Much has been written about Digital Story Telling, usually with respect to stories telling one’s family history, or stories about a holiday or other significant event. This same concept can be used to tell powerful stories about student learning. It can enable students to provide evidence of their learning and their journeys through the learning process.

It is very common for teachers to have students maintain a folio, portfolio or some other record of learning. Most often this is a record of the outcome of that learning with results, conclusions, or displays set out.

It is my contention that true learning takes place during the process of learning. The product is simply the outcome of that learning. Where we do not having access to the process students went through as they came to their conclusions or outcomes we have limited knowledge as to the true understandings they may have.

Through providing evidence of the process teachers gain a much greater understanding of each student’s growing development as a learner. Teachers can track the learning journey through hearing in the student’s own voice their thoughts, their hypotheses, their working steps, their conclusions and their reflections. Teachers can more readily determine a student’s true level of understanding through their record of process and progress providing greater insight than any test with a focus purely on the outcome results can ever provide.

Digital story telling can readily show that learning journey. A short video clip with the student providing an overview of their work and what led to their final outcomes can provide such evidence. More simply, this can be achieved through a series of 5-6 still photographs, put together into a simple slide show, with the student’s voice over providing an explanation of the different stages they have progressed through to reach their final conclusions or outcomes. The effect can be enhanced with the addition of an appropriate music sound track. The technology does not have to be complex. A computer and a digital camera can do all that is required.

Much has been written about digital story telling and a web search will bring up a vast number of sites to explore. I think the best starting point however would be to go to Helen Barrett’s site http://www.electronicportfolios.org

Helen has a whole section explaining digital story telling, a video tutorial, examples, and a list of tools that could be used.

I hope that all helps and wish you well with your digital story telling!

It is the use of an ePortfolio to show process within the learning programme where much of its value is evident. It is during the ‘process’ stage where key learning takes place.

To delegates who attended the workshop I trust you take time to read the papers in the downloads section of this site. They will enable you to understand in more detail the concepts I was seeking to get across in the limited time available. As stated, if you have any questions, I am very happy to respond. I wish you all well.

I am convinced a well structured ePortfolio can provide evidence of learning in a manner not possible in any other way. It can clearly show the process of learning. It can track the learning journey from initial brainstorming through to a completed ‘product.’ The use of simple digital story telling techniques can readily show that learning journey. This does not require complex equipment.

It is evident the use of available technologies within the regular class programme can do much to engage students in their learning. It can clearly support the development of ‘confident, connected, actively involved life-long learners.’

Feel free to download any of the papers on this site if they are helpful. I look forward to catching up again some time in the future.

During the morning session my focus will be on e-learning, with a particular emphasis on ePortfolios and how they can be used to better engage students in their learning. I will be looking at how the ePortfolio can not only provide evidence of learning but also how it can provide evidence of the learning journey.

I will be sharing examples of student goal setting and reflection and also show how, in a very simple manner, an ePortfolio can provide evidence of a student’s growing competence and understanding of the Key Competencies.

You may like to read through a couple of papers in the downloads section which will provide you with some background prior to the seminar. Check out ePortfolios-Celebrating Learning, and also
ePortfolios, a Personal Space for Learning.

I look forward to meeting up with you all.

Regards

Ian

To those at the University in Visby I apologise for having to cancel the seminar at short notice. I was very sorry not to be able to meet up with you all again. I wish you every success in your new teaching careers.  …Ian

Ian is the coauthor of this paper which was commissioned by the Ministry of Education in New Zealand to inform discussion and decisions as to how the Ministry may proceed in support of future ePortfolio developments. It explores the place of ePortfolios in schools from early primary years through to students in senior secondary schools. A range of views is presented with respect to the place of ePortfolios in the school environment, demonstrating how a number of schools currently use available technologies in innovative ways to benefit student learning.

It discusses how an ePortfolio can guide students towards becoming independent, self directed, life long learners.

Ian Fox: ePortfolios, Celebrating Learning

You will find an Appendix at the end of the paper giving a list of websites where further information regarding ePortfolios can be found. …Ian

Ian receives the award for his services to education. …Robyn, Howard, Sarah, Carly, Sophie & Elliott.

The paper has a comprehensive Appendix providing links to sites where further information on ePortfolios can be found.

Ian Fox: ePortfolios A Personal Space for Learning

Ian Fox: Scaffolding Learning Through Management Plans