1. WEEBLY: AN ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIO PUTTING GVSU STUDENTS AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE

2. INSTRUCTOR Susan Laninga History Department laningsu@gvsu.edu

3. SOME NUMBERS The National Center for Educational Statistics projects 414,000 new hires in Education in 2013, K-12, both public and private. There are 1,493 jobs listed in a recent search for education jobs in Michigan. These ranged from ‘Nanny” to “Administration” to “Educational Sales” to “Custodian.” Grand Valley State University graduates several hundred K-12 education students each school year. (@299 December, 2014; 256 April, 2015; @295 December, 2015) Most Michigan schools do the same. Consider the number graduating from all institutions of higher learning across the country. Anything we can do to help our students stand out from the rest of the job-seekers, especially in MI, will help them.

4. TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS FOR K-12 Adopted in 2009 by the MSBOE MI Educational Technology Standards (METS) Benchmarks for expertise: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 Example – End of 5 th grade: 3-5.CC. Communication and Collaboration—By the end of grade 5 each student will: 3-5.CC.1. use digital communication tools (e.g., e-mail, wikis, blogs, IM, chat rooms, videoconferencing, Moodle, Blackboard) and online resources for group learning projects 3-5-2.CC.2. identify how different software applications may be used to share similar information, based on the intended audience (e.g., presentations for classmates, newsletters for parents) 3-5-2.CC.3. use a variety of media and formats to create and edit products (e.g., presentations, newsletters, brochures, web pages) to communicate information and ideas to various audiences The Girl Who Could Fly The Girl Who Could Fly – the Elementary students of today!!

5. REAL-WORLD APPLICATION Not just an interesting or ‘fun’ exercise Relevant to students’ long-term goals Real audience (Administrators and hiring teams) Tool to highlight our students’ knowledge, skills, and accomplishments: Philosophy and Experience Technology Instructional Best Practices Resource-gathering Weebly site

6. STANDING OUT – SOME SAMPLES Lizzie Thornton http://elizabeththornton.weebly.com/ Allison Knopf http://allisonknopf.weebly.com Megan Griffith http://meghangriffith.weebly.com/ Kati Schwarzkopf http://katherineschwarzkopf.weebly.com/ Jordan Appleyard http://sstmethods.weebly.com/index.html Kendall Vandenberg http://kendallvandenberg.weebly.com/ Abbey Larva http://abbeylarva.weebly.com/web-resources.html

7. WEEBLY REQUIREMENTS - DISTINGUISHED Introduction and Autobiographical information Includes 1.a serious, professional picture (business or business casual), 2.an educational quote, and relevant and/or pertinent information that presents student as a colleague to the professional education community, including 3.philosophy of education or mission and 4.resume and/or experiences with children. Overall impression is welcoming and warm. All Content pages will take into consideration the use of correct grammar, spelling, and word choice.

8. WEEBLY REQUIREMENTS - DISTINGUISHED Structure Weebly is simple and easily navigated, logically and clearly organized with headings and labels that present the information in a usable way that makes sense. Information on each page closely matches the label and intent of the tab. Visual Components Relevant and accurate pictures and use of color relate to the content and enhance the overall appearance of the site. Banners reflect educational themes. Content of Instructional Strategies Page Minimum of 15 strategies are described clearly and contain the value of their use. Links to detailed instructions are included for 5 or more.

9. WEEBLY REQUIREMENTS - DISTINGUISHED Content of Web Resources Page Each core SS area (Civics, Economics, Geography, History) contains a minimum of 5 web sites. Content Area Websites and URLs are described clearly and contain the value of their use. Attention to quality is easily evident through additional detail or general content areas. General and Technology Headings contain 3-4 additional URLs. Content of Sample Lessons Page Each component: 1. Unit plan, including KUDs and I Cans, 2. History events, 3. Geo- Diary, 4. ILA, 5. Econ Mystery, 6. SS in My Life, and other student-created lessons that show Social Studies preparation, is explained with 2-3 descriptive sentences. Attention to quality is easily evident through relevant visual aids and additional detail.

10. A brief tutorial Choosing a Professional Photo

11. So, you’d be a colleague full of fun???

12. …and you just love kittens??

13. So, you’re a pretty ‘crafty’ fellow and you really know your computer?

14. You’re a laid back and chillin’ sort?

15. So, you know how to dress up real purty…

16. Sultry and skin---hmmmm.

17. Do these kids’ parents know you’re putting their pics on the web?

18. Better…

19. Straightforward, business casual works.

21. YES, BUT… My own YES, BUT - - - If others begin requiring students to create electronic portfolios, what will happen to my students’ project? WE COULD coordinate across the university or within a department/major so students aren’t needlessly repeating a task or it becomes a single web site with multiple pages? And then, WE COULDs… Turn to the person next to you and share ideas about how you are thinking about using/applying electronic portfolios or on-line web sites in your course. What are your YES, BUTs and your WE COULDs?