MultiModal Artifact

In creating my multimodal artifact, I tried to show the difference between digital and technological literacy through an FPV drone video of abandoned buildings and cranes. My goal was to immediately engage the viewer and maintain their attention while communicating my argument through a combination of spatial, visual, and linguistic modes. Overlaid text summarized the differences I explored in my research paper, defining digital literacy as the competencies for navigating and critically assessing digital spaces, while technological literacy represented practical expertise with digital tools.

Throughout the production process, I purposefully created thematic shot pairs: for example, the evasive motions and rotations of the drone around a tall crane signified comprehension, both spatial and visual, facets of digital literacy. The skill-based backflips through building holes expressed how the application of technological literacy is executed. Visual elements merged with succinct text explanations would support my message and make the artifact dynamic and engaging.

If I had some more time, then the linguistic mode would have been enriched through the inclusion of interactive text, attached to objects which the drone flew over in order to highlight important features. My drone arrived just prior to the presentation, so that is a process I was not able to perfect. Despite these issues, I feel the artifact conveyed my argument as well as the multimodal themes I aimed to display.

This project taught me how to merge technical proficiency with creativity in a way that creates compelling, accessible narratives. By balancing the storytelling with technical execution, I developed a skill set extending beyond academic work, applicable to fields like product design and usability. The process emphasized how multiple modalities need to be combined to represent ideas in a captivating and meaningful manner.