Welcome to the second module of a workshop on creating electronic portfolios
using common software tools. Dr. Helen Barrett has designed this workshop around
her five stages of electronic portfolio development, allowing you to sample
a variety of tools and strategies for publishing a portfolio in electronic format.
This second module will allow you to try out a variety of tools for building
an electronic portfolio using common software tools. We will also learn about
digital video and give you an opportunity to create a digital storytelling artifact
to enrich your electronic portfolio.
In addition to the following software that was required for the first Module
(Adobe Acrobat Reader,
QuickTime
Player, and Microsoft Office), you will need to find additional software
packages to try out, most of which is either free or trial versions can be downloaded
from the Internet.
- Adobe Acrobat (the full version, not just the reader) - as a free alternative,
you may use the Adobe website to translate files into Portable Document Format
(PDF)
- Web Page (HTML editor) - Netscape Composer is free, and other programs are
available for 30-day trials (Macromedia's
Dreamweaver and Adobe's
GoLive are excellent examples)
- iMovie (Macintosh) or a low-end video editing program for Windows, such
as Pinnacle Studio or the brand new Microsoft MovieMaker2 for Windows XP
- iPhoto (Macintosh OS X) or other image processing program for Windows, such
as
- Multimedia authoring program (such as eZedia,
Lectora, Hyperstudio)
In this section, we will continue our discussions of the various software choices
and issues, and each of you will eventually set up a web page on a web server.
We will also develop a rubric for evaluating our own electronic portfolio.
The only textbook for this workshop is Dr. Barrett's CD-ROM, Standards-Based
Electronic Portfolios plus access to the World Wide Web. However, because
of the hands-on nature of this module, I recommend students sign up for a semester
account with Atomic
Learning, a website that provides online videos demonstrating how to do
various tasks with a variety of software. They offer free tutorials for Macintosh
OS X, iMovie, and iPhoto. Access to other tutorials requires a password.
MODULE 2.1
Tools - Web-Compatible Hypermedia (Acrobat and HTML-Composer)
In this section, we will explore the use of WWW-compatible hypermedia, using
Adobe Acrobat and some type of Web page editor. Netscape Composer is free and
can be downloaded from the Netscape website. You might want to try out another
Web page editor. The web pages for this workshop website were created with the
trial versions of Adobe's GoLive and Macromedia's Dreamweaver. There are at
least 14 video clips on the course CD about how to use the full version of Adobe
Acrobat, so you can see me demonstrate different tasks. There are many web-based
tutorials on using Netscape Composer. Perhaps the ideal use of these tools is
to convert artifacts into PDF and use your HTML editor to link them to your
portfolio document, especially if you don't have the full version of Acrobat.
We also need to begin building a rubric to evaluate our electronic portfolios.
There are a series of rubrics that you can review. In each of the next three
sections, we will discuss a different element of the rubric that you will need
to develop, and you will finish your rubric during the last section of this
module.
1. In this module we will learn about:
(Objectives)
- Replicating the Electronic Portfolio Development Process with Acrobat or
with HTML/WWW Page Editor
- Starting to evaluate these electronic portfolios
2. We will: (Activities)
- Explore using more advanced tools to create e-portfolios - Adobe Acrobat
& Netscape Composer
- Organize portfolio with hypermedia links between standards, artifacts and
reflections, using your preferred program (Office tools, Web page editor [such
as Netscape Composer, Dreamweaver, or Front Page] or Adobe Acrobat)
- Convert some of your Portfolio Artifacts into cross-platform, web-accessible
file formats
- Create PDF files from word processing, spreadsheet, database, or slide show
files using the full version of Adobe Acrobat or Convert files to PDF using
the Adobe website
("Sign up for a free trial today and create your first 5 Adobe PDF files
for free.")
- Create a small web page and post to Blackboard group site (no graphics or
links) or give us the full URL to your own website.
- Discuss the pros and cons of web-compatible hypermedia (HTML and Acrobat
formats)
- Begin discussion of rubric development - What levels will we use?
3. Web or CD Activity:
- Using Adobe Acrobat for Electronic Portfolio Development
(SITE01.pdf in the Articles folder
in the PDFs folder on the course CD)
Readings on Assessment (to be completed over the next three sections).
