Week Two Personal Reflection

Before beginning this course; I had many friends working within the teaching profession approach me and attempt to explain the notion of the ‘ePortfolio.’ Honestly, I never understood. Different people had different perceptions and it seemed like everybody brought various concepts. The one common opinion people shared with relevance to this resource was that it was extremely ‘important’ and that ‘I couldn’t get a job without it.’ Listening to Greg’s views of the ePortfolio and reading through the notes provided on LMS, the concept started making more sense. Going away and completing my own research, I believe I now not only have a better understanding but have also been able to develop an understanding for the importance of this resource.

Pebble Pad describes the ePortfolio as being a resource, which allows others to see the progress of both your skills and development (Pebble Pad, 2010). Rather than being a ‘one off’ notion, I gather the ePortfolio should be ongoing and continuously developed through additions and updates. Essentially, ‘it works as a user-centred, personalised learning space allowing the user to shape the way they present themselves to the world’ (Mahara, 2008). With the freedom of creating personalised design and template, the idea of personalised learning is further enhanced and learning needs are catered for at an individual level (Mahara, 2008). ‘Students get to be informed, active participants in their own learning, they contribute to decisions about what learning can work best for them, and they have a much better understanding of how they are progressing (Minister of Education, NZ, 2007).

With a wide range of resources to work with, the ePortfolio allows students and teachers to further enhance their multimedia skills as well as develop their presentation skills. With a development of achievements overtime, the ePortfolio allows for both reflection and self assessment. Having a personal experience of the standard ‘scrapbooking’ exercise, I perceive the ePortfolio as a ‘scrapbook with an edge.’ As the notes provided on LMS also mention, scrapbooks are only an accumulation of information which provide no incentives of reflection. With the incorporation of continued learning, I only wish this proposal had been around when I was in school.

References:

Mahara: http://mahara.org/about/eportfolios

Pebble Pad: www.pebblelearning.co.uk/definitions.asp