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Learning Portfolio

For this class, you will create a Learning Portfolio. In addition to serving as a container for your class work, this portfolio will also serve several related purposes. For example when complete, the portfolio should answer the question “What did you learn in this class?”

In this hybrid class each week, we will have one class meeting. Most weeks, we will also have one, or more, assignments. Each assignment will have a deliverable that you will need to post to your online portfolio. Since class content is organized by module, it would be prudent to also organize your portfolio by module.

Each class module will consist of several class meetings and several assignments. After you complete and upload them, each assignment will become a portfolio learning artifact. In addition to learning artifacts, you will need to create related portfolio components including a menu for navigation, a portfolio introduction, and for each module a summary/introduction.

Conceptually, each portfolio tells a story about your class learning experiences. In addition to containing learning artifacts, your portfolio should also explain how those artifacts relate to our class goals. That is, it should provide a narrative concerning your learning experiences.

Home PageYour home page should do three things. First, it should introduce you to the reader. Second, it should state your portfolio’s purpose. In that way, it should help the reader understand the class’s learning goals. Finally, your home page should guide the reader to your learning artifacts by referring the reader to your menu system. Consequently, upon viewing your home page a reader should immediately be able to identify you and your portfolio’s purpose.

Module Introduction/SummaryOn each module’s home page, you should explain to the reader what you learned when you did that module’s assignments. Your explanation should include how what you learned relates to the class goals. And you should also refer the reader to that module’s assignments.

Format for Learning ArtifactsAs you complete each assignment, you will post it to your online portfolio. For the assignment file format, you should use an open format. In terms of speed and flexibility, it is optimum to use an html format. While you may use pdf format occasionally, it shouldn’t be your primary format as it slows down the viewer’s ability to access your learning artifacts. It also requires the viewer to have downloaded the proprietary adobe format.

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For your assignments, you should avoid using proprietary formats, such as docx, xls, or odt. These formats violate the open nature of the Web. And you have no assurance that the viewer will have the proprietary client installed.

Done correctly, your portfolio will provide a structured learning narrative concerning your class experiences. It will also provide tangible evidence of your professional growth. That is, your portfolio will reflect an understanding of the learning and the learning processes that we employ during class.

To facilitate your portfolio, the instructor will provide you with a web site from a commercial vendor. (Lately, we have been using Hostgator You can use the conventional tools and utilities that you will find there to build your portfolio…) In a class, we will work together to familiarize you with the available site building tools and to create a prototype homepage for your learning portfolio.

If you already have your own domain and web site, you are welcome to use that but your portfolio must still meet all of the course requirements. And you will need to post your portfolio’s URL to our class’s forum. Historically, the majority of students have used the issued account.

While we will do initial site creation in class, you can also find many relevant online video tutorials regarding site creation and related topics.

Learning Portfolio Web Page Your home page should accomplish three things.1) Welcome visitors to your site. I am requesting mentioning UH, class, instructor’s

name, your name and personal picture. Display all future Modules (five)2) Explain the purpose of your site. It should explain that your site serves as a

learning portfolio. This part would be updating as semester progresses.3) Direct the viewer to learn more about your work by choosing one of the links

from your menu.

Remember that the purpose of your portfolio is to answer the question “What did you learn in that class?” In that way, it provides a narrative concerning your learning. It is a record that you can build on as you take more courses. It also provides evidence of your learning that you can share with potential employers as well.

You will be able to create your web page with first portfolio after completing www.codecademy.com exercises (HTML and CSS). You will be updating your web page as semester progresses.

Selected Links

www.codecademy.comhttp://www.w3schools.com/

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HostGator Tutorials http://www.hostgator.com/tutorials

HostGator Support Cpanel Articles and Tutorials http://support.hostgator.com/articles/cpanel/cpanel-video-tutorials

Few samples from last semester

http://os2314.chibana500.com/

http://gah2336.chibana500.com/

http://tttt2336.chibana500.com/default.html

http://lxm2336.chibana500.com/portfolio.html

http://tc2336.chibana500.com/main/index.html