Turning a Blog into an E-Folio: Part 2

To continue my exploration into online portfolios, or e-folios, I looked for e-folios that already exist online. Sure enough, someone beat me to the punch and I found a website that creates online portfolios at http://www.avenetefolio.com/. Aventefolio is an online portfolio management system that specializes in student, educator, career and institutional portfolios. To me, it sounds like an online resume to showcase your achievement. I don't believe we need our students to go pay another service to create these documents for them, when we have the power to enable students to have control over their educational presence on the web.

The main teacher I was inspired by was Robin Ulster at International School Bangkok. Her blog is set up with connections to additional information on the various aspects of her Humanities 7 class. In addition to the fabulous resources available to the students at all times, her students all maintain their own individual blogs which can be linked through her main class blog. Many of her students are already writing above and beyond what the average 7th grader would do in a normal classroom setting. For example, the student Nicole has created a place to reflect on her learning and create a space that says something about who she is as an individual and a student. It is a powerful tool for a student to know their voice matters in the world.

Another teacher blog I went to visit is by David Cole at Shanghai American School. His blog is set up logically with pages for the course description, homework, bio, student blogs, and suggested reading. A great example of one of Cole's student's blogs can be found at http://blogs.saschina.org/zachary01pd2014/. Zachary's design and layout put mine to shame, and I am impressed that he has links to other student blogs within his own blog. Students reflecting on one another's work and thinking is something to aspire to on a regular basis. Wouldn't you rather hear your students commenting on poetry than the latest gossip during lunch? E-folios can help lead our students to more meaningful discussions.

So after some more research, I have decided I want to take this one step further. The Nicoles and Zacharys of the world need a place to continue to showcase their learning. Jim Fitzgerald and I are in the unique position of being on the same English team next year and also enrolled in Course 2 of the ISB Certificate of Educational Technology and Information Literacy. Between the two of us, we will have a huge amount of the incoming students (approximately 200 students between the two of us) that we can begin to use e-folios with and help them through the process which will enable them to build a portfolio that will continue throughout their academic career at ISB. We are neophytes, I understand that. But in the world of technology, who isn't? We have a lot to learn about how to make this happen, how to convince students, teachers and parents that this is a good idea, and how it will all come out in the wash. We will engage on this journey together, and as it unfolds, this blog will follow our successes and failures.

Eventually we will have everything linked to a great wiki space titled http://doingstuff.wikispaces.com/. Some of my colleagues have already begun to post their great ideas for bringing technology into the classroom on this wiki (check it out), and I believe it will continue to grow. Jim and I are almost there, but not all the way. In the next few weeks we will post a jing video on how to set up a teacher blog through ISB and link it to your students, and a jing video on how to set up a student blog and link it to your teacher. But we have put the cart before the horse, and technology and our brains need a few more weeks to finish sorting it all out. Please stay tuned for more to come.