Core Activity 2.2: Reflection

Activity 2.1 has fizzled out so im starting the reflection, plus im also behind and need to get a move on.

I was late into the task so was always going to be on the back foot and playing catch-up. The task seems to have been driven by 2 members of the team, Steve, and Giulia, both have done a great job in getting things moving. It’s a shame that more people have not contributed. I have also noticed reading other blogs that this has happened in other tutor groups. I’ve skim read a few articles and made some contributions to the template,the reading list and made an effort with the discussion section.

Ive found the activity straightforward, doing it as a group is much more difficult if only few contribute.

It seems really quite on the forums which is a shame, would like a social area, somewhere to get to know my course buddies a bit better. I learn much better through interaction with others.

Based on the 'framework for personal and professional development' as seen at the top.

Technology related competency

Using the forums, wiki, blog, Google search. I have found the forums really difficult to navigate and use, really don’t like them, it seems so restrictive. When i expand all the comments, its a massive document, if I don't expand them i cant find the conversation string in looking for.

Research related competency

Read core readings - highlighted drivers for e-portfolio development.

Researched possible reasons why the HE Progress Files have had slow uptake.

Lots to read and take in which i should be used to having completed H800. Im kinda used to reading lots of text so its not too bad at the moment. Finding it difficult as a lot of the texts are based around the context of higher education, which im not that familiar with. I need to get a better understanding of this area as it could be important for my understanding progress on the course.

Communication related competency

Using the forums to make points and have discussions (although somewhat limited). Im a bit at the lack of participation especially as we have been given group work. I wonder if a different form of communication would suit others, ive seen that a few use skype, perhaps we could arrange a skype session??

e-Portfolio Organisational View - a potential conflict?

Taken from an article by George Siemens its part of the supplementary reading list.

Diagram 1-1 details the stages of eportfolio development organizationally. As the levels progress, the concerns shift from the learner to implementation challenges for the institution and the industry.

Level 1 may include simple websites and incorporate blogs or wikis. Limited navigation of content is included.
Level 2 consists of dynamic web pages. Navigation and search features are available. Portfolio owners can also create different sections of the site to allow access for different reasons.
Level 3 requires institutional support of eportfolios, including instruction on actual use. The institution may also host the software to allow learners to build their portfolios.
Stage 4 requires the institution integrates portfolio use and development into the process of instruction and assessment
Stage 5 requires the institution adheres to standards, permits interoperability of the portfolio with other institutions.

A really interesting read, particularly liked the focus on the potential conflict between the learning institute and the student. Is this another attempt for the learning institute hijack, formalise/standardise something which is already available to students? Do we really need an e-portfolio system, cant we just use our blogs, emails, Google docs to store evidence? Doing it this way the student is in control, its flexible and portable. I think I would feel pretty frustrated if forced to use a institution controlled e-portfolio system.

Few quotes that stood out:

“Eportfolios will be successful if the urge to excessively standardize is resisted”

“The institution should not be in control of the portfolio”

“An online portfolio remembers more than successes – it is also a compilation of work-in-progress as a learner, and taken out of context, could misrepresent intended meaning. Like any web resource, eportfolios are subject to security and privacy risks.”

“Who has ultimate control – the learner or institution?”

HE Progress Files

Had a very quick look at the ‘Guidelines for HE Progress Files’. It’s an overview document, gives definitions, guidance on how it fits within existing frameworks, benefits, responsibilities etc. It gives a flavour of what they are trying to achieve by introducing the Progress files. There are however no practical steps in how to implement, or what the PDP actually looks like.

I did a bit more digging as to why this programme is failing/failed; there are a few documents on the web evaluating its progress. This one by the OU presents research findings from a survey of HE institutes:

http://oro.open.ac.uk/324/1/ProgressFiles.pdf.

In general it showed that the implementation of Transcripts was going well. PDP progress is slow; there is a lack of clarity in what a PDP really is.

What are programme specifications?

A programme specification (PS) is a concise description of the intended learning outcomes of an

HE programme, and the means by which the outcomes are achieved and demonstrated.

In general, modules or other units of study have stated outcomes, often set out in

handbooks provided by institutions to inform student choice. These intended learning

outcomes relate directly to the curriculum, study and assessment methods and criteria used

to assess performance.

A PS and progress files forms part of a HE framework to be more explicit about what is learnt and how it is learnt.

What is an e-Portfolio?

