Designing Multimodal Writing Assignments
MK Keran - Writing Across the Curriculum
Introduction to Multimodality
Multimodality is the use of more than one mode or format in a piece of communication. When designing writing assignments for a course, instructors should consider what mode or modes of composition best meet the assignment goals. Audio, video, languages, visuals, interactive elements, and text are some examples of modes that can come together to create a multimodal piece.
In the classroom, multimodal writing assignments can offer diverse ways for students to engage with course material and share their own ideas. Multimodal assignments ask students to apply multiple literacy skills—such as language, digital, visual, and auditory literacies—to create a text. Multimodal coursework can encourage students to engage with language, writing, and course materials with dynamic critical thinking.
When incorporating multimodal composition in college classrooms, instructors should ensure they are valuing diverse literacy skills, scaffolding multimodal work, and designing accessible multimodal assignments.
Valuing Diverse Literacy Skills
- Present language and literacy as multimodal and multidimensional from the first day of class and in course materials
- Ask students to frequently reflect on and value their own literacy skills
- Encourage students to use the class and assignments as a space to explore new literacy skill and expand existing skills
- Discuss writing in terms of genre and mode conventions as opposed to correct or incorrect
- Resist class-, race-, ability-, and culture-based hierarchies of what gets to count as writing to create a more inclusive understanding of literacy skills and language
- Create a safe and accessible space that provides for the use of diverse literacy technologies and practices
Scaffolding Multimodal Work
- Assign multimodal readings such as:
- social media posts or pages
- videos
- documentaries
- podcasts
- digital news articles
- illustrated texts
- websites
- art works
- infographics
- Discuss visual, auditory, and multilingual literacies concepts
- Brainstorm in multimodal formats
- Explore new software and modes in the classroom
Designing Accessible Multimodal Assignments
- Make formatting, language, visual, and audio expectations clear
- Offer a list of and links of free tools and resources for assignment creation
- (If you need more information about tools and resources, please check out the Design Lab’s website)
- Provide examples of the completed assignment in the same media or of multimodal readings with similar parameters
- Present multimodal writing as a process, outline potential drafting practices
- Create space for guided peer review
Benefits of Multimodal Coursework
- Has the potential to value diverse literacy skill when being accessible, implementing feedback, and critiquing hierarchies/power structure are considered
- Offers focus on overall composition structure, content, message, and design
- Encourages thinking about communication practices as heavily connected to genre, audience, and media—an understanding which will aid students in future career paths
- Gives students the chance to explore and learn new things and/or develop and share existing skills—such as those outlined in our Online Writer’s Toolkit
