Jenny McCune has written a great article on information overload. An interesting point she makes is that we don't replace old communciation forms with the new, we add to them. As the ultimate consumers we are, we want it all, the best of both worlds. So unless someone works out how to extend our 24 hour days, we will continue our attempt to fit more information in the same space of time. So, something's gotta give right?
The fact remains that our society today, especially our education system, does not allow enough time for indulgence in reading the old-fashioned way. For entertainment maybe, but not education.
And so in the meantime, with these changes to our learning capacities, comes a change in the media presented to us. The term 'multiliteracies' refers to the many forms of literary texts, including print, audio-visual and multi-media texts. It's a format that suits our modern attention spans, our tendency towards visual modes of communication, and our need to present information in smaller digestible 'chunks'.
This is where technology comes into its own. It has the potential to provide literacy content via modes that can be audio, visual, and/or interactive, in turns or all at once. This is the essence of multimedia and multi-literacies – literacy that combines multiple elements – which means highly engaging for students of all ages by adapting to individual needs and interests.
And best of all, it even suits those with short attention spans, small appetites for data and limited time for learning.
[Stay tuned for the rest of my rant, and to see a great example of ICT used for modern multiliteracy.]
The fact remains that our society today, especially our education system, does not allow enough time for indulgence in reading the old-fashioned way. For entertainment maybe, but not education.
And so in the meantime, with these changes to our learning capacities, comes a change in the media presented to us. The term 'multiliteracies' refers to the many forms of literary texts, including print, audio-visual and multi-media texts. It's a format that suits our modern attention spans, our tendency towards visual modes of communication, and our need to present information in smaller digestible 'chunks'.
This is where technology comes into its own. It has the potential to provide literacy content via modes that can be audio, visual, and/or interactive, in turns or all at once. This is the essence of multimedia and multi-literacies – literacy that combines multiple elements – which means highly engaging for students of all ages by adapting to individual needs and interests.
And best of all, it even suits those with short attention spans, small appetites for data and limited time for learning.
[Stay tuned for the rest of my rant, and to see a great example of ICT used for modern multiliteracy.]