Lesson 4

• John Lasseter: 'The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.'
• Multimodal texts


  Combine two or more modes such as written language, spoken language, visual (still and moving image), audio, gestural, and spatial meaning
• Modes


  • Written Meaning
  • Spoken (Oral) Meaning
  • Visual Meaning
  • Audio Meaning
  • Spatial Meaning
  • Gestural Meaning
• Written Meaning


  Conveyed through written language via handwriting, the printed page, and the screen
• Spoken (Oral) Meaning


  Conveyed through spoken language via live or recorded speech and can be monologic or dialogic
• Visual Meaning


  Conveyed through choices of visual resources and includes both still image and moving images
• Audio Meaning


  Conveyed through sound, including choices of music, ambient sounds, noises, alerts, silence, natural/unnatural sounds, and use of volume, beat, tempo, pitch, and rhythm
• Spatial Meaning


  Conveyed through design of spaces, using choices of spatial resources including: scale, proximity, boundaries, direction, layout, and organisation of objects in the space
• Gestural Meaning


  Conveyed through choices of body movement; facial expression, eye movements and gaze, demeanour, gait, dance, acting, action sequences
• Types of multimodal texts

  • Paper-based Multimodal Text
  • Live Multimodal Text
  • Digital Multimodal Text
• Paper-based Multimodal Text


  Include picture books, text books, graphic novels, comics, and posters
• Live Multimodal Text


  Dance, performance, and oral storytelling, convey meaning through combinations of various modes such as gestural, spatial, audio, and oral language
• Digital Multimodal Text


  Include film, animation, slide shows, e-posters, digital stories, podcasts, and web pages
• Modes and Meaning


  • Expressing and developing ideas
  • Interacting and relating with others
  • Text structure and organization
• Expressing and developing ideas


  Who, what, where and when, and to express actions and ideas
• Interacting and relating with others


  How do we interact with and relate to others? How do we feel?
• Text structure and organization


  How do design and layout build meaning and guide the reader/viewer/listener through the text?
• Multimedia Presentation


  Integration of animation, audio, graphics, text, and full-motion video through computer hardware and software for education, entertainment, or training
• Most Common Types of Oral Presentations

  • Individual Presentation
  • Group Presentation
  • Panel Presentation
  • Workshop Presentation
  • Poster Presentation
  • Individual/Group Demonstration
• Individual Presentation


  Involves one person about one's work, culminates in an open forum
• Group Presentation


  At least three members, leads to an open forum
• Panel Presentation


  Three to six members with a moderator, consists of panelists, moderator facilitates the discussion between the panelists and audience
• Workshop Presentation


  Involves one or two members who act as facilitators to teach participants new skills, techniques, or concept, usually done with a small group
• Poster Presentation


  Employs the use of a poster in showing one's work
• Individual/Group Demonstration


  Involves one or more members who demonstrate how something is one or how something is used in a specific context
• Planning Your Purpose

  • Knowing Your Purpose
  • Analyzing Your Audience
  • Making Sense of Your Context
  • Constructing Your Presentation Slides
• Knowing Your Purpose


  What is the object of the presentation? Why is it relevant? What will your audience gain by watching the presentation?
• Analyzing Your Audience


  Who is your target audience? What are their age range? Are they also students like you? Are they professionals in the field of your study? What are their interests? How is your presentation relevant to them?
• Making Sense of Your Context


  What is the venue of your presentation? What is the occasion? Is it a formal event? What guidelines have been given, if any? What considerations and adjustments should you make about the materials, design, content, and delivery of the presentation?
• Constructing Your Presentation Slides


  The use of slides is crucial in delivering an effective presentation. You can create slides with the help of software like Powerpoint, Keynote, or Prezi.
• Make slides extremely concise and visually uncluttered. If you need more text, use more slides.
• Use images. Always choose white or light-colored slide backgrounds. Keep the glitz factor low.
• Talk to the audience, not the screen.
• Delivering the Presentation - Rules of Thumb


  • Talk
  • Stand
  • Move
  • Vary the pitch of your voice
  • Speak loudly, facing the audience
  • Make eye contact
  • Focus on main points
  • Use outlines, images, and charts
  • Finish within your time limit
  • Summarize your main points at the beginning and end
  • Notice your audience and respond to its needs
  • Emulate excellent speakers
• Delivering the Presentation - Usually Worse

  • Read
  • Sit
  • Stand still
  • Speak in monotone
  • Mumble, facing downward
  • Stare at your laptop
  • Get lost in details
  • Have no visual aids
  • Run overtime
  • Start without an overview; trail off without a conclusion
  • Ignore audience behavior
  • Emulate your advisor, even if s/he gives lousy talks
• Evaluating and Reflecting on the Presentation


  • How did I perform as a speaker? Did I fulfill the role effectively?
  • How did I communicate my message to my audience?
  • Did my presentation make any visible impact on them?