Portfolios

Student portfolios

The main task in this course is for each student to build up the student portfolio. We use many Internet based tools in course and students are expected to work during the course at building up their on-line portfolio . It consists of all their assignments and a description of the learning process.

The student portfolios are not only showcases used for assessment in the end of the course, they are also a piece of a knowledge structure (semantic network ) that each student builds up. Many parts of the student assignments and exercised that are in the portfolio are linked to and depend upon other websites and it is expected that student will use modules of their on-line portfolio in projects in the future. The portfolio consists of both of collection finished tasks and of a learning journal - a weblog that each student keeps through the course.

Assessment in this course is based upon the student portfolio. The portfolio is both showcase of student work and includes documentation or a learning journal by the students about their learning process.

All students keep a weblog - a learning journal for four months. The journal became one part of the portfolio

One aim of a portfolio is to promote reflective practice in teaching - The portfolio becomes a process, not just an idle snapshot. Reflective practice and improvement is a part of good teaching

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Example of a student weblog

Rationale behind use of weblogs

In the information society it is important that students develop metacognitive skills, that they are understand the current state of their own knowledge and are able to build on it and improve it and can make decisions based on the knowledge they have. In the NKN-2002 course I tried to find Web-based tools that can be used to help students develop metacognitive skills. One of such tools might be weblogs.

What is a weblog?

Weblogs are a kind of online journal where the person writing the journal can also log to other webpages she finds interesting. Weblogs are Web-based software where you can upload your thoughts, links, and pictures and placed according to your preset design, and save to your Web page. You can surf around and occasionally contributing to your blog. Often a Weblog is a kind of diary, a time-stamped annal where the newest entry (blog) is at the top. A blog can take on many forms, it can be news, links, reviews, photos, or just thoughts and comments.

I am now very interested in weblogs and experimenting using them as kind of on-line notebooks. The technology advances make more and more students connected all the time to the Internet. Keeping weblogs is not only useful for students in distance education. Now many campuses, conferences building and shopping malls offer on-line access for people bringing their own laptops. Weblogs or similiar tools can be very useful for advanced note taking during lectures or events.

Portfolio building is an ongoing process and the portfolio includes
all courses the students have finished or are enrolled in
Example of a portfolio linking to many course portfolio pages

Example of a Student portfolio main page

Example of students personal web with links to various projects
of the student and to portfolio pages of completed courses.

Blogging enables students to take ownership of the content. They can write, edit, review, and publish content. They can also critique each other and present different viewpoints.

Student weblogs enables learners to understand more about their thinking patterns and depth of understanding. Student weblogs are one building block of the digital portfolio of each student.

We are heading for a learning environment where the learner assembles the content that is required at any particular moment. User-control is an characteristic of interactive online environment but the traditional school setting does not allow the student much control.