Reflection Blog #3

After reading Electronic Portfolios as Digital Stories of Deep Learning, I connected to Tenet #3 (AFL should be central to classroom practice.)  The use of e-portfolios should be a long-term tool in each classroom, for every student, and continue forward throughout the learners' school career and hopefully beyond.  I believe as a kindergarten teacher you can start very young learners to use these interactive opportunities and to show growth throughout the years.  For example, it would not be difficult to teach the young ones Wordle and show them how to add it to their portfolios.  Later, as they progress from grade to grade they can add, reflect, improve, etc... their mapping skills and create new more meaningful projects.  Similar to a parent collecting photos of their child throughout their school years, comparing and contrasting changes!  This tool can also go with a student anywhere.  It is easily transferred to new situations and can be used from teacher to teacher, school to school, career to career. 

Potentially, e-portfolios might enable the student to access a wealth of resources.  Each resource might be used, adjusted, added to, deleted from, etc... as the learner grows.  The continuity of this concept learning has no boundaries.  The learner will be able to access print options for learning but also be able to connect with professionals and use their guidance while staying actively engaged.  From the great starting point of kindergarten, through the formative years of youth, an e-portfolio opportunity should be considered a huge knowledge-building base. 

The building of my own e-portfolio enables me to create and develop the ability to stay current with professional activities, share with others what I have learned, and showcase materials and opportunities accumulated through my own years of learning.  In reflection, my portfolio can stay with me and evolve as I move careers, change interests, and add materials to refer to when new questions arise.  I will be able to access learned information quickly, evaluate my own progress through the years, and reach others that might be of assistance in my learning journey.