Leveraging ePortfolios & PLEs to Facilitate Learning

The best way I can address how an ePortfolio or Personal Learning Environment can influence and facilitate learning is to make sure that students are given the opportunity to create one. In this way students become engaged and involved in co-creating knowledge. PLEs are a new approach to learning and educators must be open and willing to build it into their curriculum. The traditional pedagogy is now obsolete and is evolving in the school system. Students now expect to control their own learning. Make class content more relevant by giving students free rein to integrate it into an ePortfolio or PLE. Use Web 2.0 technologies in course content to keep school from becoming irrelevant to the everyday lives of many young people and how they communicate and share knowledge.

The virtual classroom, MySpace, Blogs, Flickr, Online Social Networks and Communities, Google Sites, Wiki Spaces; there's such a variety of Web 2.0 technologies to choose from, that providing at least one or two of these tools in a class assignment would be a step towards supporting learning that digital natives can relate to and hold their interest.

Online Learning vs. Face-to-Face Learning

An online program is different from a face-to-face program because you do not see anyone face-to-face. You are in a virtual environment and communicate in hyperspace through the Internet. It is possible to have face-to-face contact with your instructor or other class participants if your communication platform includes using a Web cam, video teleconferencing, or a videophone. Otherwise, what is more likely is that your communication platform will include email, texting, telephone, cell phone, instant message, or perhaps telephone software. The teacher and student experience each other distantly. It is a relationship that cannot be fully developed as it would if you were in the same room together studying. Therefore, it requires the student to be proactive in seeking out relationships online by participating in discussion threads, conference calls, online communities, phone calls with mentors. Online learning is learning independently and asynchronously.

In a face-to-face program, the nuances of the teacher's and student's personality can be seen, heard, and felt. The learning is more personal because you are both physically in the same room and you have met one another, at least if the class size is not too large. In-person learning is more social and in that setting we more easily develop friendships. We create a mini community and bond in class together. We are neighbors. We become connected.

A Teacher's Role & My eLearning Philosophy

These days, I believe, that the teacher's role is to facilitate learning. Because students are so technologically savvy teachers must integrate it into their curriculum. It's the way students are oriented to the world. Also, students must be put in the driver's seat of their learning so they won't get bored. The traditional pedagogy where instructors fed students with information while they passively listened is no longer the norm. There are so many more ways that students can get information on their own that it makes sense to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into their studies. It's already a part of their everyday lives.

I have to think hard on what my philosophy might be of teaching as I do not think of myself as a teacher. Rather, I think of myself as an eLearning instructional designer and content developer. Although, if put in the position to lead a class, my philosophy would tend to encourage creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and having an openess to change. I prefer to think of this philosophy as a practice that's ongoing. It's more manageable this way.

eLearning for Educators

Wow! What a fun course! I have totally enjoyed the material in this class, my instructor Dr. Ernie Hughes, and meeting educators from all levels of the school system. Because I am currently also taking an online Master of Education in Learning and Technology program at Western Governors University at the same time, I have found many tools and resources that I can use for my capstone project. I wish that the portal could be permanently available so that I could access it as a future resource. The content has been a treasure trove of resources and information.

I defintely will continue on the path of eLearning instructional design and development. It's exciting for me because my profession is becoming more in demand. I'm bound to land a spot where I can practice all I've learned this summer at Bellevue College. I'd like to pursue the Certificate program and hope I can find an elective that will bridge Fall and Winter quarter for me. In the meantime, I'm going to continue developing an instructional unit that will be a blended training on how to produce video for the Web directed to a non-profit organization audience. Wish me luck!

LinkedIn - My Social Media of Choice

The most well-known social media tools include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Even though I have accounts in all of these media, I mostly use LinkedIn. I stick to LinkedIn because it meets my needs for my current focus which is professional branding and marketing. My account also has examples of my work so that potential employers can get an idea of what I've done. LinkedIn has been an amazing tool for me in developing my professional network by connecting with them online as part of my own network and by learning from the different groups that I have joined. There is such a wealth of information from discussion threads that it is challenging to keep up with all. I highly recommend it. My understanding is that employers look at a LinkedIn profile in addition to one's resume.

Here's a link to my public profile if you're interested:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/floradelangel