Five Key Principles: Guided Inquiry With Multimodal Text Sets

Although many students spend a considerable amount of time online, teachers cannot assume that students have the skills necessary for online reading and writing. Instruction in locating, navigating, organizing, and producing information in the online world is integral to students' mastery of digital literacy. The authors detail the use of guided inquiry to explore multimodal text sets in a meaningful and collaborative way as a means of providing this instruction. Synthesis of prior research and analysis of study data resulted in the identification of five key principles necessary for effective instruction with multimodal text sets: attending to motivation and engagement, thoughtfully selecting sources, framing instruction as inquiry, supporting student synthesis, and writing for an authentic audience and purpose. These principles can help transform teachers' instructional practices to meet the needs of today's learners.