When speaking with another human, we not only listen to the person’s words to gather meaning, but we also take in hand gestures, expressions, the tone of their voice, and many other modes that contribute to the message of the speaker. This is the earliest and most basic example of multimodal communication. In the digital age, we have more tools (or modes) than ever before to make communication multimodal, for example, using emojis and gifs when texting or posting a picture with a funny caption on social media. Using different modes of communication can add layers of meaning to a message and help you reach an audience in the best possible way.
Basically, multimodal communication is using any combination of text, images, video, and audio to convey a message. Often, this can make the information more interesting and appealing to the audience. Think about it: would you rather read a 10-page research paper on the history of Peru, or watch a 10-minute video about the history of Peru complete with a lively narrator, captions of major points, and images that depict the people, landscape, and culture? The latter sounds much more engaging! Other examples of multimodal communication are:
- infographics
- comics
- games
- websites
- podcasts
Finished multimodal projects are often called artifacts.
There are many online tools to help you create multimodal artifacts. Here is a list of some of the most common websites and software:
- Canva– a website that allows you to create a variety of graphics such as infographics, social media posts, and posters. The site offers free photos, fonts, and images for you to use.
- Audacity– a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software.
- iMovie (Mac) or Movie Maker (PC)- video editing software that often comes with laptop computers.
- Piktochart– a website for creating infographics and flyers.
- Pixton– a website for creating comics and storyboards
There are countless other resources out there! With a simple Google search, you will be able to find a tool that best suits your needs.
The most important thing to keep in mind when using multimodal communication is the audience. Some modes may be more effective or more appropriate for certain audiences than others. For example, an interactive website might be an effective tool for high school students, but it may cause frustration in an elderly population that is less tech-savvy. A group of science students may prefer extensive charts and graphs while art students may prefer a simple infographic. By knowing your audience, you will be able to select the multimodal tools that will help you communicate your message in the best way possible.
Even though multimodal communication is usually more than words on a page, writing is still involved throughout the process. If you are making a video or podcast, there needs to be a script. If you are making a comic, you need to write the dialogue between characters. So, it is important to remember composition, organization, and grammar skills when composing your multimodal artifact.
It is exciting and fun to have so many modes of communication in the digital age. By using multimodal communication, we can more effectively and creatively present ideas, leading to a more informed and engaged world.
By: Maddi H.
TWU Write Site 