Kellnor (1995) states that, “The advent of new technologies and multimedia are causing a more dramatic revolution than the transition from an oral to a print culture.”

“The multimodal approach takes into account how linguistic and visual (and other) choices fulfill the purposes of the text, the audience and context, and how those choices work together in the organisation and development of information and ideas.”

Lim, F. V. & Tan, K.Y.S. (2017).

Multimodal Knowledge representation is closely related to and substantiates multi-literacies. Advancements in technologies allow us to develop multi-literacies. Kellnor (1995) to meet the need of multiple intelligences. Gardner (1999).

The implications of multimodal learning is to provide opportunities to all learners to develop a clear understanding of concepts according to their learning styles. For example if learners are being taught about Earthquakes; no matter how strongly and eloquently we try to express the severity of a high magnitude earthquake or the intensity of the jolts and tremors, it can’t convey the same meaning or develop the same understanding as a video or a virtual simulation can. The written description of how it impacted people cannot be the same as an interview or a first hand recount by a person who experienced an earthquake. With the availability and affordances of technology, we can provide learners with opportunities to learn from real life experiences through learning opportunities which are closely related to real life.

Along with using multimodal sources of knowledge representation it is also important to give learners the chance to present their learning using a variety to media and means; be it a podcast, a video, online interactive technology or a real life hands on application of learning.

References:

Gardner H. Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century. New York: Basic Books; 1999

O’Halloran, K. L. & Lim, F. V. (2011). Dimensioner af Multimodal Literacy. Viden om Læsning. Number 10, September 2011, pp. 14-21. Nationalt Videncenter for Laesning: Denmark”

Links:

https://multimodalstudies.wordpress.com/what-is-multimodal-literacy/

http://www.paulmckevitt.com/pubs/msr.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX3EzVdZMDk