cross-disciplinary literacy process, drawing on digital information technologies

and The Arts (media, music, drama, visual arts, design) to bring meaning to life.