I have experienced a variety of different multimodal compositions throughout my years of school. My first experience was when I chose to make soundtrack for Romeo and Juliet as my final project in 9th grade. Little did I know at the time, but as I wrote the narration to my combination of songs including the Jonas Brothers’ “Love Bug” and Brittney Spears’ “Toxic” I was creating a multimodal composition. As the years went on, I also recorded a podcast, wrote several blogs in high school and college, and here I am now, applying these experiences in order to better inform my future classroom.
Although I’ve seen examples of digital storytelling in the past, the term “digital storytelling” and the theory behind it is new to me. This is something I would really like to explore with my future students. Similar to the example in the Hicks, Turner, and Stratton article, I can see myself using this for personal narratives. There are many tools online that students can use to format their digital story, and whether a student is writing what will be the voice-over, or the thought bubbles of their characters, they are being challenged to write in new ways that are just as intentional and valuable as formal essays (if not more!).
The podcast is a format that is extremely versatile. I can see myself using this for personal narratives, argument, or even synthesis/analysis. Podcasts are gaining more and more popularity, and students have countless examples from which to form their declarative understanding of the conventions of the medium. Students are then asked to explore the procedural aspects, verbalizing their thoughts in a coherent manner, using vocal inflection, music, sound bites, and interviews to bolster their topic in a meaningful way.
Despite my experience with multimodal projects, whenever I’m given the option between doing something multimodal/creative or writing an essay I always choose to write the essay. By this time in my education, the essay is a form I’m well-versed in. I can follow the conventions without much thought and am likely to complete the objective painlessly. What I’m beginning to learn, however, is that multimodal composition as a whole promotes deep thought and greater learning. Experiencing a new medium in which a student lacks the “procedural” and “declarative” knowledge (Hicks et al 170) requires them to think critically about what they are doing. When a writer toils over a project, they will learn more, and the end result is often much more rewarding.
Ramblings of a Future Educator 
Sarah,
I really enjoyed the website you linked, as someone who is not very good with the internet and technology and pretty inexperienced with multi modal composition that is a website that I can see as being very beneficial to me and my future students. I also agree that podcasts are growing in popularity and I think it could be a great way for students to present their information/argument. Since it has become so popular perhaps it would inspire students to present their information in a way that is similar to podcasts they’ve heard and enjoy. I also would rather write papers if I have the option mostly because I am so bad at technology so it takes me so much longer, rather than with writing I am so used to it so it takes much less time to plan and execute.
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Sarah,
It’s cool that you have had experience in digital storytelling within your high school years. It makes it easier when trying to figure out how you’ll be implementing such concepts within your own classroom. Nice touch in referring back to the reading when you mention procedural and declarative knowledge. I agree that writing essays seem to be painless for us as we’ve been doing so for so long, but at the same time digital storytelling can provide us as well as students with a little more flavor along with a rewarded mindset.
Michael
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I envy you a bit for your versatility in multi modal knowledge, but why do you always choose to write. Is it a love of writing or simply because you are well versed? I have found it is always more comfortable to have a pen in hand.
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I appreciate how you tap into the different types of knowledge and learning that are accessed when composing digital stories. This aspect of multimodality is often overlooked, in that people often focus on the increased engagement levels, yet both enhance each other. Thank you for pointing this out.
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