Media Analysis and Production: Developing Multiliteracies in TechnologyEnhanced Environments

1
Media Analysis and Production Developing
Multiliteracies in Technology-Enhanced
Environments

• Natalie CooperPhD Candidate
• Faculty of Education
• University of Wollongong, Australia

2
Background

• Globalised society
• National goals for schooling
• Implications for literacy education
• Educational outcomes

3
Purpose

• Potential of innovative programs to support the
  development of multiliteracies.
• Explore whether the implementation of teaching
  and learning strategies based on constructivist
  approaches within a technology-rich environment
  supports the development of multiliteracies in
  students.

4
Theoretical Framework

• This study draws on theoretical perspectives from
  literature in the fields of
• Multiliteracies Pedagogy (Anstey, 2002 Frye,
  1997, Harste, 2003 Kellner, 2000 New London
  Group, 1996 Smolin Lawless, 2003 Tyner, 1998
  Unsworth, 2002 Wright, 2004)
• Constructivism (Bonk King, 1998 Gabler
  Schroeder, 2003 Jonassen, Peck Wilson, 1999
  Roblyer Edwards, 2000)

5
Literature

• Multiliteracies (Chandler-Olcott Mahar, 2003
  Gallego Hollingsworth, 1992)
• Information Literacy (Hepworth, 2003 Schutz,
  2000 Wolf, Brush Saye.2003)
• Visual Literacy (Begoray, 2001 Mendelson, 2004)
• Media Literacy (Emery McCabe, 2003a Hobbs
  Frost, 2003 Quinn McMahon, 1993)
• Technology Literacy (Coulter, 2001 Emery
  McCabe, 2003b)
• Technology-enhanced environments (Clayton, 2002
  Fluck Roberston, 2002 Hopson, Simms Knezek,
  2001 Kearney Schuck2003 Luchs Emery, 2004
  Yildiz, 2004)

6
Context

• Analysis of current Australian syllabi
• English, media studies, technology
• Focus group sessions
• New South Wales English Syllabus - middle school

7
Questions

• What processes do students undertake when they
  engage in the analysis and production of media?
• What learning outcomes, associated with
  multiliteracies are achieved through engaging in
  media analysis and production?
• How does the technology-enhanced learning
  environment support the development of the
  learning outcomes?

8
Study Overview

• Trial and evaluation of the educational program
• Unit of work designed to integrate multiliteracy
  concepts and digital video production.
• Test proposed data collection methods
• The case
• Late Stage 5 (Year 10) class, public high school,
  Illawarra region, New South Wales, Australia
• Mixed-ability class, 25 students, two teachers

9
Educational Program

• Unit of work
• Followed an analyse, construct, deconstruct
  learning design
• Supporting resources
• Website
• Camera, microphone, tripod, tapes
• Raw footage shot professionally
• Access to chief of staff
• CD-ROM of media resources

10
Learning Activities
11
Design
12
Findings

• What processes do students undertake when they
  engage in the analysis and production of media?

Enjoyment Overall this whole media task has been
funbecause it was more hands on Overall I
think this unit of work had been very interesting
and different. Technical issues during this
topic there have been a few things wrongthe
number of cameras available. last week two
cameras could not be used because they were not
charged up and this week our work can not be
saved.

Training in use of equipment and
software And, um, the cameras we didnt really
know how to use properlySo I think they should
have done more like training, how to use the
cameras. iMovie, we didnt really know how to
use it for a while.
13
Findings

• What processes do students undertake when they
  engage in the analysis and production of media?

Mixed experiences in group work I got to work as
part of a team and I would say that overall it
made english periods this term more
enjoyable. I feel that its easier for me to
work as an individual then in groups Had many
team problems, not getting along having fights ,
2 many members away at a time. Students
struggled to see connection between some
tasks We didnt know what it was leading up
towe didnt know we were going to start our own
news program after we got the basics done. Yeah
a bit more instruction would have helped. Like
tell us why were doing this and how its going
to lead up to the final project. But I spose it
is like you need to do theory as well as other
stuff but still.
14
Findings

• What learning outcomes, associated with
  multiliteracies are achieved through engaging in
  media analysis and production?

Better understanding of news media process This
task was a great way to educate us in the
processes involved to present a news
report Well Ive learnt what its like to go
through the news process like editing and all
that stuff. Ive learnt how to make a news
report, how it has to have a limit of a minute
twenty seconds. Gained skills in use of camera
and filming equipment, loading and editing
footage learnt how to use the camera. I finally
learnt how to zoom the camera and I actually use
the computers now more than I used to.
15
Findings

• What learning outcomes, associated with
  multiliteracies are achieved through engaging in
  media analysis and production?

Some level of learning in relation to editing
software I also learned a lot based around
editing and how to import footage to the
computer. I learnt some more thingsIts really
good cause I learnt like how to actually put
audio on there, cut audio and all sorts of
stuff. Visual aspects of filming Like you have
to make sure the cameras positioned right and
light and all that kind of stuff just to get it
right Presentation of different
perspectives We had to figure out what was the
most important to keep.
16
Outcomes

• Guidance for teachers to structure other
  educational programs to meet similar objectives /
  outcomes.
• Adding to the theoretical understanding of
  multiliteracies
• Lead into further research within the field

17
Directions

• Implications for future implementation
• Revise unit of work
• In-service teachers
• Explicit instructions and connection between
  activities
• Refine website and other resources
• Build training in filming equipment and editing
  software into activities
• Provide more support for student blog entries and
  forum use