Thursday, February 18, 2010

E- portfolios in Education

Summary:

The article addressed e-portfolios and how they are used in the educational world. It also spoke about the uses of the device in higher education as the main focus and production of a students learning. Traditionally, portfolios have been stored in boxes and three-ring binders. Although this format works fine for paper and other print-based materials, it misses many other ways ways of communicating ideas. The article discussed the characteristics of a portfolio in higher education. The article discussed an research project that was constructed at a Brussels University. They took what they learned from the actions and tweaked the portfolio assignment to better meets the needs of the students. The reflective process of portfolio development can promote better teaching, develop fresh thinking about education, and encourage personal and professional growth

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEKTsyHzI1w

Reflection:

The video is a reflection of why we should convert to the use of e-portfolios in our educational society. It briefly speaks about the advantages and expectations of e-portfolios. Over the past decade, many people have found electronic portfolios as an effective way to more clearly present information not only through text, but also through visuals, audio, and video formats. A portfolio is a sampling of the breadth and depth of a person's work conveying the range of abilities, attitudes, experiences, and achievements. The reflective process of portfolio development can be as important as the final product. Electronic Portfolios are a creative means of organizing, summarizing, and sharing information, and ideas about teaching and/or learning, along with personal and professional growth among any age of a student.

Question: Are e-portfolios a device that would be effective in the elementary, middle, and high school levels in education?

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Review of Social networking, youth and privacy.....

Summary:

The EDUCASE article," Youth privacy, and social networking technologies" discusses, the types of, and the laws that are around the uses around social networking. The actual definition of a social network, is a social structure made of individuals or organizations called "nodes," which are tied connected by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige (Wikpedia dictionary). Social networking is getting dissected by the federal government each day because of the types of materials and sources that are available to its users. Earlier forms of technology such as matching services, bulletin boards etc... acted in the same precedent as today's social networking sites do.. Social networking is the new way people socialize instead of getting out on the weekends. Myspace, facebook and other personal blogs are more technological advanced ways to communicate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdLIgHf-RI4

Reflection:

Over the past decade social networking has launched into galaxies unimaginable. As a society living with the overwhelming advances in technology we must learn to manage it with responsibility and in a reasonable way. Yes the government is daily trying to make laws that ban this network or that network. I feel that we should monitor this as we do other things.. Put restrictions on youth sites. Encourage parents to manage their teens usage. Teens are going to use the social networks regardless. It is similar to the use of alcohol and drug use among this age. They are going to find a way to use. On the other hand, I find it in some cases to be beneficial for some teens. It allows them to communicate in a way that they would not if they had to communicate face to face with a person/people.

Question: What limitations should we put on teen usage of social networking? Should we weigh the pros and cons and let the results make the decision?