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The Portfolio

You will be creating a learning portfolio online. It will include evidence of each of these phases although the order is up to you. The final step --your reflection on the learning-- is a critical part of the learning in both activities.

1) Learn Something 10% of portfolio grade
Students should collect resources, read materials related to the field, be reflective in their practice and demonstrate an understanding of their newly acquired knowledge. It is assumed that digital and traditional materials will be used for research purposes.

2) Make Something 25% of portfolio grade
Constructionism is a participatory sport. Students should construct a project using a computer that requires effort, creativity and persistence. This project should help the student learn more about their topic of inquiry through the active exploration of a problem or set of problems.

3) Use Something 10% of portfolio grade
Students should use a few different pieces of software related to their area of inquiry. You should be able to compare and contrast the ease-of-use, applicability and flexibility of the software packages. Some constructions will require the use of several different software packages. The more open-ended the package, the better. Of course, basic tool software counts, but not too much! Reflections on learning these new packages should be included in your portfolio.

4) Join Something 10% of portfolio grade
Students should find an online community of practice and/or professional organization dedicated to your area of inquiry. You should participate in this community and record your interactions for inclusion in your portfolio.

5) Teach Something 5% of portfolio grade
Share your project with your colleagues. You might want to ask them to solve a problem related to your construction. Record your interactions and reflect upon the teaching/learning that occurs.

6) Publish Something 20% of portfolio grade
All of your work should be assembled in a digital online web portfolio. This portfolio should include your construction (via screen shots if no online plug-in is available), sketches from your design notebooks, online resources used by you and related to your area of inquiry, links to related materials, logs of salient online communications, what your learned about the area of inquiry, reflections on your learning and reviews of software packages used. The final portfolio should be well organized, visually attractive and make a contribution to the world of ideas.

7) Reflect on Learning 20% of portfolio grade
While this reflection is primarily focused on the digital project, it can include thoughts on all parts of the course. This final commentary is your opportunity to pull together the learning experiences that you had during the course.