Multi-Literacies

=**Multi-literacies** =

In today's educational society, technology plays a key role in supporting the development of learning. "Outside of school, children have incorporated multimedia into their lives with children being exposed to DVD's, video games, digital photography, text messaging and internet-based activities such as emails, MSN messaging and Google searching" (Hill 2006, p322). They have allowed it to be such an important aspect of their lives that these new technologies are not just used for entertainment but are used to support a child's learning. The education system has had to adopt new technologies into programs due to 'new effective learning occurring in an out-of-school setting rather that in the classroom" (Lanksheer & Knobel, 2003). As a result, "teachers are now capitalising on children's funds of knowledge by using software similar to what the child would use at home as well as the internet" (Hill 2006, p323). They have also taken a child's interest in technology such as video games and incorporate it into their teaching.

In literacy, reading, writing, listening and speaking still dominate a child's learning, however technology is used as an aid for their learning and they are used to support each other. Technology requires the tools of literacy to help a child spell, use punctuation, design, plan and analyse information whereas technology supports literacy by allowing a child to express their ideas through a range of media such as design, colour, layout, graphics and animation. In schools today, you would see many children using the internet to research projects, creating stories on the computing using animation and digital photography and children playing literacy games to further their learning.

Today, the education system has allocated funding to schools for new software and technology such as 'Kahootz' and the interactive smart board.

__Kahootz__
The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) developed a program software called Kahootz that has been provided for students and gives them dynamic tools to create, share and collaborate with digital curriculum content. Children are able to create stories, inventions, habitats, games and movies with the Kahootz software. In the school, children would have the opportunity to use the program either in class or in an information technology session.

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[|Kahootz Website]

__Interactive Smart White Board__
The interactive white board is a easy to use design that combines a white board with a computer. The display hooks up to a regular computer and projector which allows the computer screen to be view on the white board. A teacher is able to control computer applications from the board which works like a touch screen, and write on it using a smart board marker. This technology is effective for presenting a curriculum topic where the can give examples and manipulate whats on the display. Children can also play interactive games. The benefit for children is they are able to get involved in the classroom which may increase learning and they can interact new technology.

The smart white board supports education by providing activities suitable for the curriculum as well as lesson plans and templates for teachers. Some of these resources can be viewed on the website which is provided below.

[|Smart White Board]