Disciplinary Literacy Learning at the Museum: Supporting Preservice Teachers’ Expanded Understandings of Multimodality

Abstract

Museums have long played an important role in the support of learning, yet less is known about the role of museums in supporting preservice teacher learning in the field of literacy education. In this qualitative study, the authors’ report on how a partnership with a local art museum, as a space of hybridity, extended preservice teacher’s learning about multimodality and social semiotics in relation to preservice teachers’ content areas. Drawing upon interviews with preservice teachers, their written reflections, curricular planning in the form of lesson and unit plans, and field notes, we found that multiple visits to the museum supported expanded notions of literacy and raised awareness about multimodality and social semiotics as they related to disciplinary literacy. We offer recommendations for how teacher-educators can leverage local resources, like museums, as partners in helping teachers prepare their students to engage in multimodal work within their disciplines.