Clare's Multi-Modal Text and New Literacy Learning Journey

If you happen to stumble on this blog and think.........what is this all about?.........here is a brief intro on what I'm at.

I am a student with USQ and I am taking a course called "Multi-Modal Text and New Literacy" for the final module of my MEd in Technology. I am recording my progress through this module by using a blog and this blog will form the basis of my learning journal which is also a componet of the assessment criteria.

Just now I have sent my tutor the following post!

My idea is to create an online course in using Multi-modal literacies for teachers in my school. I would like to offer the course as part of the inset package for 2007/2008. We introduced e-learning 18 months ago, and until now the focus has been on using the system in a "filing cabinet" type manner. The potential is much greater than this and such a course could serve to demonstrate such potential to staff. In order to convince teachers that this will work, in tandem to creating the course, I would like to run the act ivies with one of my classes, so that I will have practical examples of actual students work on hand as demo material. I have not yet used the variety of mulit-modal strategies that are unfolding in the readings but feel that using them in a practical way will enhance my understanding, provide excellent opportunities for learning for my students and also serve in providing sound exemplary material for staff.
As teachers are the target audience, I will need to draw on and reference sound theoretical and pedagogical principles to underpin the project. The course will provide examples of how to use Mulit-modal literacies in a practical context, while also providing "how to" manuals on using specific software and setting up applications.

List of project aims
To produce a set of inset materials for staff on how to use multi-modal literacies in a practical way in their classroom.
1. To include as much innovative current practice as is practical in our school context.
2. To ensure that the course in underpinned by sound pedagogy (content, strategies and assessment) and that such pedagogy is presented in a usable manner for staff.
List of expected outcomes

At the end of this module I will have
1. An online course on how to use multi-modal literacies with students, which is suitable for my context.
2. Examples of material which I have produced with my own students
3. Developed a blog which records my learning journey.

To do today

I want to investigate how to make some short radio programs with my year 11's. As a kinestehic learner this is the best way for me to approach this. A bit of doing. We are doing a cross curricular thematic approach to the subject "cars". I would like to get them to make a short radio program on their favourite cars. I need to find a program that will allow us to do this on PC and be easily editable. I also need to investigate if this can be made into a podcast.

I would also like to look at using a blog throughout with the Year 11's so that they can use it to record their learning journey - as I am doing with mine..

I need to read and summarise some of the material we need to read from Module 1........

Finally I need to really do a big inspiration chart to put together all the ideas I could possibly do! A def plan for this evening..........

I will report back tomorrow on how I am progressing.....