In terms of ideas for the actual content (such as information/topic/theme) of your multimodal, that would depend on the topic(s)/module(s)/idea(s) you are required to explore within your multimodal presentation (where applicable).
In terms of types/formats of your multimodal, there are several types of multimodal presentations that you can use (provided they are permitted by your teacher/assessment requirements). The most common ones are:
- In-class speech
- Video/vlog
- Audio recording/podcast
- Viva-voce
There are different advantages and disadvantages for each type of multimodal:
In-class speech:
The main advantage of an in-class speech is that the speech concludes fairly quickly (usually 5 minutes or less). You also don't have to worry about video/audio with respect to your multimodal presentation.
The main disadvantage of an in-class speech is its nerve-wracking nature for a number of students as you will likely have to present in front of your class. Considering the COVID-19 situation, since multimodal presentations may be required to be delivered online as opposed to in class, the speech might not cause as much stress to the student in such a case. Another disadvantage of in-class speeches is that making a mistake can be costly as it might be a bit difficult to rectify it on the spot, particularly if you don't have much remaining time and still need to cover other points.
Video/vlog:
A video/vlog type multimodal allows you to re-record and edit any part of the video in case you make a mistake, making it one of its main advantages. Having no live audience is also an important advantage, which can help a student deliver their content much more clearly and confidently.
The main disadvantage of this type of multimodal is that it usually requires some knowledge of video editing, which, unless you do have this editing skills/knowledge, can be detrimental to the overall quality of your video and multimodal presentation as a whole.
Audio recording/podcast:
Similarly to a video/vlog, you can re-record any part of the presentation in case you make a mistake somewhere, and this also means there won't be a live audience, enabling the student to present in a manner that is clearer and more sophisticated. An advantage that this type of multimodal presentation has over video/vlog is that you don't have to look at yourself on your screen, unlike a video/vlog multimodal.
The main disadvantage of this type of multimodal (as with the video/vlog type) is that knowledge of audio editing is usually required. Thus, unless you have good audio editing skills/knowledge, technology can result in a barrier to your presentation and potentially your performance.
Viva-voce:
A viva-voce is not as daunting as an in-class speech as it typically consists of a (seemingly) "casual" discussion with 1-2 teachers, as opposed to presenting in front of a whole class. COVID-19 and this potentially being done online may or may not affect this, depending on the student. Similarly to an in-class speech, a viva-voce concludes fairly quickly (usually 5 minutes or less). In addition, you won't have to worry about video/audio editing with this type of multimodal presentation either.
The main disadvantage of a viva-voce is that teachers might decide to ask the student one or more unexpected questions aimed at challenging the student, which can be quite a difficult issue to address on the spot. Additionally, a viva-voce type multimodal presentation can be intimidating depending on the student.
I hope this helps!
