Flash Drives Enhance Portfolio Process
MACUL Grant Recipient
A move toward student created electronic portfolios was the motivation for acquiring flash drives for Career Preparation Center students to use during the 2009-2010 school year. The flash drives built upon technology already acquired, digital cameras and scanners, to enhance the technology available for the electronic portfolio project. According to educators Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson (2007), electronic portfolios are an effective way to clearly present information through text, as well as through visual and audio formats.
The past challenge for Career Center staff and students was attempting to store and retrieve information while using computer labs that had restrictions on saving documents and using printers. The Career Center is located on the campus of a community college and uses the college’s computer labs. Use of flash drives increased students’ ability to store, organize, edit and present information for their Career Center portfolios. This simple device saved students and instructors from feeling frustrated.
The flash drives were distributed to selected classroom teachers and assigned to individual students. Each device was numbered and stored by the teacher. Students were able to check them in and out as needed. Throughout the school year students received instruction from Student Services Coordinators and teachers regarding portfolio topics: Career assessment, career research, college planning and job search strategies. Assignments were given which students completed in the computer labs. The flash drives were a valuable tool for students to store and transport their personal career information and related artifacts.
The success of this project was clearly shown in the work of several Early Childhood Education students. Making use of the flash drives enhanced these students’ efforts to build award winning portfolios. Seven students competed and placed in a Career and Technical Student Organization (FCCLA) event,
‘Career Investigation’. Seven students presented their portfolios to a team of judges who evaluated the students’ bodies of work. Their awards included six gold medals and one silver. Two of the students attended and placed in the National FCCLA portfolio competition in Chicago. These students were very pleased with what they were able to accomplish.
By Christine DeYonke
Early Childhood students and instructor at regional FCCLA competition. Online resources used as part of portfolio instruction included:
www.careercruising.com www.careertrain.com www.michigan.gov/careers www.careeronestop.org
www.online.onetcenter.org www.humanetrics.com www.ioscar.org
Reference: Johnson, L. & Lamb, A. (2007). Electronic portfolios: students, teachers, and life long learners. Retrieved June 6, 2009 from
www.eduscapes.com/top/topic82.htm.
Career Center student stores portfolio document on flash drive
Christine DeYonke is employed as a Student Services Coordinator by the Eaton Intermediate School District Career Preparation Center. She is a teacher and counselor and may be contacted at:
deyonc@lcc.edu.
MACULJOURNAL
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Winter 2010/11
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27
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