A portfolio is a compilation of work over time, whereas quizzes/tests, essays/research papers, presentations or homework/worksheets are all “one and done” assessments. The latter, as individual occurrences, are unable to show growth over a period of time. As the learner, it would be much more meaningful to assemble a working and fluid portfolio. By choosing items I created during my coursework and then reflecting on how they have influenced my thinking, I would feel like I was given the opportunity to own my learning. In just two weeks of my first two courses, I can already see how I’m being challenged academically. When I leave with my graduate degree I am thankful I will have a tangible portfolio that documented this learning experience.
Portfolios are also comprised of artifacts in which the creator analyzes and appraises those items to show an evidence of learning has occured. With a traditional assessment such as a test, I would be subjective to specifically what the instructor wants me to know. There is something that attracts me to the idea of having a physical portfolio, but only for personal and not professional reasons. I suppose I do have a habit of collecting items that highlight times of my life, but I haven’t spent time reflecting and sharing those items with anyone - yet. Digital portfolios offer flexibility to the creator to include virtually any kind of media imaginable. Various online tools such as Weebly, Wix or Google Sites offer simple avenues for eportfolio authors to display, share and reflect on published items. One of the first things I consider when thinking about having something published for others to see is how it is going to look. Since I am not a coder, I will rely on the drag and drop feature that all of these sites afford. However, they are not created equally in this area. Yes, each tool provides templates to choose from, but customization is a huge variable. Wix provides hundreds of templates with the most customization options, but I fear that my love for graphic design would slow me down if I went this route. Weebly has much fewer templates but still offers users a decent amount of formatting options. This option is my very own Goldilocks - just right for this purpose. Google Sites, which doesn’t include an in-house Blog page gives the least amount of options. Even though it won’t be appropriate for what I am trying to accomplish, I believe it is a practical solution for students. If I asked my students to create an eportfolio, I would recommend using Google Sites because they have Chromebooks available in their classrooms. Students use G Suite to create most of their work, and since all of these are housed in their Google Drive I think it makes the most technically simple tool to use in that setting. Also, our content (which contains our learning standards) is shared with students in Google folders via Classroom. I am intentional about creating an environment where my students are comfortable speaking up and sharing what they have learned. We would even use peer-reviews to reflect on one another’s learning. This pedagogical approach combined with the technology and available content makes for enriched and successful learning experiences. I have chosen Weebly to host my eportfolio, and the link can be found here. taigetsamasters.weebly.com
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |