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Abstract
This article establishes traits of adaptable communicators in the 21st century, explains why adaptability should be a goal of technical communication educators, and shows how multimodal pedagogy supports adaptability. Three examples of scalable, multimodal assignments (infographics, research interviews, and software demonstrations) that evidence this philosophy are discussed in detail. Asking students to communicate multimodally drives them to effectively filter information, remix modes, and remake practices that are core characteristics of adaptable communicators. Beyond teaching students how to teach themselves as an essential part of living in an information society, contending with new and unfamiliar tools also prepares students for their roles as empathic mediators in the workplace.
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Author Biographies
Lisa Dusenberry (PhD in English, University of Florida) is an assistant professor of professional communication at Armstrong State University and was formerly the assistant director of Writing and Communication at Georgia Tech. Her research examines both technical communication and children’s media, especially the history of engaged reader-players, demonstrating how texts operate as interfaces to shape participation for particular purposes.
Liz Hutter (PhD in English, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities) is a Marion L. Brittain postdoctoral fellow in the School of Literature, Media, & Communication at Georgia Tech. Her research and teaching interests are diverse and include 19th-century American literature and culture and technical communication.
Joy Robinson (PhD in Technical Communication & MS in Materials Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology) is an assistant professor of technical writing and new media at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and formerly the director of the Digital Media Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has research and teaching interests in usability, virtual teaming, digital media, literacy, and pedagogy, as well as the intersection of gaming and learning.
