Module11

Kelly Bottenfield August 5,2013

__Research Topic: __ Implementing interactive student E-portfolios in High School

__Initial Thesis:__ (after completing Question Brainstormer exercise)

Why would an on-going student centered inquiry based portfolio be worth implementing?

__Revised Thesis:__ (used Tom March’s These Builder)

High School Students Can Gain 21st Century Skills Through Developing Their Own E-Portfolios
 * a Persuasive Thesis Statement on high school student e-portfolios:
 * Even though e-portfolios have been around for decades and were mainly used to just collect information, implementing a high school student interactive e-portfolio program with a constructionist model will help learners develop 21st century skills because students will become better evaluators of information and become better writers and using a constructionist e-portfolio model will help students to value their e-portfolios and increase their intrinsic motivation.

__Abstract of Digital Story: __

 My digital story will tell a convincing story from an educator’s perspective that implementing a student interactive e-portfolio in the high school would prove to be a very valuable tool for students. There is a strong relationship between student centered e-portfolios and developing 21st century skills. Engagement and motivation are key factors in increases students’ intrinsic motivation and the value that hold in their work. Self-reflection process of portfolio development helps learners develop higher order thinking skills. Today’s technology supports all components of e-portfolio development. Tapping into that will create a place for students to practice and learn information literacy skills that of a 21st century learner.

__Digital Story: __ “Giving the APPLE to the Sudnets! It’s Time to Put the Power in Their Hands.”

URL link: []

Created using Piclits & Microsoft Power Point – then uploaded to Brainshark.

media type="custom" key="23575596"

__Reflection: __

 There were three parts of this assignment that I enjoyed. I liked Tom March’s Thesis Builder that we used early in the course. I felt that this helped me narrow my topic and helped me to develop a stronger thesis statement. This made it easier to start the research.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Another part was the type of resources I was able to find and use for my research. I found slides, videos, video webcasts, and scholarly articles. Being that I am a visual leaner, I was able to get a wealth of information about my topic in a way that I liked. The fact that they were from experts in the field was great. Many experts are using the power of the web and its tools to share their knowledge. I was able to gather multiple resources from Dr. Helen Barrett’s curated sites. This part of my research just goes to show that students will look to multiple types of media when searching.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The last part of my research journey was bittersweet but I enjoyed none the less. I knew that based n t he task that I wanted to create a story where I could use my own voice to tell me story. I decided I wanted to use simple slides with powerful words & phrases and realistic photos. I found a great site that had a super catalog of images and it was designed to add simple words or phrases to them. You had the capability to send them by email, link them, or embed them. It was called Piclits. I had fun with this site. In fact this was where my inspiration for my title and beginning came from. Half way through Piclits was giving me trouble. My plan was to upload them into Slide story where I could add my audio story. Well, that didn’t work. As time was running out, I became very stressed out. I finally switched gears. I opened Power Point and began all over. With keeping my original goal in mind, I developed slides that intended for my audience and not me. I was also able to use some of my Piclit pictures in Power Point. The rest of my copy-right friendly photos came from Flicker. I was happy with my finished slide presentation. Now, it was time to step it up and add some “POW” to it. I uploaded it into Brainshark and was able to quickly focus and add my voice story to my digital presentation. This allowed me to portray my voice and passion for my argument. I really enjoyed using Brainshark and Piclits (even though I trouble with it). They are now added to my favorites. Both can be used to give powerpoint presentations some added flavor.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Even with all my computer issues and trouble with Piclits, I was able to complete my project and very proud of it. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Annotated Bibliography ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Barrett, Helen. "A High School Inquiry." //ePortfolios for Learning//. Blogger, 11 Feb. 2005. Web. 5 Aug. 2013.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dr. Helen Barrett is an expert in the field of portfolios. She has done extensive research over the past 2 decades. In her blog post to a high student she easily addresses the reasoning for developing e-portfolios. She offers three solid reasons for student portfolio development in a positive tone. This quick read was supportive of other articles on this matter.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Donna, Herring F., and Notar E. Charles. "Show What You Know: E-Portfolios for 21st Century Learners." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">College // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Student Journal //<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> 45.4 (2011): 786-92. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> //EBSCOhost//. Web. 5 Aug. 2013.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">This scholarly journal article connectsthe relationship between e-portfolio and 21st century skills. Key indicators of what a 21st century student needs in order to learn were clear. Engagement and motivation are keys to learning. Multiple implications for education were addressed in the article. How technology plays a role in our students' lives, to making sure internet access is available to students 24/7, to wireless devices being the norm more often than computer labs in schools, and to developing learners who are not only consumers but producers of knowledge. Educators need to create a learning environment where students can collaborate & create performance based projects and e-portfolio can help student engagement.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">High School Portfolios: To "e" or Not to "e." //<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> BCCampus, 15 Feb. 2005. Web. 5 Aug. 2013. <span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <https://present.bccampus.ca/p43204744/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal>.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">This was an excellent source of information about e-portfolio development. In this interactive video podcast Dr. Helen Barrett discusses e-portfolio development from its initial stage. Along with her discussion, video slides were presented that were supplemental to her presentation. She is sharing the information with a group of teachers who were gaining valuable information on e-portfolio development and how to start implementing them in their school. Dr. Barrett points out the portfolio processes involved with development and herconcern about how portfolios are used. Student reflection and intrinsic motivation are discussed as key areas to portfolio development. Teachers were able to ask her questions, which offered the listener their perspective.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Susan, Geiger, and Arriaga Anne. "First Steps in Implementing a High School E-Portfolio Program." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Library Media // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Connection //<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> 31.2 (2012): 50-51. Print.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> In this journal article, the authors, educators, offer steps forimplementing e-portfolios at the high school level. This directly related to my specific research need and topic. They supported their position that e-portfolios help develop self-reflection and create a safe environment to practice information literacy skills. They reference the expert portfolioresearcher Dr. Helen Barrett.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">TEDxASB Blurring the Boundaries: Social Networking and ePortfolio Development //<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">You-Tube //<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">. You-Tube, 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 5 Aug. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckcSegrwjkA>.

<span style="background-color: #fff9e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">In this video clip Dr. Helen Barrett is a guest speaker at TEDxASB conference held on February 25, 2010. In her video she explains the relationship between Social Networking and e-Portfolio Development. Her extensive research and expertise offers an insight into today's technology and it impacts e-portfolio development in a positive way. Social networking and e-portfolio development share some common characteristics. She is an excellent speaker who is able to deliver her point clearly and with knowledge.