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[7.5] Task 7: Mode-bending (Mandatory task)

Welcome to My Aural redesign of
“What’s in Your Bag.”

Aural Redesign: “What's in Your Bag" Hello, and welcome to my aural redesign of "What's in Your Bag." Originally a visual task to display identity through objects, I reimagined it as an auditory experience—a soundscape narrating my daily life through sound rather than sight. The soundscape starts with the soft chirping of birds outside my window, which is a sign that the morning is calm. The hum of running water and clinking of cups evoke my morning routine. As I plan my day, my phone vibrates. The car engine starts, and my favorite music plays as I drive to school, blending rhythm, melody, and emotion—the joyful bark of my dog and the rustle of a leash capture companionship. At school, the laughter and chatter of students at recess reflect community and learning. The gentle sounds of water conclude the composition, providing a sense of reflection and calm. Each sound functions as a semiotic sign of identity, emotion, and daily rhythm. This redesign aligns with the New London Group's (1996) notion of multiliteracies, extending literacy beyond print to include linguistic, visual, gestural, and aural modes. By making meaning through sound, I am building knowledge that is useful in different cultural and sensory settings. The process also reflects Bolter's (2001) theory of remediation, where meaning is not consumed but co-constructed through listening and imagination. Through transmediation (Peña & James, 2024), the transfer of meaning between modes fosters engagement both affectively and cognitively, illustrating how rhythm, tone, and atmosphere communicate in ways that visuals cannot. This project reaffirmed that multimodality fosters inclusion in my teaching practice. Many students, especially neurodiverse and multilingual learners, express themselves more effectively through sound, movement, or imagery than through print. As Dobson and Willinsky (2009) suggest, digital literacy involves active participation, enabling learners to make meaning in diverse ways. Ultimately, this soundscape reveals that literacy is not only seen but also heard, felt, and imagined. Through sound, meaning becomes communal and transformative, inviting every learner's voice to be recognized and valued.

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