This is a draft paper to be presented at mLearn 2009, Florida, USA, about the m4Lit project.

Abstract: The m4Lit (mobile phones for literacy) pilot project will create a mobile novel (m-novel), published on a mobisite in English and in isiXhosa, to explore ways of supporting teen leisure reading and writing around fictional texts in South Africa, using mobile media. The story will be published serially and invite readers to interact with it as it unfolds – teens will vote on and discuss the unfolding plot, leave comments, and finally submit a written piece as part of a competition. The study will contribute to the understanding of mobile literacies, from a new literacy studies perspective.

By: Steve Vosloo, Shuttleworth Foundation; Dr Marion Walton, Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town; Associate Professor Ana Deumert, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Cape Town.

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