There are several things I have learned from creating my own portfolio and from viewing others. EPortfolios are great way to reflect, connect, and curate your thoughts and learning. From viewing examples of others, I have learned that no two portfolios are alike. Everyone is distinct when it comes to presentation. Some students use loads of graphics, while others are very minimal. Both are great, just different approaches and styles. Some blog posts are very detailed, while some are shorter and to the point. However, both adequately written and presented. This has taught me that my ePortfolio should be personal. It should reflect me as a professional, my views, my work, my creativity. Viewing others ePortfolios has shown me that this is the perfect way to model COVA and significant learning environments. Dr. Harapnuik states "The learner is not only an active participant in the learning process; they are required to take control and ownership of their learning and work toward making meaningful connections." (Harapnuik, Thibodeaux & Cummings, 2018) The ePortfolio has done exactly that. It has enabled us as students to take control of our learning. We are allowed to take a topic and "run with it". It is not often that students get that opportunity. (I know I have not had it in other classes.) It is scary, yet freeing at the same time. It has created an environment where we can reflect on our learning and share that learning with others. He also shares, "Learners are given the freedom to choose how they wish to organize, structure and present their learning experiences and share those experiences with the world." (Harapnuik, Thibodeaux & Cummings, 2018) This goes back to viewing others ePortfolios. They were all different, all unique to that person. This gives us (students) choice, ownership, and voice in our work. Resource Dwayne Harapnuik, Tilisa Thibodeaux & Cynthia Cummings (2018) COVA, Choice, Ownership, and Voice Through Authentic Learning retrieved from https://gallery.mailchimp.com/1bdbac4d4fbdff334a642eb11/files/8b18ae2a-8696-4d58-9b80-192f4cc6624c/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.02.pdf
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In order to know who owns the portfolio, we have to ask what kind of portfolio it is. Does the student have a personal ownership in the portfolio or is it just a place to house assignments? When students are able to choose their content and how they present it, only then do the student's truly own their eportfolios. Audrey Watters states "But there remains this notion, deeply embedded in Domain of One’s Own, that it is important to have one’s own space in order to develop one’s ideas and one’s craft. It’s important that learners have control over their work — their content and their data." Students need to be able to constantly reflect on their work and cultivate their portfolio to meet their needs and audience.
Our eportfolios in the Educational Technology program does exactly that. It allows us to develop our portfolios as we choose and allows us to reflect on our learning with minimal facilitation from our professors. This gives us the capability to have choice, voice and ownership within an authentic learning environment. These portfolios are ours to develop and curate our work in order to show administrators and all stakeholders our educational beliefs and work we can do. Because of this, we own our portfolios. Resources Watters, A. (2015, July 15). The Web We Need to Give Students – BRIGHT Magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from https://brightthemag.com/the-web-we-need-to-give-students-311d97713713 In 2012, I went on a study abroad trip with SFA to Italy. We had the opportunity to visit and observe about 7 elementary schools. I remember observing a classroom and when the students came in, they were all very busy, yet the teacher did not instruct them in any way. One was picking up lunch boxes, one was writing on the board, they all had a job to do. My first thought was "This is what I want my class to look like." I want my students to be autonomous learners. I want them to be in control of their learning environment just as these students were in control of theirs. These students had ownership of their classroom in every way. I visited another school that was very innovative and students had choice on how they represented their learning. Some sculpted, some wrote, some used technology and created videos. What I noticed is that when students have choice and voice, they are engaged and interactive in their learning.
I feel that teaching and helping others has been a deep seeded passion of mine since I was a child. I have always found great joy in helping others succeed. My desire is to encourage, motivate, and lead students and teachers to be the best they can be. I believe that in today's world, technology is key to that success. I feel that technology motivates and inspires students and teachers to dive deeper into learning, explore new ideas, access knowledge in knew ways, and gives them the opportunity to demonstrate that knowledge through a variety of platforms. This is why I enrolled in Lamar University's Technology Administration Program.
Reflection is an essential part of learning and attaining deep understanding of knowledge. Student eportfolios are a great way to reflect on information learned and skills practiced. Students are able to reflect through a blog about their experiences during learning. According to Reflection4Learning, "Part of the reflective process is to have students tell stories about their experiences which brain research shows can help students embed these experiences into their long term memory."
There are many benefits from creating eportfolios. Students learn how to reflect and assess their own learning. They are able to receive feedback from their peers. They have a place to house their work. It provides a visual of learning and growth over time. Employers are able to see a true reflection of one's knowledge and growth mindset. Eportfolios also allow students to experience significant learning environments and provides choice, voice, ownership, and authenticity by allowing students to be in control of how they learn and how they represent their learning. They allow students to learn through trial and error, helping to foster and develop a growth mindset, needed to be innovative leaders. Resources Why Reflect? - Reflection4Learning. (2007, March). Retrieved December 2, 2018, from https://sites.google.com/site/reflection4learning/why-reflect Barnstable, K. (2010, September 30). 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio. Retrieved from https://kbarnstable.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/41-benefits-of-an-eportfolio/ |
AuthorSecond Grade teacher and lifelong learner. Graduate student at Lamar University. Archives
April 2019
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