The Compelling Nature of Transmedia Storytelling: Empowering 21st Century Readers and Writers Through Multimodality

• In Event: 35.074 - Digital Literacies and Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the potential of transmedia in the classroom with a focus on, Inanimate Alice, an innovative text selected for it’s interactive, multimodal features. There were three components to this work: a qualitative case study examining reading behavior of adolescents while engaged in an innovative, transmedia text, an exploration of transmedia from an information behavior perspective, and examination of these individual projects contextualized with empirical and anecdotal evidence emerging from the field. As an intentionally formed, interdisciplinary group pf researchers and designers, we collaborated to examine the instructional potential of transmedia based on existing evidence. Our aim was to better understand how teachers can leverage transmedia to engage and empower students in the classroom.

Authors

• Valerie Harlow Shinas, Lesley University

• Amanda Hovious, University of North Texas

• Ian Harper, Bradfield Narrative Designs Inc.