Month: June 2024

In redesigning my “What’s in Your Bag” writing, I chose to incorporate an audio mode to enhance the multimodal nature of the piece. I converted the text into audio format using an online tool. The inclusion of audio mode captured the nuances of tone, inflection, and emotion that are often lost in text.

One significant benefit I encountered was enhanced engagement. Supported by New London Group (1996)’s advocacy for integrating multiple modes of meaning-making to address the diverse and dynamic nature of contemporary communication, the emotional resonance provided by voice modulation, pauses, and emphasis (a) the content more dynamic and engaging and (b) enhanced the emotional and experiential engagement with the content.

Another significant benefit of this redesign was supporting diverse learning preferences. By converting the text into audio, the piece would engage listeners in a different manner, making the content accessible to those who might prefer auditory learning or who might be visually impaired.

The New London Group. (1996). A pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures. Harvard Educational Review 66(1), 60-92.

I created the title and the plot of the TV show that I have watched recently using Emoji Keyboard. I began with the title because it sat the context for the plot description and provided a quick and recognizable summary of the show’s theme.

Emojis were chosen to represent broad themes and ideas rather than specific words or syllables. The choice of emojis was heavily influenced by how well they could represent key ideas and characters from the show. For instance, brain symbolized intellect and science and explosion signified the dynamic events of the show. The show’s plot often revolves around the daily lives, interactions, and humorous situations of the characters. Emojis like speech bubble and laughing face were used to indicate conversations and comedic elements. Furthermore, the characters’ shared interests and hobbies are recurring themes in the series. Emojis like video game controller and rocket represented their love for gaming, science fiction, and space exploration.

Representing multiple characters and their relationships was challenging, especially since some nuances (e.g., personality traits) were hard to convey through emojis alone. Each character in the show has a unique personality, quirks, and traits. Emojis could symbolize broad roles (e.g., scientist, friend) but fell short in conveying specific characteristics like eccentricity. Additionally, the show’s plot unfolds over time, with specific events leading to particular outcomes. Emojis could not convey the temporal progression or the sequence of events.

Exploring the World of Fictional Robots

This was my first time with Twine, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to navigate. Twine’s intuitive interface facilitated a smooth learning experience. Working with Twine to create the fictional story about robots was an enriching experience that allowed me to explore the intricacies of hypertext fiction. Twine proved to be a highly user-friendly platform. The drag-and-drop functionality made it easy to link different story passages and create decision points that allowed readers to influence the direction of the story.

One of the most compelling aspects of Twine is the interactivity it offers. This aligns with Bolter’s (2008) discussion on hypertext fiction, where it is highlighted that hypertext provides a new literary experience in which readers share control of the text with the author​​.

According to Bolter, hypertext fiction breaks away from the linear constraints of print narratives, allowing for a more flexible and interactive form of storytelling​​. This was evident in my Twine experience, where the non-linear structure allowed for multiple paths and endings, reflecting the diverse ways in which a story can unfold. This flexibility in narrative design is particularly beneficial in an educational context, as it allows for the exploration of various scenarios and outcomes, thereby deepening students’ learning experience.

Bolter also discusses the role of the reader in hypertext fiction, emphasizing the active participation of the reader in navigating the text​​. In “Exploring the World of Fictional Robots,” the readers’ choices directly influence the story’s progression, making them co-authors of the narrative.

Bolter, J. D. (2001). Writing space: Computers, hypertext, and the remediation of print (2nd ed). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

I utilized writing a draft research proposal on AI and STEM learning. I typically begin my writing process by hand, where I note down my ideas on paper. If I make any mistakes or think of improvements, I write notes in the margins. Once I have gathered a substantial amount of thoughts on paper, I move to a digital format of writing to enhance and polish them.

As pointed out by Innis (2007) that both handwriting and typing presented their own unique limitations and possibilities. When I made mistakes or wanted to revise my writing by hand, the process was undeniably cumbersome. Correcting and revising handwritten text was often messy and lacks flexibility. Additionally, physical storage of handwritten notes and documents could become unmanageable. However, despite the challenges, I did appreciate the act of writing by hand for its unique benefits. Handwriting connected me more deeply to the ideas that I jotted down. The tactile experience of forming each letter and word fostered a stronger cognitive connection with the content. When writing by hand, I found that I was more thoughtful and deliberate, allowing me to capture ideas in a raw, unfiltered manner.

With regard to typing, the constraint that I could think of was that digital format of writing could lead to distractions from notifications and other digital interruptions. Apart from this, my digital text were easily editable, enhancing the flexibility and clarity of writing. As discussed by Bolter (2008), digital writing technologies allowed my writing for a more dynamic and interactive engagement with text and providing seamless revisions and effortless reorganizations of the content.

At the end of the day, I would like to keep using both handwriting and digital writing. Writing by hand, I believe, represents a tangible connection to the text, where the physical act of writing fosters a deep, personal engagement with ideas. The digital format of writing, on the other hand, leverages the capabilities of modern text technology, facilitating flexible editing and effortless revisions of written texts.

Bolter, J. D. (2008). Writing space: Computers, hypertext, and the remediation of print (2nd ed). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Innis, H. (2007). Empire and communications. Dundurn Press.