Article Assessment #3: Ohler, Orchestrating the Media Collage

Ohler, J. (2020). Orchestrating the Media Collage. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Orchestrating_the_Media_Collage.aspx


Overview

In "Orchestrating the Media Collage", Jason Ohler describes literacy as an evolving concept that goes beyond the reading and writing of text. He describes the need for students to be able to make a "media collage" composed of writing, sound, images, animation, and any other relevant media that develops. Ohler points out that newer forms of media demand new forms of literacy, and that these new forms of media are usually participatory and collaborative. The lag time between a new form of communication being "read-only" and when it becomes "read/ write" is shrinking as well. Ohler goes on to list eight insightful guidelines for teachers in working with this concept of evolving literacy.


Reference Points

• The ability to integrate multiple forms of reading and writing into a meaningful whole is a sign of fluency.
• Literacy is an evolving concept. Being literate means being able to read and write "in the media forms of the day, whatever they may be."
• A shift from text-focused work to media-collage focused work is appropriate. Students can and should represent their learning, curiosity, and creativity in a way that combines multiple modes of communication.
• Traditional essay writing and the visually differentiated writing of the web should support each other, not work against each other in school.
• Highly creative, effective writing is the foundation for most new media, if it is to be done well. That writing is not the end product, however.
• Art concepts are essential to effective literacy in its multiple forms.
• The report-story continuum offers a rich opportunity to explore areas of interest.
• People need to develop literacy both with and about digital tools. Learning how to use digital tools is not enough. Students must also learn when to use them, and the consequences of their use.

Reflection

This is one of the more insightful articles I have read about the overall changes in education related to the collaborative nature of the internet. One quote near the end of the article caught my attention in particular: "The fluent will lead, the literate will follow, and the rest will get left behind." A teacher who understands the changing nature of literacy and learning can help students become fluent in existing media forms, and comfortable with the unknown changes that will come. Effective teaching and learning is an ongoing intellectual challenge, and one we should all embrace for the opportunity to significantly improve our practice.