e.Portfolio.

I found that the process of setting up an e.Portfolio was quite easy, and although I am not familiar with using the Mahara site it appears to be very user friendly and I have gained valuable information from the Mahara videos provided on the Moodle website (Central Queensland University, 2009). I am happy to say that I was able to successfully make my profile on Mahara, along with, create a view which at the moment only has a Technology Unit of work in it which I created in the course Technology Curriculum and Pedagogy last term. I have only put this unit of work up so far as I am currently using the Australian Animals in Captivity View and folder of files as a test run, and look forward to updating my e.Portfolio and adding more of my work to it throughout the journey of this course, in particular for Assessment Task Two.

I think that e.Portfolio’s offer users an incredible opportunity to store all of their work in the one place, which can be accessed wherever and whenever they want during their life, for example, a person could create and use the portfolio as a resource throughout their career by showing their portfolio of work at interviews when applying for a job. The use of using Mahara’s e.Portfolio service can be linked to the Learning Engagement theory (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999) as it is an authentic task and learning in a collaborative context is provided as networking with people from around the world when creating views on your portfolio is optional, along with, commenting on discussion boards based upon a certain topic.

Within a school learning environment I think that e.Portfolio’s would be a useful tool to be used by students as it would be seen as an authentic task by them as it relates to their real life experiences as it could be used to help get them a job in the future. It would also be beneficial in the classroom environment as it would be engaging for students when delivered in a student centered manner.

I also think that it would be a useful tool for a learning manager to use as it would allow the learning manager to interact with learning managers worldwide, and rather reinvent the wheel when teaching learning managers could share their ideas and resources in order to help ensure that all students are provided with the opportunity to learn in an effective learning environment, as their learning would be enhanced through the range of resources being shared on the website.

Reference List:
Central Queensland University (CQU). (2009). FAHE11001- Managing E-Learning: Moodle site. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Scot Aldred.

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement theory: a framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from
http://home.sprynet.com/%7Egkearsley/engage.htm