Portfolio Platoon Committee – The Cybernauts (suggested committee names) Spring 2002

During Spring Semester 2002 students in two sections of Ed. 225, Exceptional Child and Ed. 226, Field Placement conducted a pilot study on the use of MicroSoft Word’s Document Map to organize, store, and showcase their knowledge and skills learned in these courses. At the end of April we will evaluate the process and students will make recommendations for using this method or returning to the use of a 3-ring notebook to organize, store, and showcase their knowledge and skills. In either case the material will be referred to as the “Learning Portfolio.” Included in the Electronic Learning Portfolio are:

1. Title page sharing information on the student, classes, and semester
2. Introduction to what the Learning Portfolio means to the students
3. Choosing teaching statement (Why the student decided to pursue teaching as a career.)
4. Belief statement on teaching (Hopefully this will reflect meeting the needs of all students in the classroom, as the emphasis in these courses is on students with disabilities as well as G & T students
5. Field placement PowerPoint presentation and evaluations from professor and peers (Mentors’ evaluations will be scanned in when students receive them.)
6. Group presentation information and professor and peer evaluations (scanned in)
7. Collection of Experiences
8. Reflections on the Professional Abilities
9. Goals for Level II

The Learning Portfolio contains digital photos, digital video clip (6 students have done this so far), websites, and other technology applications which meet the NETS*T assigned to these classes.

Server space versus saving to a second zip disk

1. Students are able to add information as they proceed through the education sequence

2. Professors can easily view and grade the content

3. With 51 students doing exit presentations accessing the server saves valuable time

4. If Level II continues using an electronic portfolio all students will have information saved; no lost or damaged disks, etc.

Next steps

I have drafted a committee to brainstorm ways (next fall) the Electronic Learning Portfolio might be continued in Level II courses. The following students have expressed an interest in this:

Committee members include:

* Not formally invited to participate on the committee yet. I would also like to include professors teaching Level II courses, one at the elementary and one at the secondary levels.

Brett Harring – special education

Kristi Van Der Kolk – secondary

Steven Van Dyk – elementary

*Kelly Jabcobsma – Library

*Marge Wiersma – CIT

Susan Cherup – Education

Last year about 150 students graduated with teaching certificates. If students could have server space until the last week of classes their senior year they could burn their portfolio on a CD and take it with them.