Multiliteracy

Introduction:

The concept of multiliteracies means literacy is not limited only to printed words. It can also be related to the visual, the audio, the spatial, the multimodal. (New London Group, 1996)

It started as a campaign to revive the ways and methods to educate and train both students and teachers. Students find it easy in understanding by the use of extra help like multimedia, internet and computer aided designs. Teachers, on the other hand, are given proper workshops and seminars to cope with the modern situation.

History:

The term multiliteracies was created by the New London Group (1996) to emphasize two related aspects of the increasing complexity of texts:

1) a major shift related to the increasing influence of cultural, linguistic diversity, affecting communications and labour markets, making language diversity an ever more critical local issue.”
2) A major shift related to the influence of new communications technologies. A new multimodal literacy, that is, required in order to find our way around the emerging world of meaning.

At first it covered the primary level of schools in 1996 but then it excelled to the higher secondary of colleges and even universities. It had been so successful that regular workshops for teachers was made compulsory and some institute even offered free coaching seminars with experts training their staff.

Methods in multiliteracy:

Ø The use of 3d^* animation to make children of kindergarten understand and learn the concept of plants, animals and nature of these things.

(*Three dimensional.)

Ø The videos and documentaries of such places to which children study in their books.

Ø We get audio tapes/discs along with books when we buy some study courses such as ielts.

Ø Students getting lessons in class, discussion on forums and posts on blogs^* makes it easier and a 24 hour class program anywhere.

(*web logs= often known as forum or comment site)

Ø Students like watching TV, visiting websites, blogs and discussion forums.

Ø Using multimedia graphics for enhancing learning capability of students with the help of models.

Ø Distant learning^* methods such as of used by Virtual University.

(*use of T.V, video conference etc for teaching.)

Ø Computer Aided Designs help students interact with their work more wisely and easily.

Ø Stimulations^* help engineers grasp the better knowledge about their mechanics.

(*models with help of computers)

Advantages:

1.     The methods of multiliteracy are proven to be more effective as shown by surveys.

2.     They are also less time consuming such as searching on the internet with in micro seconds.

3.     Less energy wastage. Teachers explaining less through words and more by animations.

4.     Education level standardised throughout the world.

Disadvantages:

1.     Students like using YouTube and online discussion forums, but they seldom posting comments on online discussion forums or uploading videos to YouTube.

2.     Requires development in all sectors of Information Technology.

3.     Requires trained staff to attend the workshops.

4.     Less effective for beginners only well educated people can communicate with IT field.

what is being done?