Word - Very easy to set up a template page with a picture and speech bubbles for the children to type their thoughts in. See the screen shot below. If each child had their own word file a bank of self assessments can then be stored.
How would it be managed? Would a new word file be created for every assessment?
If a new word file was created for each assessment this makes it harder to look back as the pupil or teacher would have to keep opening various files. I am sure that by Primary 7 the class teacher would not want to look through the mountain of files for each child. One word file for each child is the obvious answer with each new assessment on a new page.
The management of each new assessment could be time consuming in setting up if the teacher were to set up a new page for all pupils in class. Opening and closing 30 files and adding the new content would sure put a teacher off using the technology when a photocopier can copy the files much faster. Is there a solution to this? Yes, by creating one new file and teaching the children how to insert the new file into their Word document would be the answer. The process is exactly the same as inserting a picture but file is selected form the insert menu rather than picture.
The only problem now would be access to computers. If a computer suite at school then all children at the same time would be the obvious answer. If limited to classroom computer the immediate aspect of the assessment might loose meaning. Children could write on paper first then this could be transfered to digital via camera, scanner or child typing up. Is this the best way or is the digital aspect then become another chore? I think that depends on the teacher's views on digital asessment and on the aspect of assessment in general.
PowerPoint - Again easy to set up by teacher. Adding text not so straight forward as Word as the child will have to select text tool then type.
The arguments for and against this method are similar to the above. Ths children would still require to place the new slide for each assessment which is not a difficult task. The advantage of this system to others is that the slides down the side give an overview of the various assessments making it easier to pinpoint a specific assessment rather than scroll throiugh all the pages.
Web 2.0 - As much as I would like to think that I could use tools like flickr to do this job I have to admit that there would be more problems that benefits. If I am making individual portfolios then accounts for each child would require setting up. The children would have to learn how to use this tool and also learn how to place an annotated flickr image into a blog or wiki. When the purpose is to reflect on the thinking skills rather than the ICT skills I think the simplist most effective way should be administered. ICT should only be used if it enhances the learning and teaching process not just for the sake of it.
I would have liked to place assessments on a blog so that the teacher could place her comments, the child could place theirs and so could their parents. The blog would obviously have a password for only that child. The only side that would require looking into would be the management. If it were a child's annotated picture, which I do like, who would place it there? If it were a Word file it would be too time consuming. If it were a PowerPoint file it is possible to upload to Slideshare, but again a time consuming task. The only way the blog would really work is by creating a typed post with responses. For this type of assessment I do not think this is the method to use.
Now the other Web 2.0 tool that might be possible is a Wiki. The wiki allows other types of files to be embedded into the wiki space. So a child's Word or PowerPoint (depends which is chosen) could be placed on a wiki page set up for a specific child that has a password. Parents, pupil and teacher can comment as the page is a collaborative document for those with the password. The wiki can then become the child's portfolio area with new pages for each year they are at school.
Having sat down and typed my thoughts on this subject I am now going to try to implement this with one of my classes at school using PowerPoint and a wiki to see if it is possible to enhance the learning and teaching through use of digital portfolios and wikis or whether it is a time consuming exercise.
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