Website URL: https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/fivethings/video/
Language Content: English/Language Arts Grades 3-7
Multimodal communication adds dimension to instruction by engaging the learner in a variety of modes. Lotherington and Jenson (2011) state in their article, "Teaching Multimodal and Digital Literacy in L2 Settings: New Literacies, New Basics, New Pedagogies" that "Digitally mediated, multimodal communication is dynamic, adding a third dimension of space, in that the reader can enter the text in new and exciting ways...and it is interactive adding the fourth dimension of time" (p. 227). One multimodal communication that adds dimension to an otherwise dry literacy topic is "Flocabulary: Five Elements of a Story".
In this multimodal presentation of five elements of a story, we see the concept of multiliteracies demonstrated. The New London Group defined multiliteracies in their 1996 manifesto to include "linguistic, visual, audio, gestural, and spatial meaning, and multimodal interplay" (Lotherington and Jenson, 2011, p. 230). This multimodal work combines hip-hop music, text, visual images, and special effects to create meaning. The message is clear and repeated. The five elements of a story are plot, character, conflict, theme, and setting. Students will clearly grasp this main idea as it is emphasized using words, images, and a catchy tune that is repeated several times. Each story element is explained individually using text, pictures, and song lyrics. English Learners (ELs) will benefit from the simple text that flashes on the screen along with several images to illustrate the concept being describing. Despite these features, the song is still very faced paced for ELs. In order to help with this problem, this multimodal work from the actual Flocabulary website has a feature that allows one to slow down the song. It gives you three-speed options: normal, slow, and slowest. The lyrics are also displayed on the multimodal presentation from the Flocabulary site and can be printed from there. Giving each student a copy of the lyrics is also another tool that can help them understand the meaning. This presentation can also be found on YouTube without the visual lyrics and speed options.
Students will be engaged in learning the characteristics of a story when the see this multimodal work. The visual effects make the pictures and words come alive as the song is sung. The lyrics are timed perfectly to match the words and images. Students can connect to the images used. Image examples for the element character include a model, baby, clown, and animals (dogs, lions, hippos). It also gives examples of popular pop culture cartoons like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh that contain characters. The face pace of this multimodal presentation makes it so it can be watched over and over with the learner gaining something new from it each time.
In addition to being a great addition to a lesson on characteristics of a story, "Flocabulary-Five Elements of a Story" would also serve as a good example of a multimodal work. In a lesson on modalities, the students could name the different modes used in this work. Then they could tell how the different modes are used effectively to portraying the message of the presentation. No matter which way this piece is used, it is sure to capture the learner's attention and provide him or her with educational entertainment.
Hi Melinda, this is a pretty cool multimodal work. I believe kids will be engaged and feel excited about it. It is also a good idea to use it to teach the students how to analyze different modes of communication. Students might be motivated to do something as fascinating as this work. But I think the main purpose of this work is still to talk about the characteristics of a story. Would you consider using it to teach students about digital story telling? -Xin
ReplyDeleteHi Melinda,
ReplyDeleteThe animation was pretty fast at first, but got the message after a while. I guess this could act as a supplement to a lesson. He keeps repeating some phrases, I guess that's a technique that will ensure the student remembers the info. Another thing, the speech appears on the screen, something that may help ELLs. And finally, real images can help the student make connections (things like internal conflict and a picture of the brain!). I like your analysis.
Hi Melinda, thanks for sharing this impressive multimodal work. The depth and quality of the video and song are solid and engaging. I agree with your analysis that the song is a bit fast paced for many ELLs, however I like that they give students the option to slow down the song and view the lyrics. A great thing about using songs as teaching materials is that they tend to have choruses that repeat giving students a better chance to memorize the content.
ReplyDelete