Digital multimodal composing in second language education  

Presenter: Dr George Lianjiang Jiang, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong  

Date and time: 23 January 2026, 12.00-1.30 pm (GMT, London time)

Place: Zoom (link will show on screen upon registration)

Please register via: https://forms.office.com/e/3KiNUHyGtJ

Abstract

Digital multimodal composing (DMC) emerges as a new literacy practice in second language (L2) education in recent years and it refers to various forms of multimodal text construction mediated by digital technologies, including generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools. Over the years, DMC has evolved into a line of inquiry in L2 education striding across multiple disciplines, including but are not limited to composition studies, multimodality, L2 writing, computer supported L2 education, literacy studies, and teacher education. Nonetheless, the nature of DMC as a literacy learning and teaching activity in itself remains under-theorized. This research inadequacy has led to controversies regarding the integration of DMC into L2 education and pedagogy.  To better support L2 educators and practitioners to engage with DMC research and practice, this talk presents a framework to delineate how digital multimodal composing (DMC) mediated literacy activities can be placed on a continuum for a diverse range of literacy purposes in various educational contexts. The framework comprises eight continua that specifies content, mode, genre, and design for DMC, and explicates varied roles of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in collaborative DMC. Examples of using DMC as literacy continua across different key learning stages in Hong Kong and other similar contexts are also presented. The framework represents a holistic perspective to cohere DMC research across different domains and offers a forward-looking perusal for those who are interested in multimodality and DMC in second language and literacy education in an age of GenAI.

About the speaker

Dr Lianjiang Jiang (George) is Assistant Professor of language and literacy education at Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. He is Deputy Director of the Consortium for Research on Language Policy and Practice (CRLPP) at HKU. His expertise is in multimodality and multiliteracies, with a focus on digital multimodal composing, multimodal assessment/feedback, and digital pedagogies. He works extensively on digital multimodal composing as a valid literacy activity in second language classrooms. He is also the creator of the genre-based model to evaluate digital multimodal composing. He is Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator of research grants funded by Research Grants Council and Education Bureau in Hong Kong. He is an awardee of Macao Humanities and Social Sciences Research Outstanding Achievement Award. He was listed in the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists by Stanford University Ranking. He was also listed as HKU Scholars in the Top 1% by Clarivate Analytics.

Email: jljiang@hku.hk.    

University profile: https://web.edu.hku.hk/faculty-academics/jljiang