keep on learning
I have used WordPress in the past when most of the features were still free. I now used Weebly which is simple enough for me to use while allowing a lot of customization to give it that professional look. Interesting enough, Weebly was founded by students at the (Penn State) because they were required to maintain an Internet portfolio of their work and they wanted a platform that made it easier to build their portfolios. This semester I was tasked with planning and implementing a professional development with the focus on student learning, instructional practices, and school learning.
The traditional way of providing instruction to our learners has been completely uprooted in part thanks to COVID-19. I had to produce a resolution to this problem and provide strategies to alleviate the problems before presenting my findings in front of the leadership team. One of these strategies I suggested was the creation of a digital portfolio for all teachers who were going to be taking part of my pilot program. I explained to them that this was not just going to be a dumping ground of work or scrapbook of ideas; instead, this was going to be space to reflect on their learning and growth. Included in the ePortfolio would be a profile of their introduction, education history, and unique experiences. Their profile would also include their resume, professional goals and objectives, awards, and organizations. Then, they should provide evidence of skills, such as samples of past work. Next, they would include student work, observation feedback, self-reflection essays, and a blog of their ideas and thoughts. They were encouraged to continue to update their ePortfolio even after the completion of the pilot program. Based on the feedback, many of them said that this experience was worthwhile and something they wished they had created at the beginning of their professional career. And I must agree. Therefore, owning your own domain is critical for personal and professional growth (Rikard, 2015).
Looking at the different ePortfolios from the previous DLL students, I can see the personalization that went into each site and their learning process. Each site offers a lot of diversity, content, and sophistication (Harapnuik, 2019). I wish this were something I could have used to show my targeted audience, especially since my blog was only in its infancy. Many of these blogs are still a work in progress because the learning process never stops. Like I tell my students, keep on learning!
My site has been under a lot of construction these past few months. I have used WordPress in the past when most of the features were still free. I decided on Weebly which is simple enough for me to use while allowing a lot of customization to give it that professional look. Interesting enough, Weebly was founded by students at the (Penn State) because they were required to maintain an Internet portfolio of their work and they wanted a platform that made it easier to build their portfolios. Which I agree. I have been recommending Weebly to my team as well.
(I have since made the switch to WordPress because I wanted full control over my content.)
My biggest takeaway from starting this site is that my ePortfolio should highlight my personal, professional, and social interests. I want visitors to see my passion for education and technology and I want to share my knowledge, ideas, and experiences with them. I want them to see my progress and maturity as I document my learning.
References
Harapnuik, D. (2019). Examples of eportfolios. It’s About Learning. http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=5979
Rikard, R. (2015, August 10). Do I own my domain if you grade it? EdSurge.
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-08-10-do-i-own-my-domain-if-you-grade-it
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