Multiliteracies

Multimodal and digital texts have changed the traditional view of literacy. Look at this website for example! I have engaged any different literacy skills to navigate and construct this text. Through this text, I can record and share my thoughts, involve images, links and even video if I choose to and then display it for potential thousands to see.
The boom in technology over the last 10 years has changed the traditional view of literacy, and has led to the introduction of terms such as viewing and representing as key literacy skills. The wide spread use of multimodal texts has also changed demands on students.
However, all literary acts are socially and culturally based. If socially and culturally children are experiencing more multimodal texts, then schools need to reflect this.

Image from: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/gadgets/article889844.ece

Multimodal refers to texts that have more than one mode and meaning is communicated through the synchronisation of print based forms and non print based forms (New South Wales Department of Education nd Training).
Multiliteracies refers to meaningful interaction with any text, irrespective of technology, media, form or structure.

While multimodal texts may appear to be immediately different to traditional print based texts there are many similarities and multimodal texts require the same skills as print based texts.
Multimodal texts require students to relate messages in words to pictures, images and graphics, read visuals, interpret movement and sounds, interpret broader understandings of texts (non linear text, or interactive texts). While multimodal texts have their differences and own set of specific skills, they are not so different to traditional print based texts. Both traditional print based texts and multimodal texts require an understanding of a wider social context, an interaction between the reader and the text in order to construct meaning, an activation of imagination and specific context, discourse and coherence.
The differences between the two stand at only the type of visual images and visual style.

21st century learners have access to a variety of 21st century texts. These include websites, online magazines and newsletters, game sites, video viewing websites, instant messaging sites, emails, text messages, television programs, blog, pod casts, vlogs...the list could go on and on.
Such access to these text types does not, however, mean that traditional print based texts have been disposed of. They now stand side by side with multimodal texts.
Due to this, schools must prepare students to communicate across a range of texts and contexts. Schools must also provide a range of texts: modern, digital and multimedia and from a variety of medias: print, photo, film, drawing etc.

Image from: http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Students-viewing-Birds-of-Paradise-exhibits/

While multimodal texts are becomming more common, it should not be assumed that all children have access to, are interested in or know how to navigate multimodal texts.
It is not okay to present a multimodal or digital text to a student and expect them to know how to navigate it and use it to create meaning. Teachers are still required to explicitly teach reading skills associated with multimodal texts to students.

Provided below are a selection of multimodal text resources.
Teacher Tube
A website with video content similar in layout to YouTube. Content through this website is monitored, suitable for students and accesible through school filters. It contains videos on every topic or subject area, photos, audio, lesson plans and activity ideas.
National Geographic Magazine
This website features content from the National Geographic magazine. It is great for a range of subject areas, from science, maths, geography to English. It's 'real life' content is easy to engage students with. It provides access to photos, archived documents from past magazines, teacher resources, video links and daily news.
Raz Kids
A website with access to ebooks. Books on this website are quick and easy to download. They are organised according to reading level across the year levels from K-6. It is not, unfortunately a free website, however reviews I have read suggest that it is worthy of it's price. The webpage provides samples, videos, pictures and teaching ideas.
Art Gallery NSW
This website features online or audio tours of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Podcasts discussing a selection of art works and images of the art works can be downloaded and listened to by students. The art pieces include modern, contemporary, Renaissance, pop, sculpture, indigenous, landscapes and portraits from a selection of artists from well known artists such as Tom Roberts to little known, or emergent artists.