Blog Post #H

Chapter nine, “Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies” explains to us the different ways we can use technology to help accommodate to everyone’s learning styles. There are essentially three main ways to this, Multimodal learning, information presentation design, and multimedia. All of  which are important elements to include in the classroom because each of us has our own way of processing information and if we can reach each individual by applying these techniques then we are one step closer to “learning” the information (Maloy, Verock-O'Laoghlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2013).

            Multimodal learning happens a lot in most classrooms. It is when a teacher not only uses words to explain something or teach something but also accompanies the lesson with visuals. Whether it be a picture or a model you are still receiving the visual affect which is important when trying to learn. It helps us connect the missing pieces that did not quite fit before  (Maloy, Verock-O'Laoghlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2013).

            Putting those pieces together is part of the purpose for information presentation design. This why presentations done, for example, with powerpoint are extremely useful. It bridges the words and visuals together that create a different ways of looking at the same thing but that go together. The trick to using such tools though is to be effective and to make sure that whatever you are putting together displays what you want your audience to get out of it  (Maloy, Verock-O'Laoghlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2013).

            Multimedia is a great tool if used correctly just like any piece of technology, especially when it comes to teaching. We want people whether you are an auditory learner or a visual one to receive the same lesson. Using multimedia can be tricky but it is vital to reach a wide audience. Not only because it helps them understand the concepts that you wanted them to get out of it but also because it helps us further in life by developing our digital literacy  (Maloy, Verock-O'Laoghlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2013).

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Digital Blog Post #D

   Chapter 5 of the textbook really starts to go into detail why it is important to be digitally literate. It is true that reading and writing are still and will always be a vital part in the learning process and to be literate in general but this is the 21st century and now whether we are students, teachers, employees, or employers, we are still expected to have the basic understandings of technology and more so we should want to because of how much it can really help us. The three concepts I would like to discuss are digital literacy, media literacy and a topic that was brought up but I felt needed to be expanded upon, digital ethics.

   Digital literacy is a very powerful concept for us that we should embrace. Technology, and even just the internet in general has made learning easier, more effective, but most importantly gives us the ability to grow. Back then we could not google things as we can now or would have been able to use certain teaching tools that have proven to be effective in the classroom. With all the concepts we are able to to look up and learn, we are unlocking answers to any questions we have, even if it doesn't have such a simple answer. We now are able to learn to research, which gives us the tools to interpret and synthesize information at a higher level as well as being able to help us manage our thoughts in order to teach others. This is a process, an important process that has helped us gt a lot further and will help us get a lot further in the classroom.

   Media literacy is just important to understand because it is a part of being digitally literate and whether we notice it or not we see multimedia in every every form so much throughout the day. The way we evaluate this media determines what we take away from the media presented to us. Visual learners are very effected by media because it is easier for them to interpret images, or charts, etc. and understand the concepts better. This takes communication to a whole new level. Not only is media literacy important to obtain and understand in the classroom but even in everyday life which leads me to digital ethics.

   I think digital ethics is what is able to make us analyze at higher level. This means we are able to research with a fair mindset, present with balance, and display professionalism. Digital ethics is all about doing things the right way, and the fair way. Both digital and media literacy require you to use digital ethics to be most effective and being able to understand digital ethics aids your comprehension in both literacies. This really ties both together so it is important to understand each part. Below I have made a little diagram from the web tool gliffy to sum up the concepts digital and media literacy can teach us

                                                               Tree Of Literacy

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Gliffy (n.d.). Tree of Literacy. Retrieved September 28, 2016