Campbell, D., Cignetti, P., Melenyzer, B., Nettles, D., & Wyman, R. (2001).  How to develop a professional portfolio: A manual for teachers. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.  Pages 19-26.

 

SUMMARIZE:

CH. 3 – Electronic Portfolio

Ø       Introduction

·         Paper portfolios are nothing new; electronic can do so much more – videos, PowerPoints, etc.

·         Does require some special skills, however

Ø       Definition of Electronic Portfolios

·         Organized, goal-driven documentation of professional growth and teaching competence

·         Can be used to achieve certification through NBPTS

Ø       Benefits of Electronic Portfolios

·         Demonstrate Technology Knowledge and Skills

-          Shows off ability to use technology and create something with it

-          Necessary in this day and age to be able to use technology to teach *and* to be able to understand technology in order to help students

·         Facilitate Distribution

-          No chance of losing anything

-          Easy to hand out CD-ROMs, email link to website, etc.

·         Store Many Documents

-          Storage space virtually unlimited, unlike paper binders, etc.

-          Easier to find these documents, too – just a click, not a turn of several pages

·         Increase Accessibility

-          Everything is available in one place – at a computer, anywhere

-          Instead of needing VCR and TV, tape player, and computer, etc.

Ø       Creation of Electronic Portfolios

·         Save Artifacts Electronically

-          Easiest if you save potential artifacts as you create them, even before putting them in

-          Just place them in appropriate folders (and back it all up!) as you create them

-          You can do this with the electronic original of paper-based projects, too

·         Document Your Experiences Electronically

-          As you teach lessons, attend speeches/conferences, etc., document them with audio, video, pictures, etc. for later use in portfolio

Ø       Stages for Developing Electronic Portfolios

·         Decide

-          Choose audience and their specific needs

-          If part of education program, design around those specs

-          If for acquiring a teaching job, design around INTASC standards

-          Also design somewhat around equipment available both for creation and viewing by audience

-          Finally, don’t design harder than you can handle, but don’t be afraid to get help

·         Design

-          Determine content, software, storage, and presentation

-          Hyperlinks to/between artifacts and categories are very useful – use them!

-          Flowcharting helps, too

·         Develop

-          Time to actually start compiling artifacts – some will need revisions and editing

-          Be creative, make it uniquely your own

·         Evaluate

-          Evaluate your content as well as your presentation’s design

-          Should show you as a growing or accomplished professional

-          Needs to be concise, clear, and visually appealing

-          Does it all make sense – you friends and peers to help you evaluate it

-          Use previous completed examples to help, too

 

DISCUSS:

This all makes a ton of sense.  The technical aspects of creating my electronic portfolio will not be an issue for me, as I have had quite a bit of experience in the past with web design and creation.  Also, I am nearly an obsessive-compulsive organizer, so that should not be an issue, either.  However, this chapter makes a lot of good suggestions for me when it suggests that I make potential artifacts out of most anything I do that could even remotely be considered an artifact at some time.  I already keep everything I do on the computer, but digitizing things that I do/see/make/etc. that do not begin on the computer is a terrific idea.  I shall start to do this.  In fact, I may even digitize my microteaching video.  We’ll see how it turns out.