Below is my recent presentation entitled “ePortfolios: An Interactive Inspection of a Primary Teacher’s Journey with ePortfolios from Inspiration to Implementation.” The presentation was given at ULearn09 held in Christchurch, N.Z.
The presentation was broken into three parts; my research, a chance for individuals to look through 7 of my student’s ePortfolios and lastly a look at three ePortfolio perspectives (students, parents and mine).
The video interviews (lasting 6 mins long) with a sample of my Parents is not viewable from the slideshow below. I do not currently have permission to share the video publicly. However if you are interested email me at j_lietze@yahoo.co.nz or if you have a Centre4 login you can view my presentation with the video and notes here.
Well my excitement has not wavered since sitting in on Nick Rate’s presentation on “Assessment for Learning and Eportfolios” at ULearn08.
What caught and inspired me to seriously have a go next year with eportfolios was his explanation of how they effectively facilitate assessment for learning which enables feedback/forward, greater student ownership, stronger parental partnerships and an increase in personalised learning. There are other reasons for eportfolios but these were enough for me! See his presentation below:
2 months down the track I have successfully negotiated with my Senior Management to trial eportfolios next year. They have also asked me to keep a record of my journey so I will endeavour to share my thoughts and reflections here :+)
Tony Ryan’s workshop “Transformational Teaching” inspired and motivated me. His presentation was positive and practical. During his workshop he touched on some values he thought were key for education and then shared a practical example for helping students apply values. This was what I was looking for. Our New Zealand Curriculum encourages the development of values but we all know that it is easier to talk about them than apply them.
His practical idea to encourage the application of values was called “Academic Controversy”:
Form into teams of 4 and appoint two ‘yes’ and two ‘no’ representatives.
Identify the statement. Eg: Every human being must be respected and tolerated, without expectation.
In your pairs, brainstorm all of the arguments that support your side.
Present your arguments to the other pair.
Now change sides and present the other perspective.
Drop the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ representatives and determine your group’s final response to the topic.
Mark your group’s final decision on a Yes/No continuum line and justify your stance to others.
Other ways I am working on that encourage the application of values include:
Drama: Act out a scene where a value isn’t, and then is applied.
Goal Setting
Retelling a Story: Julia Atkin first showed me this technique at ULearn 07. In groups of three:
Person #1 tells a story of an act that they admired or touched them in some way where a value was demonstrated.
Person #2 retells the story that #1 shared.
Person #3 then retells the story from the perspective of the person who was admired.
I would love to hear of other ways you have found that encourage the application of values. Please leave a comment below to share these.
