This course will become read-only in the near future. Tell us at community.p2pu.org if that is a problem.
Taking control of your personal learning is an important 21st century skill -- for students and for educators. In this group, we'll explore new ways to empower your own professional learning and how to get started.
(This will be followed up by more advanced courses, the topics of which will be developed by this group.)
Course image credit: Bill Moseley
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
This page is designed to act as a “parking lot” for ideas for spin-off groups to be done subsequently to this. Please edit the page and add your own ideas.
I've started a Google Doc to brainstorm a P2PU group to explore online portfolios for teachers. I've messaged several of you. If you are interested in this and didn't get a message, email me at karen at k12opened dot com for a link.
I saw Howard Rheingold's webinar about his work with #peeragogy on connectedlearning.tv. One thing that struck me about his work was the collaborative mind mapping he does with participants in his courses, which the individual participants then can choose to revise, formalize and share. I thought about the discourse we had in this course about mapping personal learning plans. (Even though we didn't get many maps- an acceptable outcome.) If I were to revisit mapping in another course, I might try his collaborative launch of mapping.
I've been thinking about the next group in this area and our conversations about options for different ways to participate. This morning I woke up thinking about portfolios.
I'm imaging a group that has many choices for how one can engage:
(I think there was more, but I lost the details in the fury of the day.)
What else? Interested?
Hello There
Im very interested in these ideas and think there is much to be gained from creating a 'course' for these topics..
I have recently completed a portfolio on wordpress so have some experience. I would love to part of a group sharing ideas and thoughts about the issues/challenges of this potential shift in portfolio presentation.
I do wonder at the preparedness of industry/employment places readiness to accept such portfolios? Then again, why dont we shape the future?
Not sure of what else but will ponder
Great idea...... 
Hi Liz and Karen,
I'm also intrigued by e-portfolio for professional development and hope that Open Badges will create some standard that employers accept. Still finding out from the development team on P2PU how this can be done...
I've started my e-portfolio on Nixty (http://beta.nixty.com/eportfolio/Swedinbalchik), but need to add CV and experience in my field of knowledge.
You are right, Liz, that many employers are not aware of or ready to accept portfolios. I've done some research on teacher portfolios and found that they are big in NZ and Canada, but they are almost unknown in the US. There is a digital school I know that uses them and one state (but with very specific requirements/structure).
I agree though that we should help shapte this. Everyone I've mentioned it to has said, "Yes! The existing teacher credentialing and recertification system is broken." If we want teachers to evaluate students authentically (well, at least, some of us want that), should teachers experience the same?
It also ties in nicely to self-directed learning. I like Jonas' idea of tieing this into badges. We had explored an idea of badges from P2PU courses (awarded on the basis of authentic projects) being connected to portfolios. Seems powerful. Would love to find an organization interested in incorporating something like this into their process.
I like the portfolio idea as an area of focus for another course. I would be interested in an inquiry into the concept of portfolios. Here are some questions I'm thinking about:
If we look at portfolio assessments in schools, what are we looking for?
What types of artifacts demonstrate learning?
If we think about an artist's portfolio- a photographer for example- how are those constructed so someone can look at catalogued creative works that represent someone's ability to do a creative job?
As far as a teacher's portfolio, how do a learner's portfolio and an artists portfolio inform the development something that capture's a teacher's experience, talent and ability?
Thank you everyone for your contributions in 'Empower Your Personal Learning (for teachers)'!
I've now opened registration for 'The Use of Web Tools in Networked Learning' [#CNT12]. The goal in this course will be to complete the P2PU challenge Certified Networked Teacher (CNT). You will engage with instructional tools for creating, delivering and managing your teaching practice. The final task will be to create a 60min lesson demonstrating that you have access to a broad range of tools and skills to adjust the use in your own situation.
Our aim is investigate the concept of ‘The Networked Teacher’ and find out more about ‘Networked Literacy & Fluency’ in education. The Open Badge framework will allow you to display the completion of this challenge in your Mozilla Backback.
The course Runs April 16, 2012 to May 4, let me know if there are questions or feed back!
/Jonas
Thanks to all facilitators and all group participants. This has been a most enjoyable and highly productive learning experience for me. All down to the top level of great conversation that occured.
I recently came across this quote from Noam Chomsky ' it doesn't matter what we cover, it matters what you discover'... and another current favourite of mine a haiku.. (apologies didnt get poet)
'To share is to care,
Progression not possession'
I hope our learning paths cross in other spaces.
Regards to all.
I love this, Liz. Thanks for sharing. It was great having you in this group. Hope to see you again on P2PU soon. Let us know if you have an idea for a group you might want to co-facilitate here.
