Multiliteracies

__**Multiliteracies**__
Literacy has become multiple, as it now refers to print, visual, and digital texts. We now produce not only written essays, but also power point presentations, websites, sound essays and documents containing graphics. As children are more increasingly exposed to multimedia through DVD’s, TV and the internet, literacy and communication has began to change in schools. “The pedagogy of multiliteracies has expanded our view of reading, writing, speaking and listening to include the various multimedia forms,” (Hill, 2006, pp 322). Different meanings can be conveyed through the use of various symbols in many different forms such as letters, words, drawings, photos and animation.

It has recently become apparent that digital texts and print texts are both essential in early literacy learning and can actually work together to enhance literacy development. The internet is an extremely supportive and widely used technological resource as it is so easily accessible. The internet displays both, pictures and text as well as the latest up to date information on almost any topic an individual wants to research. Other technology advances include talking books or CD rom’s that read stories aloud as children follow or computer programs that involve both listening and reading. Writing takes earning tools in schools have high education value however extensive lengths of time spent on computers can may affect a child’s health so therefore teachers and parents should ensure supervision and strict time allowances for children. Writing now has a new position in various forms of technology on global scale. Now, “speed of information is central to success and reading and writing proficiency will be even more critical to our children’s futures. Becoming multiliterate is viewed as being an essential part of successful learning for these new times,” (Hill, 2006, pp 340)