I had to wait until after midnight to post this so the date would be correct! :)
We're going to step back a bit and lay some ground work before we continue.....Dr. Helen Barrett is the leading guru on electronic portfolios in education. The following link has some really good, relevant, information that we're going to review first before we proceed:
http://electronicportfolios.com/faq.html
After reviewing this information, we're going to use the technology known as "paper and pen" and draft our focus for the next week. I'm confident you'll all feel much more comfortable after today's discussion.
Dear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteYes, Dr. Helen Barrett is 'A' leading guru on e-Portfolios in education and I owe a deep debt of gratitude to her vision and teaching over many years.
However, I feel that her present emphasis on 'Googleised' e-Portfolios is only meeting the needs of HE and other intelligent students.
Her initial doctrine of 'Lifelong & Lifewide Learning' does not follow through the somewhat siloed approach she is now taking. If her teaching is to have any effect through the inspiration of a new 'breed' of teachers, then the same technology should be equally adaptable to the needs of all ages, 5-95 (or even younger) and all abilities including the less able, the slow learner, those with specific difficulties, the elderly or even those who are just too busy!
I am not sure that the 'Cloud Computing' approach will easily adapt to a school's needs for MIS connectivity, VLE assessment tools or interoperability. Teachers need some initial control over accessibility to parents and other students, the option to scaffold initial e-Portfolio structures and guidance so that children of any age or ability can have a simple entrance into their e-Portfolio experiences. Perhaps one of my strongest concerns is that children should be capable of 'cosmeticising' their e-Portfolios as an expression of 'This is ME', as and when they are able.
I could go on for a lot longer - but would also like to open a dialogue between you and your colleagues/students on this topic.
You can see more of my thinking at the links below.
Kindest Regards,
Ray Tolley FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, MBILD
ICT Education Consultant
Maximise ICT Ltd
P: http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/
B: http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/
W: http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm
Winner of the IMS 'Leadership Regional Award 2009'