The assignment this week was to go play with different mediums when it came to ePortfolios. I spent a majority of my time just going to different websites and looking at what they offered. I found numerous websites but a lot of them were not applicable to me and what I was looking for. I found that many of these websites offering free ePortfolio's were designed more for the business world and art world. I also found that these websites would have eportfolio's that were free but added so many more restrictions that it was not worth signing up. For example get the first month free, get the basic free version with access to posting 1 video and blank number of files and pictures. I am still in the process with playing. I have not created anything yet due to researching all the different sites to make eportfolio's.

I don't think that I would change asking my students to create an eportfolio. I think that it is going to be important that they have continuing guidance. This is a great tool for them to measure their growth.

Blogs in the classroom

    The year I taught 1st grade my principal mandated that we create and maintain a blog for our classroom. On this blog I would display upcoming events and parent news along with student videos, and work samples. Even though the blog was a great tool for my parents, I think there are too many challenges faced by my first grade students for them to create and use a blog. For example, my students had very little computer experience. Many of them had no idea what a blog even was. They did not know how to properly post things onto a classroom blog. Most first graders face numerous challenges when it comes to typing up work on a computer. I think that my first grade class was to young to use a blog independently.
    I do believe that blogs are wonderful tools to use in the upper grades of elementary school and secondary school. These older students can navigate and even have their own blog.
   The ways I would use a blog with older students is; I would have them post some of their assignments onto a class blog or onto their own individual blog. I know that having my class write assignments such as book reviews and portraying a character or figure from time would be extremely beneficial.
   Some of the affordances that I would incorporate into my blog is making sure the blog is layed out in a visually appealing manner. I want it to draw the person using the technology into the blog. Having easy icons and gadgets on the blog make the user have a general idea of what to automatically.
    My concerns with using a blog in the classroom would be how to ensure that only safe material is being posted onto the blog. That I could somewhat have control over who sees the blog.
   I think that the kids in my school in pleasant Grove would greatly benefit from the use of a blog. Many of them have never even seen or been to a blog. Having them be able to create their own blog means a lot to them. They can take pride and ownership of their work that they put onto the blog. These older kids will have opportunities to practice their writing skills, and to even receive peer reviews on their assignments.