Multiliteracy in multiplicity

Reading Mulitiliteracies for Collaborative Learning Environments , By Vance Stevens, gave me an "aha moment" in the first paragraph that I am almost embarrassed to mention. " aha, multimedia ... multiliteracy" Then I felt a little disappointed. That is not exactly the multiliteracy I am worried about. Luckily, it is not the focus of the article either.

So here are my thoughts on this other sense of "multiliteracy".

The "multiliteracy" I understand as being crucial is that of being able to connect with students that live in a world of multimedia. Utilizing it so that the multiplicity in which society and language function does not disrupt the learning but in fact helps it to flourish.

Yes, you are right, we need to learn how to use the tools of multimedia but that is not all I expect from this course. I expect and hope to learn how best to choose those gadgets and subsequently reach my students more effectively.

I searched but could not find reference to which ancient philosopher it was; but one of them opposed teaching everyone to read because it would create a dependency on books and discourage actual learning/thinking. If anyone knows which philosopher it was please send the name ... it's driving me nuts. Relating that to the new technologies of multimedia, if the "Multiliteracy/Multimedia" that we implement is merely more gadgets it could create more entertaining confusion than learning.

The 'new form of learning' I hope to be able to foster in my students is learning participatively and critically and not a dependency on bells and whistles.

I didn't find the name of the anti-reading philosopher but I did find this gem that sums up my thoughts.

And if knowledge does not change her and make her imperfect state better then it is preferable just to leave it alone. Knowledge is a dangerous sword; in a weak hand which does not know how to wield it it gets in its master’s way and wounds him, ‘ut fuerit melius non didicisse’ [so that it would have been better not to have studied at all]

(de Montaigne quoting Cicero)