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Multimodality and Transmodality in the Classroom
Equity, Time Management, and the Graduate Teaching Assistant
Affordances and Constraints of Multimodality and Transmodality
Introducing Multimodality
There is also a case for using multimodality in a classroom as a starting point. This would mean introducing a subject or concept in one modality and then using an active learning strategy or another modality to discuss the topic or concept. In a first-year composition classroom, this can look like many things. For example, if one of the students’ projects is to write a personal narrative, instructors may show a short video or post a picture or GIF for the students to look at and observe. Then, in groups, the students would have to create a short story using the vivid description shown in the visual aid. This idea uses multimodality as the entry point to a concept, but then allows the students to contextualize it into a different modality.
When in the classroom, the easiest way to work toward a transmodal classroom is by first introducing multimodality. Having students be exposed to different modalities during the first few weeks of class allows them to understand which modalities they like the most and learn from the most. Instructors can then utilize active learning activities that appeal to different modalities and allow students to select their participation. This creates an equal opportunity for students to engage with the material in a meaningful way while also fulfilling the participation requirements for the course. I have seen that these strategies work well. Not only does it allow the instructor to get a feel for the class by seeing what works for and resonates with the students, but it also allows the students to expand their horizons when it comes to modality. Therefore, they can discover how they learn before choosing what modality they would want to learn in. Their understanding of how they learn best is a transferable skill that will aid them not only in first-year composition but in the rest of their college careers.