A Multimodal Framework for Computer Mediated Learning: The Reshaping of Curriculum Knowledge and Learning

The modes of movement and sound are used to realise ideational and interpersonal
meaning. The helicopter blades rotate at a fast steady rate and the helicopter vibrates
as it ‘hovers’. The movement of the helicopter blades is accompanied by the
repetitive sound of the whirring helicopter blades. Both the movement and the sound
effect indicate the mechanical character of the helicopter. The movement of the
helicopter and the sound of the blades mark its potential for action. Socially, the
helicopter as a multimodal symbol marks an urgency of action and the ‘need’ to land.
Further, the contrast between the movement of the helicopter and the still image of
the flat city grid ‘below’ create a layered depth on screen. This contrast suggests the
action ‘needed’- to land the helicopter. The multimodal representation of the
helicopter makes it the most salient element on the screen.

Representation of the City at the Level of the Street

The image changes as the user lands the helicopter to a representation of the city at
street level (Figure 5.2). The grid-like structure of the city is realised as streets and
grassed areas with houses constructed on them. The streets are represented as grey
areas and the grass as green areas. As the helicopter lands, a ‘human like’ character
(similar to a Lego play-mobile character) ‘jumps out’ of it. The user can adapt the
visual appearance of the character: it can have either long hair, a hat, or be bald. This
feature has the potential to work as a crude indicator of gender, although this potential
does not have to be taken up by the user. The animated character is followed by a
small toolbox. The toolbox is small and has four ‘legs’ - a visual analogy of a small
animal, a dog.

As the user lands the helicopter on the ground the angle and the social distance of the
image is changed. The previous ‘god-like’ viewpoint (high vertical angle) is changed
to a low-vertical angle (the viewer is positioned to look down slightly on the
character). The long social distance from the helicopter and the city is reduced and
the viewer is positioned at a social distance from the character. In this way the

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