Week 2 - MS Publisher and E-portfolios

In this weeks' Workshop we were exposed to MS Publisher, a desktop publishing application allowing students and teachers to create an array of products; including greeting cards, posters, brochures, calendars etc (http://www.micosroft.com/). Through exploration of this application, it was obvious at the ease in which students and teachers at all levels were able to understand how the program works. We explored this software by engaging in an activity in which we were required to create a brochure of a holiday destination using this application (example entry below). I can certainly appreciate the use of this application as a way in which children can use the web search engine to explore, investigate and research as a means to complete a given task or activity. This can be acheived by exporting images, photos, web links, videos and photos to enhance their presentations. I also appreciate the user friendly aspect of the program, anyone one from beginner to advanced is able to navigate their way around this product.

My brochure explores the wonders of 'Paris'.






Following this activity we were introduced to E-portfolios, these according to Jackie Miers from MaGill Primary School S.A (http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jmresources/ePortfolio.htm) are described as a collection of work that:
 - reflects an individual’s efforts, achievements and progress over time
- is performance-based and also goal driven
- indicates knowledge and skills and self reflection
- encourages career development and acts as a facilitation for life-long learning


My curiosity into the use of e-portfolios as a means for professional development in my pursuit for a career in education lead me to the extensive work of Dr. Helen Barrett, a pioneer for electronic portfolios and Digital storytelling for lifelong learners (http://electronicportfolios.com/). She describes e-portfolios are a means of ‘transforming’ professional development and can be built to meet many purposes; an environment for reflection on learning, a tool for formative and summative assessment or an asset in searching for employment. Thus, an e-portfolio endeavours not only to serve as a means for getting a job but rather as a means to see a progression into my learning and what has changed over time, it serves as my story of growth and development and not merely as a means to tick the boxes in meeting teaching requirements. Furthermore, it is a means to demonstrate a professional progression and self-reflection of career development and thus acting as a facilitation tool to my own life-long learning journey. I truly believe that this knowledge and development will serve as a powerful assessment not only for myself as a future professional educator but enable me to pass these benefits onto my future students.


Below is a snapshot of the beginning of an e-portfolio using MS Publisher, completed in our workshop this week.