E-portfolios and Legal Safe and Ethical Practise

• E-Portfolios can be used for many reason from a collection of academic achievement of a students throughout a unit to a complex professional portfolio. E-Portfolios are managed by the user and can contain various types of "evidence" such as photos, voice recordings, videos, documents, PowerPoints and hyperlinks just to name a few. E-Portfolios are "An E-Portfolio is a purposeful collection of work and information that: represents an individuals efforts, progress and achievements over time, is goal-driven, performance-based and indicates evidence of the attainment of knowledge, skills and attitudes, includes self-reflection, and is a tool for facilitating life-long learning and career development" (Miers, 2005). E-Portfolios allow their user to compile information that they believe is important for the purpose of the folio. E-Portfolios sites, such as Mahara, are an excellent resource that learning managers can use in the classroom in many ways. They can be used to compile evidence on a students learning journey throughout a unit, they can be used to compile evidence on how a students is progressing over the school year, they can be used by the students for assignment purposes, and they can be used for moderation purposes in the classroom. This would be a great way to store students work and ensure that nothing gets lost as it is all kept online, also reducing the amount of paper that is wasted in schools. When used for assessment purposes E-Portfolios fit into many learning design frameworks such as the Engagement Theory (Keirsley & Schneidermen), Oliver's Learning Design Framework (1999), and the Active Learning Framework.
  
  Legal, safe and ethical practise online is a major issue that teachers need to be aware of if they are going to use ICT's in their classroom and this knowledge also needs to be passed onto their students. Teacher are now liable for anything that may happen online that causes harm, discomfort or distress to their students. Therefore it is paramount that teacher stay up to date with the laws of operating online. Some of the main points to remember while operating online is the 10% rule: for most sites and CD-Roms 10% can be copied, printed, downloaded, published or shown (in the classroom and on computers). Educational Purposes rule: if you are using something for educational purposes then it is ok. Reference: everything that is taken from somewhere else and is not original must be referenced. Consent: if you are using students work or pictures online then a consent form must be signed by the parent or guardian. Netiquette: students and teachers must be aware of boundaries. Quality Assured: Ed QLD has sites that are quality assured so that no unwanted content is accessed by the students. This is just a broad overview of some of the laws that teachers must know to get a better outlook click here.
  
  My Curious Dangerous Mind

References:

• Australian Copyright Council. (2009). Australian Copyright Council's Online Information Centre. Retrieved August 12, 2009. from: http://www.copyright.org.au/
• Blooms (2007)
• Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 4, 2009. from: http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
• Marzano, R. J, & Pickering, D. J. (1997). Dimensions of Learning: Teachers Manual. Aurora, Colorado, United States of America: Mid-continent Educational Laboratory.
• McInerney, D., & McInerney, V. (2002). Educational psychology: Constructing learning. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Education.
• Miers, J. (2005). Professional eportfolios in Education: A definition. Retrieved August 12, 2009. from: http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jmresources/ePortfolio.htm
• Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for online teaching and learning. Distance Education 20(2), p.240-254
• Ten Principles to Active Learning (http://www.idecorp.com/teacher/documents/dowling_002.pdf)
• The State of Queensland (Department of Education). (2002). Productive Pedagogies: Classroom reflection manual. Retrieved July 8, 2009, from: http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports curriculum-framework/productive-pedagogies/