Communication Technologies and Platforms

Communication Technologies

• Communication software development has led to numerous social media/communication platforms for creating, sharing, and exchanging information.
• Discord is a communication platform for gamers and streamers, featuring live chats, text, voice, and video sharing.
• Facebook is a social media platform to connect with friends, share content, and conduct online business.
• Instagram enables sharing photos and videos with followers via hashtags and geotags.
• Kumu is a Filipino live streaming platform for entertainment, gaming, and social interaction.
• LinkedIn is a professional networking site to manage careers and business connections.
• Pinterest is an image-sharing platform for discovering and saving creative ideas via pinboards.
• Spotify streams music and podcasts with millions of licensed songs and content.
• TikTok is a video platform with viral trends, creativity, and entertainment, especially popular among Gen Z.
• Tumblr is a microblogging site for sharing multimedia content like GIFs, blogs, and videos.
• Twitch is a live-streaming platform focused on gaming, music, and creative content.
• Twitter is a social networking site for posting and sharing short messages called "tweets."
• Viber is a messaging app allowing text, calls, photo sharing, and stickers over an internet connection.
• WhatsApp is a messaging app for texting, voice and video calls, and media sharing.
• WordPress is a platform for creating blogs, business sites, and online content.
• YouTube shares video for education, entertainment, and content marketing.

Technological Ethics

• Technology ethics involves moral principles that guide technology users.
• Avoid sharing sensitive data online to prevent risks, or "Don't go public."
• Avoid posting offensive, discriminatory, or hurtful comments; if you can't say anything good, keep quiet.
• Treat others online with respect and honesty as the "Golden Rule."
• Ensure accuracy before sharing information on social media and "Spread good not bad vibes."
• Ensure accuracy by citing sources on social media.

Multimodality

• Multimodality broadens communication beyond traditional forms like pen and paper.
• Using multiple modes can enhance learning.
• Anstey and Bull (2010) suggest literacy has expanded with communication technologies and multimedia.
• Using communication technologies in learning aids understanding and expression of ideas.
• Multimodal involves creatively using more than two communication modes/multimodal texts to deliver messages.
• Multimodal texts include words, gestures, sound/music, photos/images, and verbal language.

Examples of Multimodal Texts

• Paper examples include books, comics, flyers, and posters with text and visuals; they are the oldest type and not editable.
• Digital examples include blogs, videos, social media, and slideshows.
• Live examples include performances, dance, or theater with gestures, music, and movement which allows for mistakes.
• Transmedia combines traditional storytelling with digital platforms for engagement.

Semiotic Systems

• Audio includes volume, pitch, tone, and rhythm of sounds.
• Gestural includes body language, facial expressions, and posture.
• Linguistic includes word choice, vocabulary, and grammar.
• Spatial includes image layout, object arrangement, and proximity.
• Visual includes colors, objects, movement, and coordination.

Multimodal Preparation

• M stands for material.
• O stands for objective.
• D stands for delivery.
• A stands for application.
• L stands for language.
• Know the content and prepare material for analysis.
• Review objectives and set clear goals.
• Plan the delivery considering time, mode, and format.
• Use visual tools like PowerPoint, Paint, Photoshop, Prezi, Canva, or YouTube.
• Write the speech using clear and effective language.

Multimodality in PSAs

• A PSA is a short message to raise awareness and influence behavior; effective PSAs are clear, fact-based, and emotionally engaging.

PSA Objectives

• Raise awareness.
• Educate people.
• Inform them.

PSA Elements

• Use video clips, music, pictures/images, narrative voice-over, and textual messages.
• Announcement uses narrated message with images/videos.
• Documentary/Interview uses testimonies and expert interviews.
• Narrative uses reenactments or short clips for impact.

Creating Effective PSAs

• Be original by researching thoroughly to avoid misinformation.
• Keep it short and simple (KISS) with a direct and clear message.
• Plan the format and style of delivery for 30-60 seconds to be engaging and structured.
• Choose the most effective type of PSA.

Communication Planning

• Communication planning is a process to achieve goals by delivering the message to the audience.

Good Plan Elements (SCDE)

• A strong foundation is needed.
• Clear objectives are needed.
• Delivery tools are needed.
• Evaluation methods are needed.

Communication Planning Steps (KIKSPR)

• Know and analyze the situation by researching.
• Identify and define objectives with SMART goals.
• Know your target audience.
• Select your message and prioritize with evidence.
• Plan strategy/tools for message delivery.
• Review and finalize the plan with a timetable.

Multimodal Advocacy Campaigns

• Multimodal Advocacy Campaigns focus on an issue, provide solutions, and spread awareness by using different media types
• Examples of campaign media are, online petitions, social media, online fundraising, event registration and texting.

Multimodal Composition Uses

• Linguistic Mode uses written text, organization, and tone.
• Visual Mode uses colour, style, size and perspective.
• Audio Mode uses sound, narration, music and silence.
• Spatial Mode uses arrangement, proximity and organisation.
• Gestural Mode uses body language and facial expressions.

Primary Types of Media

• Print and digital media, newspaper and blog is a linguistic mode.
• Infographics and advertisements are visual mode.
• Speech, radio adds and podcasts are audio mode.
• Infographics, websites and blogs are spatial mode.
• Speech and presentation are gestural mode.