Unsworth, L. (2008). Multiliteracies, E-Literature and English Teaching. Language and Education, 22(1), 62-75.
The article Multiliteracies, e-literature and English teaching by Len Unsworth (2008) provides many valuable websites for teachers wanting to integrate technology into their language arts classrooms. The website explains that while print literature has not yet become outdated, the internet has had a great impact on contemporary texts. For example, the article describes how Harry Potter enthusiasts often discuss and respond to the books on fan websites, online chat rooms, and blogs. Although children and adolescents are still reading the book in print, they are constantly learning more about the author and novel itself through the internet.
Unsworth (2008) describes three frameworks to developing classroom work with e-literature and online literary resources. The first frame work is an organizational framework and involves using computer based literary narratives as an extension to contemporary texts. Unsworth provides many websites that educators and students can use as extensions to print versions of text or that provide text in an audio or digital format. The websites I found the most interesting were the “hypermedia narratives" websites in which stories include hyperlinks of both text and images. I think students would find these versions of stories entertaining to both read and follow along.
The second framework that Unsworth (2008) discusses is the interpretive framework. The interpretive framework involves the use of images and new illustrations to go along with popular literature. I agree that educators should educate students to consider how the images in a text create new emotions, attitudes, and feelings for a reader. I also feel that students would enjoy viewing images created specifically for their favorite novels. It is always interesting to see how the images of a text you have read are contrasting to how you would picture a scene or character by reading the text alone.
The third and last framework that Unsworth (2008) explains is the pedagogic framework for e-literature. The pedagogic framework involves using online resources to extend children’s literary experiences by allowing them to discover information about the author, earlier drafts of a favorite novel, characters that have been changed, or even other readers’ reviews or thoughts about a novel. Again, Unsworth provides many helpful websites for educators and students to use.
Overall, I feel that educators need to be aware of what resources are available to them. It is obvious that the students in our classes are already spending countless hours on the internet and would not be upset if some of their homework or course work involved using their favorite websites. It would definitely be motivating and engaging if students were able to use some of the websites or resources they enjoy outside of school for educational purposes. By simply having students visit websites to find information about an author or post their own reviews of a novel they finished reading, it is giving them opportunities to extend upon what they have learned and also providing them with literary activities that are highly engaging.
I will definitely keep this article for future reference because it has some wonderful resources that I can use with my future students!
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Meredith: I also think that this is a great resource for future teaching! I love the idea that Unsworth (2008) presents in this third framework. I believe that students would really enjoy being able to view previous drafts written by authors. I also think that it gives students an opportunity to see the writing process in action. Students would also understand that the writing process is not linear and always changing. I think that this is a great resource to incorporate writing, reading and technology!
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