Resources for hands-on activities
4. Discussion:
- Discussion #7-1 - Discuss pros & cons of using Adobe Acrobat and Netscape
Composer or any HTML editor for e-portfolios:
There are two standards for documents posted to the WWW: HTML (the language
of web pages) and PDF (Portable Document Format--Adobe Acrobat files). You
have probably downloaded PDF documents from the WWW, and the course CD is
primarily PDF files plus video. After exploring both of these formats, discuss
each of their pros and cons.
- Discussion #7-2 - Beginning Conversation on Assessing Electronic Portfolios
- (levels of performance in the rubric (how many columns?)
One of the major assignments in this workshop is to develop a rubric to evaluate
your portfolio. Rather than leave the discussion until the end, let's begin
by discussing the Levels of Performance you would like to
have in your rubric. Review the rubrics that are listed under the Web or CD
Activities above. They all place the levels of performance across the top
of the table. What levels do you want to include in your rubric?
| |
Levels of
Performance |
| Criteria to evaluate |
Content descriptions |
|
| |
|
5. Participant Progress check-list:
- This section lets you try out the most popular Web-based formats: HTML
and PDF. If you have never created a web page before, just convert the Microsoft
Word version of your portfolio (from Module 1) into Web page format, convert
a few artifacts into PDF, link them in at the appropriate places. Posting
all of those documents to the web server of your Internet Service Provider
is optional in this module. We will discuss where to post your files: students
can use the University web space. If you are not connected with a university
and your ISP doesn't provide free space, try GeoCities (Yahoo) or other free
providers. In the third module, we will re-visit the WWW as an environment
for publishing the electronic portfolio. In this second module, you will just
upload your documents to your group space in Blackboard or follow your instructor's
directions.
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MODULE 2.2
Tools - Digital Storytelling
Digital video is one of the most exciting components of electronic portfolio
development. This section of the module will get you started in developing a
digital video clip, preferably using still images in a process called "digital
storytelling." You will read the background on digital storytelling on
the Web, both at the Center for Digital Storytelling and on the Apple website.
You will select a software package to use, based on your computer platform:
Macintosh users will use iMovie; Windows users will use either Pinnacle Studio
or Microsoft MovieMaker2 or the new Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition PhotoStory
(a $20 download).
What is a digital story? We have learned from Ken Burns (and his PBS series
on Civil War, Jazz, Baseball) that you can tell powerful stories with still
images, a sound track of your voice with appropriate music and pacing to create
the right emotional tone. You don't have to have access to an expensive digital
video camera; any way you can get still images will work just fine: digital
still camera, 35MM photos you scan, or have your film developed and digitized
by a service like SnapFish.
You will begin by writing a script that describes some aspect of your portfolio.
We will discuss story ideas in our discussion area. You will gather images to
illustrate your story. You will record your audio, and assemble the entire document
over the next three weeks. We will explore where these digital stories could
be posted for online streaming.
1. In this module we will learn about:
(Objectives)
- Adding multimedia content.
- Creating a digital story that illustrates at least one standard, outcome or goal.
2. We will: (Activities)
- Read an Introduction to digital video editing and the Principles of Digital
Storytelling
- Learn about adding Digital Audio and Video to your portfolio
- Begin using iMovie (Mac) or Pinnacle Studio (Windows) or new Microsoft WindowsXP
software to create a digital story.
- Write a script
- Select images (scan, prepare for video editing program)
- Record audio
- Select music sound track
- Construct the video with video editing program
- Optional: Sign up for the Atomic Learning "virtual textbook"
- Discuss adding digital video or a digital storytelling artifact to your
portfolio
- Continue the rubric development discussion, determining which individual
elements we want to assess
3. Web or CD Activity:
Resources for hands-on activities
4. Discussions:
- Discussion #8-1 - Discuss pros & cons of adding audio and video to your
portfolio, and discuss principles and process of digital storytelling: Digital
audio and video can provide very rich artifacts for the portfolio. A special
process using still images, your voice, and an underlying sound track is called
digital storytelling. After reviewing the website of the Center for Digital
Storytelling, discuss the process as you understand it, and the pros and cons
of adding this type of media to your portfolio.
- Discussion #8-2 - Continue Conversation on Assessing Electronic Portfolios
- (components/elements that we want to assess individually)
Now we will discuss the Criteria you would like to evaluate
in your rubric. Review the rubrics that are listed under last week's reading
assignments. They all place the criteria down the left side of the table.
