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Literacy 7-12

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Literacy 7-12 > Strategies > Multimodal Instruction

Multimodal Instruction

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Overview

Instruction in multiple formats allows students to activate different cognitive skills and Background Knowledge that are necessary to remember procedural and content information. Instruction can be given using text, visuals, gestures, audio, and digital formats to facilitate retention in Short- and Long-term Memory.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how these teachers provide multimodal instruction by using visuals in addition to verbal communication. By referring to visual aids, such as written text on the whiteboard or gestures, they convey the same information in multiple formats to support memory retention.

  • During periods of direct instruction, teachers can employ a variety of techniques to ensure student understanding of directions for activities and to reinforce content knowledge. For example, teachers can reference visuals, posters, and text on boards, or through digital tools, to reinforce important aspects of their speech.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Learn how Learning Management Systems, like Canvas, provide multimodal features for teachers to embed in their lessons and for students to display their work. Through video, images, diagrams, and audio, students are able to access content in a variety of formats.

  • Products can readily and thoughtfully leverage color, graphics, animation, and sound for instructions to draw Attention to salient pieces of information and support both and Short- and Long-term Memory. Additionally, developers could provide a variety of content area visuals for specific lessons to support teachers during the planning phase.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Multiple Modalities Strategy Guide

    Explanation and suggestions for using multiple modalities

    Examples

    Multiple Representations

    UDL principle with guidelines for how to implement

    Research

    Cognition & Memory

    Topic that includes cognitive science theories about how the brain processes information on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Multimodal Instruction Slideshow

    Presentation on multimodal instruction

    Research

    Prospective Memory

    Subtopic that includes research on the different ways the brain creates prospective memories on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Background Knowledge
    Critical Literacy
    Disciplinary Literacy
    Inferencing
    Vocabulary
    Cognition
    Attention
    Auditory Processing
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Short-term Memory
    Speed of Processing
    Working Memory
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Self-regulation
    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Hearing
    Literacy Environment
    Physical Well-being
    Primary Language
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status

    More Instructional Approaches Strategies

    Authentic Audiences & Purposes

    When adolescents can connect and communicate with authentic audiences about their interests and values, reading and writing become more personally meaningful and relevant.

    Direct Instruction: Comprehension Strategies

    As part of a varied curriculum, explicit instruction in reading comprehension strategies from teachers can help older students use strategies meaningfully and flexibly.

    Direct Instruction: Internet Search

    Teaching students how to effectively search the internet is critical for helping them learn how to find accurate and relevant information and aids in developing information literacy.

    Direct Instruction: Vocabulary

    Seeing and using new words repeatedly and in many contexts is critical for Vocabulary acquisition.

    Direct Instruction: Web-based Reading Strategies

    Research shows that, along with traditional reading comprehension strategies, students use unique strategies to read the non-linear, hyperlinked structure of online texts.

    Direct Instruction: Writing Strategies

    Explicitly teaching strategies for planning, writing, and revising texts improves students' writing quality.

    Discipline-specific Writing

    Interpreting and composing discipline-specific texts requires tailoring literacy strategies, like annotating or asking questions, to the disciplinary goals and practices.

    Family Engagement

    Students whose families are involved and feel valued within the school community are less likely to miss school, which research has shown can cause students to fall behind academically.

    Guided Inquiry

    During guided inquiry, teachers foster student autonomy by designing lessons centered on meaningful questions in which students locate, analyze, and present relevant information on their own or in small groups.

    Independent Reading

    Independent reading promotes literacy by emphasizing student choice with teacher support in selecting books, as well as setting the expectations that everyone is a reader.

    Mentor Texts

    By observing, rereading, and closely analyzing published writing, students see examples and learn the strategies of good writing that they can integrate into their own Composition.

    Mindfulness Activities

    Through short but regular mindfulness activities, students develop their awareness and ability to focus.

    Multiple Texts

    Providing multiple texts on the same topic or theme allows students to interact with multiple perspectives and develop their critical thinking skills.

    Pre-reading Questioning

    When teachers ask questions or have students create questions before introducing a text, they activate student interest and help them assess what they already know about a given topic.

    Prompts & Questions

    Providing guiding prompts and questions for students to use when reading or participating in discussions deepens their understanding of texts and gives them space to question and grapple with issues of power, justice, and equity.

    Provide Writing Models

    When teachers provide students with model texts for their writing, they learn to identify effective elements to incorporate into their own writing.

    Reading Conferences

    Teachers can provide individualized support through one-on-one conferences to assess reading comprehension, understanding of content, and spark further interest in reading.

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