Interesting to see the different definitions of e-portfoilos. I think that the JICS one resonates with me the most:

“Portfolios, in education and personal or professional development, are collections of documents and other objects that can be shown as evidence to support claims a person makes about what they know, what they have achieved, and what they can do. As for eportfolios, a common starting point is that they are simply electronic versions of physical portfolios that contain digital objects instead of physical objects. They are ‘… the new generation of the old three-ring binder’.”

Its quite high level and is therefore flexible, the e-portfolio is evidence of what I know, what ive done and what I can do. Im not too sure how I would evidence ‘what I can do’ surely that feeds from ‘what I know’ and ‘what ive done’. Im also wondering as an e-portfolio is evidence based, is it backward looking element of a ‘personal development file’, whereas the PDP must be the forward looking element?

PDP - a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development.

End of H800 - ahh the pain!

Its been a tough week; the ECA H800 deadline, work pressures and H808 picking up pace. I feel exhausted, mentally drained, finding im walking around with a permanent head pressure. If I was honest I felt deflated after the hand in; was tired, fed-up and wasn’t that pleased with what I had produced. I’ve handed my ECA in how, hurrah!

It was a tough assignment; I think that I really struggled to get to grips with the question, as it was big and complex. If I had a chance to do it again (and hopefully I wont) I would make sure that I had a better understanding of the question. I would also plan my answer more detail, and be more specific. I would also take more time in writing it and do it properly the first time; the hours I must have wasted correcting silly mistakes. Its done now, fingers crossed for 40%+, roll on H808.

Thoughts on the audio

It was really interesting listening to the audio, I had never before considered what it means to be an 'e-learning professional'. I could relate to Robin's comments when she said being a professional was about research and practice. I also felt that Gill picked up on a good point about being a part of a community of shared values, and also having a recognised qualification. I think these points pretty much sum up what I think it means to be a professional. I am however still unsure about the definition of 'e-learning'. I find that many people have different ideas about what they mean when they use this term. People often associate the phrase with a screen based on-line course that you simply click through. I think e-learning is so much more, which is perhaps why I prefer the term 'technology enhanced learning' which was mentioned in the audio by Robin. I also wonder if the different roles that help create, develop, promote and implement e-learning consider themselves to be e-learning professionals. Roles such as flash developers, graphic designers, instructional designers, project managers could all quite easily belong to other professional groups.

Progress report

Ok, well so far ive posted an introduction to the group, and found the group wiki where we all have to post our blog URLs.

I then spent some time grabbing all the URLs and put them in to Google Reader. Google Reader is a fantastic application, there is no way I could keep up-to-date will all blogs and site updates etc without it.

I have made sure that I have subscribed to the forums, I now get an email when people make a posting. I like this facility, i didn't get it with H800 and its going to be really useful, and means that i don't have to keep logging in daily to see who has been posting.

Up next, ive got to investigate e-portfolios and what it means to be an e-learning proffessional.

In this activity you are asked to write a short reflection on your first impressions...

Ok, first impressions...

• Finding it difficult to know exactly what im meant to be doing over the next few weeks for unit 1. I think this is because in H800 we had specific activities to achieve. Its possibly starting off slow to get the wide variety of people on the course up to speed.
• As expected there is lots to read, and it seems to be dotted all over the place. I know that im going to miss something.
• There is already a lot of discussion on the forums - some people are very keen. Its great that people are willing to share their thoughts and ideas it makes the course so much more interesting and valuable. I was reflecting the other night how my H800 course would have been totally different with a different set of people, or if people were not as enthusiastic to collaborate. I tried to post a quick "hello" only to find that i have 'read access' to the forums which is frustrating. Ive logged a call with support, they have 3 days to sort it.
• Its nice to see a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, ive noticed some people from the NHS and from universities. Its going to be good to share perspectives.
• Not really looked much into the content as yet. Its mostly about defining the e-learning professional, and getting to grips with the course tools. I think im going to investigate using google docs for my portfolio system. Some people have done some interesting things with google sites which i need to look into.

1st Post

Testing, testing 1,2,3

Hurrah it works, just a quick post this evening.

Looking forward to H808, however at the moment im still trying to finish off H800 so im a bit worried about keeping up with as the weeks steam roll ahead. I will be done in 22 days so fingers crossed I wont be that far behind.

So what is an e-Learning professional? I think that both words; 'e-learning' and 'professional' are contextual and subjective. I've dipped into the course material this evening and from what ive read/heard it doesn't look like there is a simple definition, which is what i was expecting. If i have chance tomorrow im gonna have a go at what i think the term means.