Week 4 Reflections

Which of the 10 assessment for learning tenents did you focus on and why? What potential, if any, do you see for portfolio assessment? What do you think the creation and development of your portfolio will do for your learning?

I focused on the learner motivation tenet because as a teacher in an inner-city school, I have to find a variety of ways to motivate my students to try and work hard every day. Because a lot of my students have video game systems, IPODS, and other technology gadgets, using technology in the classroom is a motivator all by itself. Students are always interested and want to participate in the lesson when they can use a computer or play some type of game because it is something they enjoy doing and it makes the lesson that much more interesting.

I think portfolio assessment is a great tool. Its implementation would cause teachers like me (who aren't very computer savy) to spend more time learning the technology that our students are using. I agree with the author of my article, portfolios should be in place in the elementary schools and by the end of high school, students should have an accurate collection of their learning to submit to colleges or employers.

The creation and development of my portfolio is teaching me patience because I am haveing a difficult time creating the pages and getting it to look like I want it to. It is also teaching one of the lessons I try to teach my students everyday and that is "it doesn't have to be perfect, but as long as I try my best nothing more can be asked of me." I am really enjoying all of these assignments because I am learning about things that I had no clue about; therefore, these assignments are furthering my learning of technology.