University of Prince Edward Island

Faculty of Education
ED4130-2: Multiliteracies Across the Curriculum
(Summer, 2017- July 12-Aug 14)

Instructor: Kendra MacLaren e-mail: kxmaclaren@edu.pe.ca

Office: Sessional Office (302) Phone: -

Class: ED4130-2 (Intermediate-Senior) Location: Robertson Library (208)

Office Hours: By appointment Time: 11:30am - 2:20pm (T/Th)

Multiliteracies across the Curriculum

This course introduces students to the critical, developmental, and pedagogical dimensions of
supporting students in grades 7-12 as they develop the range of literacies required for life in the twenty-
first century. Peter Johnston, author of Knowing Literacy Constructive Literacy Assessment, defines
literacy as “not simply an isolated set of skills, but rather a very complex way of interacting with the
world, with others, and with oneself (Ferdman 1990; Heath 1991). Being literate is as much something
one is and does as skills one has” (p.8). “This course introduces students to the pedagogical, critical,
political, spatial and creative dimensions of multiliteracies; it asks students to think deeply about, and
work vigorously to embed this framework within their teaching practices. In order to proactively address
powerful ideologies that lead to injustices, educators must teach the skills required in deconstructing
restricting norms and embracing diversity before oppression occurs. Educators have the power to develop
learning environments that foster critical thinking, develops empathy for others, and takes action against
oppression in Canadian classrooms and communities”(Trigiani, 2017).

Course Outcomes (Learning goals):

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
● understand a range of literacies that exist across curriculum;
● understand the broad definition of “text” and how texts reflect ideologies;
● assess how literacy relates to culture, power, identity and ideologies;
● engage in professional, critical dialogue to enhance understanding of multiliteracies across curriculum
● collaboratively and independently develop various methods of documenting, representing and
assessing multiliteracies;

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Texts and Resources:
● A laptop, tablet or a netbook will be needed for work done during class (The Library has Dell laptops
and MacBooks available for borrowing by current UPEI students: http://library.upei.ca/laptop/borrow)
● In preparation of each day/class, students are required to access the readings via the hyperlinks
provided below.
● It is the student’s responsibility to be able to access these documents on their laptop/tablet/smart
phone or to bring a print copy for use in class.

Course Format and Schedule:

Sessions Topics Readings Explored in Class

Week 1  Course Introductions

 Rethinking Literacy N/A
Thurs, July 12  What is text?
 What is curriculum?
 *Multiliteracies and Writing Across the
Curriculum
 *Multiliteraies Book Evaluation

Week 2
 Multiliteracies (review)
Tues, July 17  Critical literacy skills and introduction to
Social Considerations Text
- Choose independent book by
Thursday, July 19
 *Pairs/groups work on
Digital Strategies Seminars
 Lesson planning
How to Enhance Learning by Using
High –Stakes and Low-Stakes
Writing by Peter Elbow and Mary
Deanne Sorcinelli:
https://works.bepress.com/peter_elbo
w/1/

https://blog.ozobot.com/2017/10/
● Digital Literacy 12/new-teachers-will-use-tech/
Thurs, July 19 Guest speaker: Mark Lamey
:

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Week 3  Social Considerations Text- view samples
 Model how to create a lesson plan A Queer Critical Media Literacies
Tues, July 24 ● Time to work on Multiliteracies and Framework in a Digital Age by Lisa
Writing Across the Curriculum Lesson Van Leent, Kathy Mills
Plan
● *Digital Strategies Seminars:
Lois, Jordan and Yvonee (Khan
Academy);
Madeline, Mikaela, Rudi (Kahoot)

● Time to work on Multiliteracies and

Thurs, July 26 Writing Across the Curriculum Lesson
Plan
● *Digital Strategies Seminars: Nick, Jess,
Krystal (Poll Everywhere); Rachel,
Mariek, Alannah (Reddit)
● Identity and Sexuality Literacy
*Guest Speaker: Brittany Jakubiec

● *Multiliteracies and Writing Across

Curriculum Lesson Plan due by
midnight

Week 4 ● Take Action Assignment

● Physical Literacy
Tues, July 31 ● Guest Speaker: Maribeth Rogers
● *Digital Strategies Seminars: Andrew F..,
Brent, Caleb (Pinterest); Max, Sydney,
Hannah W (YouTube)

 Normativity, Privilege, & the Other Citizenship for some:

● Work on Take Action Assignment and
Thurs, Aug 2 Book Evaluation
● *Digital Strategies Seminars: Dan, Rozy,
Jonathan (Flipped Classroom); Matt,
Brett M. (Smart Boards)
Heteronormativity as cloaked
bullying (1-15)
The fear factor - Bullying and
students with disabilities (1-13)

Racial and ethnic stereotypes and

bullying victimization (1-21)

Week 5 ● Bullying as Oppression Bullying prevention and social

● Digital Strategies Seminars:Hannah, justice (1-8)
Tues, Aug 7 Chelseay, Andrew R. (Google Earth)
● *Book Evaluation due by Midnight

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 Understanding bullying from
research to practice (1-9)

Social influences on cyberbullying

behaviors among middle and high
school students (1-12)

Why teachers must become change

● Social Change and Education agents (1-13)
● Perspectival Approach
Thurs, Aug 9 ● Digital Strategies Seminars:Brett R.,
Hailey (Socratve)
Week 6 Designing assessments: A
Tues, Aug 14 ● Issues in Multiliteracies and Education multiliteracies approach (1-4)
● Multiliteracies Assessment Methods
● Creativity and Innovation: Preparing
students for Life in the 21st century.
- Guest Speaker: Vicki Alan Cooke
● *Take Action Assignment due by
midnight

Course Expectations
● Students must submit all assignments on or before the due dates indicated on the Assignment Schedule or
risk late deductions. Missed assignments will result in an automatic ‘fail’ and may result in a fail in the overall
course. Any outstanding circumstances should be addressed with the instructor.
● Attendance is mandatory for all classes. If you have to be absent, notify the instructor ahead of time. Provide
a valid reason. Additional assignments may be required to compensate for the missed class time.
● Come to class having read the articles, written notes, and prepared to participate in class discussions and
activities.
● Complete assignments and all other academic work associated with this class with honesty and integrity. Cite
the source when quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s work.

