Professional Portfolios - Clearer than Mud now!

So, last week I had a meeting with my professor and it is now clearer.  I still need to find some artifacts and link standards, but that shouldn't be too bad.  It just takes time.

My only concern is that I sometimes think my entries/descriptions should be more academic sound and full of the latest and greatest buzzwords. And other times I think that doesn't really matter.  After spending quite a bit of time thinking about this since the start of this portfolio project to now, I have come to a conclusion that works for me.  I figure there is no point in being high-brow know-it-all with what I write because it's not me.  Not to mention doing that would make the information and opinions I post less accessible to some.   Also, as we have discussed in several of our classes, it is harder to get your "voice" across in a text document.  So much depends on the mood of reader.  So I finally decided that it's ok to have some fun posts and show more of the human side and less of the academic side.  There is a lot to be said about being personable AND easily understood online.

cedo520online- Week 2 Has come and gone....

Ok.... we talked about sites and tools.  This class is more about discussion, which I like.  I always learn so much from my classmates in classes like this.  I really enjoy how even though all of us are probably some of the more tech savvy teachers, probably in the top 20% of the population, all of us come to the table with different websites we like and use.
I'm currently away from my own computer, but I remember going to several of the websites mentioned in other peoples blogs and in class to check them out.  I even book marked several of them.

The only problem, which came up in class, is that sites come and go quickly. A site you may love and use often may just vanish on you. Jim mentioned a site that made animated movies that is now gone.  Too bad because it sounded amazing. Screenjelly.com that I used in a previous class to make some screencasts on how to make a google account and a subsequent blogger account have gone to the virtual data grave yard.  

I look forward to seeing what other sites people share with the group at large.  So classmates, if you're reading this, keep on posting those sites. Feel free to post some here, too.  If another teacher is using them, they're probably have some merit and have already been peer reviewed and endorsed... which saves me time.   So bring on the links!

Professional Portfolio Experience CeDO 555 Blog #2

Last night was good.  We clarified our projects a bit more, which is good.  Now it's time to get to work.  I have a meeting scheduled at 1:00 today.  So after I run a few errands, work some more on my portfolio, I should be good to go.

Note to self:  Re-read current status of page to make sure there were no mistakes and make a list of questions.

Doh!! I can't believe I missed the 1st class of 520!

Well..... chalk this one up to OVER dependence on technology.  I am actually in a different cohort which meets on Wednesdays.   This past Wednesday we didn't have class.  However, I did set an alarm on my desktop to remind me that I would be having class on the 7th for the class I missed last summer.

That would've been fine EXCEPT that I wasn't on my desktop  yesterday (unless you count 7 in the morning to briefly check on something).   So, because I didn't check anything until 11:00pm last night... I missed my first class.   I have definitely got to get  "regular" calendar for this important stuff.  I feel like an idiot.   Hopefully, the instructor won't hold it against me.


Anyway, I've been listening to class and it sounds fun.  I am actually more classes ahead. With the other class I am currently taking not included, I only have 2 more classes to go.   So I've been exposed to a lot of different sites.  That being said, what I find really cool about Web 2.0 (and frustrating as well) is that there are ALWAYS new things to be discovered.  Even the most tech savvy learn things in classes like this where you share resources.   I always learn something new when discussing tools people like to use, be it a new site or a new feature to a site I use but haven't explored throughly.

  It's going to be a fun class.

Pro Port Ex 1.1

This looks to be a busy, but very productive class.    

So.... this weeks blog question is.......  How have you or your schools utilized ePortfolios? 

Well, the short answer is... we don't.  However, our 6th~8th grade students do have portfolios that they are supposed to put items in throughout their career at our middle school.  Then at the end of 8th grade, they present their portfolios to two teachers.  They have to "pass" in order to go to high school. 

That being said, I think there are a lot of programs that could be used for their portfolios.  I think Prezi would be a great way to do a digital portfolio.  You can add in audio and video clips, not to mention pictures and scans of physical artifacts.   I wouldn't mind making my own professional portfolio Prezi.... I think it would help set me apart from the pack.

A lot of the tools we've learned in class I think would be great for making the projects that end up in the digital portfolio.   I especially think that iMovie and Garageband have a lot of potential. Also, Comic Life would also be another way to present information in a new and creative way.

Facilitating...... could've gone better.

Well, getting my feet wet the first time facilitating was interesting.  There are definitely things I could do next time to improve.    I definitely need to refine my questions/prompts.

My original idea when I made my power point was to have everyone myth bust the myths.  Unfortunately, I made several assumptions.  #1) Everyone would know what I wanted them to do with no prompts.  #2) They're adults so they'll just "get it".

I definitely need to work on prompts and clearer expectations.  I learned a lot from my cohort members.  Definitely learned a lot by watching my classmates.  I definitely will do better the next time I'm planning to facilitate.

Reflections.... like moon beams off the water.....

Okay.... one of the biggest challenges of facilitating ,I think, will be keeping track of everyone once you break up in to groups.  I asked Ken if it was possible to record the small groups, to which he said, "No...not yet."  I think it would be hard to grade small group discussion in larger class with many break-out groups.   I can't wait for that upgrade.  That will be cool.

Things that are really important to think about are the questions and execution. It will be hard doing the mini 15 minute class, but it will be a good taste of what it'll be like in a longer class.  Although, in a longer class, it will be hard to plan the right amount so that you have enough to do, but not an excess.  Or the opposite where you run out of stuff to do and have those awkward pauses.

I chose my topic because while I want to use more computers in class, but with my school and computer lab issues, coupled with my students access to computers and internet is somewhat limited, I thought it would be an appropriate topic.

When I was developing my rubrics for my activities, they are based on some rubrics I use for writing in my class. I thought it would be good to be consistent. So I didn't entirely recreate the wheel.... instead I decided to modify it.  Work smarter, not harder.  :-)