What criteria do you want to include in your rubric?
| |
Levels of Performance |
| Criteria to evaluate |
Content descriptions |
|
| |
|
5. Participant Progress check-list:
- You will just get started with your digital story. Many students find their
digital story to be their favorite part of the process. We encourage you to
spend some time planning your movie, thinking about the script, the appropriate
images and music. Don't try to get too ambitious. You only want a small (320x240)
2-3 minute video, especially if you are going to be able to upload it to a
website to be able to share with your fellow students.
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MODULE 2.3
Tools - Multimedia Authoring
While you are still be working on your digital story, this week, you should
take a look at other multimedia authoring tools for building the multimedia
elements of your electronic portfolio. If you are using a Macintosh, the obvious
choice is iPhoto (Mac OS X - a free download from the Apple website) or iView
Multimedia (Mac OS 9- which is in a folder on the CD). Windows users will try
____ (tell us about your favorite). You could also look at other multimedia
authoring programs that could be used to build e-portfolios, including eZedia,
Lectora or HyperStudio. We will discuss the use of these tools, and their most
appropriate application in the portfolio development process.
1. In this module we will learn about:
(Objectives)
- Other tools to create electronic portfolios.
2. We will: (Activities)
- Explore using at least one more program for Electronic Portfolio Development:
- Continue developing digital storytelling artifact
- Discuss the other tools you explored
- Continue discussion of rubric development, focusing on each descriptor in
the rubric matrix
3. Web or CD Activity:
Resources for hands-on activities (based on the software you choose
to try)
4. Written Assignment: Bb
Discussion #9-1 - Discuss pros & cons of other multimedia authoring tools:
There are many other tools that can be used to create electronic portfolios.
Pick one other tool that you haven't discussed so far, explore the website
and the software (most of them allow you to download a trial version). Describe
the software you tried and discuss its pros and cons.
Discussion #9-2 - How to construct the rubric - how to fill in the content
descriptors of each cell in the matrix
Now we will discuss the Content descriptions you would like
to evaluate in your rubric. You will now fill in the cells in your rubric.
How much detail do you want to include? Want some help? Go to http://rubistar.4teachers.org/
| |
Levels of Performance |
| Criteria to evaluate |
Content descriptions |
|
| |
|
5. Participant Progress check-list:
- By the end of this module, your digital story should be taking shape. Start
thinking about how you will evaluate your portfolio documents from this module.
Multimedia authoring tools are far more complex than many of the tools we
have been exploring. Therefore, don't feel compelled to devote a lot of time
to these tools. However, explore these websites so that you are aware of the
possibilities. If you are a more advanced computer user, you might find these
tools to be more flexible for your e-portfolio needs.
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MODULE 2.4
Rubric and Evaluation
In this final section of this second module, you will post your movie for others
in your group to see, and will work on finishing the evaluation rubric to evaluate
these e-portfolios.
1. In this module we will learn about:
(Objectives)
- Applying a rubric to evaluate portfolio.
2. We will: (Activities)
- Post your rubric as an attachment in the Discussion Board
- Review at least one other e-portfolio rubric online
- Discuss components of rubrics reviewed and how to evaluate e-portfolios
- Show digital story to other participants
3. Web or CD Activity:
4. Discussion:
- Discussion #10 - Discuss formative assessment of learning using a portfolio
and discuss assessing the electronic portfolio. Discuss components of rubrics
reviewed and how to evaluate e-portfolios. Discuss components of rubrics reviewed
from each of the class members and how to evaluate e-portfolios.
- Final assignment: a Rubric you develop to evaluate your own e-portfolio
or an e-portfolio your students would create
- Final Hands-on Assignment: Digital Storytelling Artifact - Give your fellow
classmates some feedback on their stories! Your digital story should be in
Quicktime (.mov) or AVI formats with a maximum file size of 5 MB. If you need
help compressing your files, contact your instructor.
- For those NOT taking the last module, send a copy of the e-portfolio you
have created in CD-ROM format OR as a URL to your website-based e-portfolio.
5. Progress check-list:
- Congratulations! You have completed this Module when you have participated
in each of the discussions and included a slide show, at least one PDF file,
web page(s) and your first digital video story. You also share the rubric
you developed to evaluate your own e-portfolio (in either a Word table or
a table on a web page.
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©2003, Helen C. Barrett, Ph.D.
