Lesson 1: What are Interactive/Multimodal Texts?
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of multimodal and interative texts through the evaluation of samples.
Multimodality
Mulitmodality is the use of multiple “modes” to transmit information, including textual, aural, visual, and spatial. Multimodal texts ensure that there is a built in redundancy in the information output as well as multiple styles of transmission to appeal to different individuals and aid comprehension.
Watch the following video and consider the different modes of information present:
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Interactivity
Interactivity simply refers to the text that requires the reader make active choices and and respond to input, and disallows the passive consumption of text. Interactivity can be achieved in analog texts that stop the reader and asks them questions, or requires them to make a choice in a branching narrative. In the 21st century interactivity has expanded to include hyperlinks, playable video, and embedded galleries.
Read the following New York Times article and consider all of the interactive elements.
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/index.html#/?part=tunnel-creek
Reflection
- Which features of multimodality did you experience in the video?
- Which features of interactivity?
- Which features of multimodality did you experience in the article?
- Which features of interactivity?
Assignment
Read the following blog post about infographics:
Follow the embedded link to dailyinfographics.com
Select an infographic and answer the questions posed in the original post.
How does this assignment model interactivity? Mulitmodality?