I listened to two podcasts today, one from the USA (The Teachers’ Podcast Episode 6: New Literacies Make the News, Show Me the Money!, Tech Knowledge Product Review, teachers podcast) which featured a discussion about New Literacies. The discussion was about helping to students recognise genuine information and to read and evaluate internet material. They introduced the concept that ‘classical reading’ has changed. When reading online articles, reading is no longer linear because we can jump around with hyperlinks. I think as teachers we need to consider this in our lesson plans and instructions and be explicit about the reading that might be required. Multiliteracy in this case referred to online reading and the new skills that it requires as distinct from classical linear reading.

The second blog was (ICTGUY0803 – Blogs, Comic Life resources & Visualisation of data ) This blog had a great reference to presenting visual information so that it has the most effective impact on the audience. The evidence was based on cognitive scientific research of Kosslyn “Clear and to the Point, Kosslyn explained that the four rules of PowerPoint are: The Goldilocks Rule, The Rudolph Rule, The Rule of Four, and the Birds of a Feather Rule.” (The address for this information is: http://io9.com/tag/powerpoint/). The rules are simple and could be used as guides to help students create effective visual presentations. Perhaps a skill that is increasingly important with emerging technologies on Web2- (just look at YouTube, podcasts, messenger services, mobile phones with videos etc. etc…).

Multi-literacy to some means the ability to read, filter, and evaluate information on the web and to others to be confident and capable enough to utilise the suite of tools available on Web2; tools that communicate predominately with images and sound as well as the written word.

Post on March 10 2008

In an effort to be “well informed” and to utilize time wisely I’ve been investigating various podcasts that I could listen to on my way too and from work – about 1.5 hours each day. There are quite a few free subscription lists for educational podcasts. I think the e-learning insights and the virtual staffroom have possibilities but I plan to keep looking.