Assessment and Reporting of Course Participant Learning

● Within this course, assessment opportunities take a variety of forms including the writing of projects,
performance tasks, and seminars
● In preparation of being a certified teacher, the Faculty of Education attributes the value of a passing grade or
“pass” to students who meet the course goals and learning outcomes, as demonstrated by the successful
completion of all assignments and expectations of the course.
● Students are welcome to seek feedback concerning assignments from the instructor in an effort to create the
best student performance of which they are capable.
● Students are allowed to resubmit assignments that are below expectations to make the required adjustments.

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General Assignment Rubric- Specific Rubrics will be given for each assignment

Approaching Expectations Proficiently Strongly

Meets Expectations Meets Expectations
Below 80 80-90 90+

Assignment Details
Digital Strategies (DUE: Student Selected):
- Each student will work in groups of 2-3 to create and deliver a 30 minute seminar introducing a digital
strategy (model or tool) that can be used across the curriculum.
- The seminar should include:
1. Explanation of a digital strategy (tool or model).
▪ If there are appropriate resources available online to supports students learning such
as “how to” videos, include them.
▪ What purpose does the strategy serve for teaching and learning in the classroom?
2. An original mini lesson in any subject area using the strategy
3. A description of the affordances and weaknesses of using the tool in the classroom
- *This should not be 30 minutes of teacher-directed instruction (i.e. include an activity, discussion,
problem-solving, creativity, videos etc.) – these three components can be covered in various ways
- **Attempt to use technology in the delivery of the seminar where possible – BE CREATIVE

Multiliteracies and Writing across the Curriculum - Lesson Plan (DUE: July 26):
- Create a lesson plan for a specific course that illustrates multiliteracies and writing across the
curriculum. You will use at least two literacies for this assignment: digital writing and at least one
other literacy that relates to your chosen curriculum (e.g., digital literacy, media literacy, critical
literacy, cultural literacy, global literacy, financial literacy, racial literacy, indigenous literacy, etc)
Check with me if the literacy you are interested in is not listed. The second literacy must also be
represented in a digital format (ie, video, animation, digital web presentation, etc).

Multiliteracies Book Evaluation (Due: Tuesday, August 7):

- After discussing the roles literature can play in exploring multiliteracies, apply the social
considerations criteria to evaluate a YA book of your choice. It can be fiction or nonfiction and may
relate to your teachable subject(s). You will need to apply a range of literacies to evaluate this text.
Please fill out the accompanying template including comments to justify your points of view.
Resource selection requires teachers to apply their critical literacy skills, especially when they step
outside the authorized program of studies. This activity will support your ability to apply your
understanding of mulitliteracies as well as give you the experience of selecting materials for students.
Please see me if you need support selecting a text.

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Take Action Assignment (DUE: Tuesday, August 14):
- Design a project for the students in one of your subject areas that has them taking action on a social or
environmental issue
- This should not just be superficial, but actually engaging with the community to either promote
awareness, challenge the status quo, raise money/goods, and/or make a difference in another form
- This project should be designed to push the classroom into society
- The project will take form of a student assignment handout, which should include: a specific
description of the task (what are the students supposed to do?), how it connects to course
content/curriculum expectations (please list SCOs), and measureable assessment criteria and tool (e.g.,
rubric, check list, etc)

Assignment Schedule

Assignment Due Weighting

Digital Strategies Seminar Student sign-up 25%

Each student will participate in 1 seminar seminars will begin Tues, July 24

Multiliteracies and Writing Across the Tues, July 26 25%

Curriculum Lesson Plan

Multiliteracies Book Evaluation Tues, Aug 7 25%

Take Action Assignment Tues, Aug 14 25%

Faculty Expectations of Participants in this Course

Participants are expected to:
● Diligently attend to their duties, assignments, and responsibilities as a University student and a member of
the pre-service teacher cohort. This includes acting in accordance with professional codes of conduct as
established by the University and the PEI Teachers’ Federation.
● Practice professional behaviour both on campus and while in schools. This includes
o Being on time, if not early for classes and duties
o Being prepared
o Notifying instructors and teacher associates of planned absences in advance
o Using inclusive language
● Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, cheating, including giving false reasons for absences when
assessments occur are considered forms of academic dishonesty and will be treated according the
University policy (see UPEI Calendar).

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● Academic appeals on grades may be made according the Faculty of Education Policy which ensures “a fair
and just hearing” of the matter. The process begins with an informal appeal made first to the instructor
within four weeks of receipt of the grade.
● Turn off cell phones while in classes and in schools.
● Attendance is required due to the compressed nature of most of our courses. If you have to be absent,
notify your instructor ahead of time and provide a valid reason. You will be responsible for
demonstrating understanding of the concepts addressed that day through the completion of a
negotiated assignment. As per UPEI Faculty of Education policy, if you miss two classes, for any
reason, you will be required to meet with the Dean.

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