In this blog post, I highlight and summarize and aspects of the course based on all eight (8) MOOC Talks that aided in my comprehension of this interesting, unique and growing area of study.
Going into my first MOOC Talk, I also did not know what to expect but I went into the Standish Room at the University at Albany Science Library knowing I would have the chance to interact with participants from all over because of the participatory nature of the course. The topics discussed ranged from the very nature of the subject of metaliteracy, reflecting about the research process(thinking thoroughly about one's way of thinking), what makes the concept of metaliteracy unique(how it differs from other disciplines related to literacy), the metaliterate learner, metacognition, the media involved including social media as well as the various types of participants in the field.
The second MOOC Talk based on the subject, "Metacognition- A Literacy of Awareness," was held on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, and it was facilitated by Char Booth. It was based on the extreme importance of all participants in the metacognitive field to be very much aware of their thought processes just as they occur and the underlying factors that are critical in advancing the cause of metacognition. These factors include but are not limited to developmental factors, cultural factors, social factors, and mentoring/instruction. Metacognitive knowledge has to with how one senses development in terms of his or her own cognition, the perception of one's self as well as other people, then finally how one perceives what is easy and what is difficult to interpret within the metacognitive framework.
Metacognitive experience is related to how an individual understands or misunderstands another person during an interaction, reviewing one's previously held opinions, and finally how a person interprets failure and success. Char Booth's presentation ended with the Learning Theories and analysis of Literacies and Metacognition. Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism form the learning theories. Behaviorism is about regulating one's behavior within the educational psychology framework. Cognitivism is related to designing learning experiences to help individuals retain information. Constructivism is multi-dimensional; it involves peer-to-peer interaction and social learning-what affects individuals and how their brains develop. Literacies and Metacognition stages in the model are interpretation, evaluation,reflection, revision, and justification.
The third MOOC Talk (3.1) on the subject, "Openness and Metaliteracy," was delivered by Mark McBride, the Director of Library Services at Monroe Community College and Michele Forte, an Assistant Professor and Mentor at the Center for Distance Learning at the SUNY Empire State College. It was based on open learning in higher education. The Modern Language Association's Commons Model is a form of peer review process and peer production model used by scholars to create and update content accurately and freely for the benefit of the the information literacy community. Wikipedia is a good example of the Peer Production Model which allows users to also create and share information freely as well as conveniently update the content of the material.
Openness within the metaliteracy framework gives rise to looking at content in a variety of ways and sharing it with the community as a whole; this could be scholarly work which involves careful thoughts and thorough research. The sharing process allows for the remix and reuse of information. Open Education Resources (OERs), which is any kind of teaching material such as textbook, syllabi, lesson plans, video, readings, and exams allow free and uninterrupted access as per the content as well as the free incorporation of remix, reuse, revise and redistribute of the material. In higher education, the free access of course material is way more beneficial that adding to a publisher's purse by purchasing a particular edition of book then its subsequent editions. The free access students have to course materials is what makes it a major plus for education. It creates a community of higher educators and advances the cause of metaliteracy
MOOC Talk 3.2 was moderated by Dr. Paul Prinsloo, an Education Consultant and Researcher at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Information from time immemorial has always been dynamic and therefore it is necessary to view it as a field with players having diversified roles and a variety of rules, plans, power relations, inclusion and exclusion. In Dr. Prinsloo's interpretation of the Metaliteracy Framework by Mackey and Jacobson, 2011, he likened the newly developed literacies for cultural changes of Web 2.0 to solid changing from its original state to the liquid phase. I really liked that metaphor! A deeper analysis of liquid metaliteracy brought about a side by side comparison between the work of Mackey and Jacobson(2011) and Area and Pessoa(2012) competencies including instrumental, cognitive-intellectual, socio-communicative and axiological. Liquid metaliteracy aligns with metacognition.
Critical consciousness as the foundation for metaliteracy as agency was a sub-topic I found very interesting during the presentation. According to Freire, learning to read and write starts from a deep understanding of the process of reading the world. In addition, being illiterate prevents individuals from reading and writing then renders them powerless and dependent according to Burbules and Berk(1999). In order to be a literate player in the 21st century, one has to completely understand the rules, field, the game, positions and skills required. Critical and self-reflective agency as well as making up other narratives, disrupting standard discourses and asking new questions is very essential in this age.
The fourth MOOC Talk was delivered by Professor Brian Stone. He is a practicing designer, educator and researcher in the field of interactive design, information design, user experience and communication through motion. Visual Literacy and Metaliteracy go hand in hand and therefore it has become very necessary for visual forms of communication and design to be enhanced in this modern age to make the visualization of information way more easy and meaningful. Websites, interactive experiences, multimedia presentations and typographic messages collectively help establish visual connections that create a better mental picture as well as aid all types of users make informed decisions as far as information design is concerned. Visual messages are directly linked with metaliteracy. Dr. Stone shared a couple of visual and typographic materials which really caught my attention.
The first one was a map used in my country, England-the London Underground Navigation System. Although the underground map was not really based on actual geographic scales, it still achieved its purpose of making underground transportation easier for all travelers, both local and foreign. The map indicated the starting and ending points of each rail line as well as hubs and locations for making connections. Transport for London(TFL), the body in charge of most aspects of the transportation system in Greater London also adopts a similar approach to make moving around London very simple for all travelers. In my opinion, London has one of the best transportation systems around the world barring the occasional delays and change in schedules. Icons, symbols and signs have really helped in promoting the connection between visual literacy and metaliteracy. It has become very essential for multiple modes of communication to cater to the needs of all manner of information users and metacognitive learners. A lot of consideration has to be put in place to make sure disabled people and the older generations are not left out of the the gradually emerging methods of visual communication and metaliteracy. Progressive disclosure, which involves starting by process and synthesizing a concept from scratch is also very necessary in developing visual literacy and it connection with metaliteracy. Dr. Stone's presentation was very informative!
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