Here is my PDP Grid. After filling in this table I have discovered that the e-learning area is quite new for me and although I consider myself tech savvy, I feel quite a newbie on the e-learning front. I have specific ideas in my head but it somehow doesn’t come out...yet!
Cheers, Eugene
You can read my reflection here
Eugene
We were asked to fill in a template for PDP. This is part 1. I hope I don't come across as arrogant but I rated myself as above average in most areas and as expert in the area of IT skills.
I am just lucky that I'm in a job where I can develop myself as an IT consultant for the school and be a teacher as well. I could do with some update on LS and SEN resources. I consider this as my weakness as it has been 10 years ago since I have done a proper course about this subject.
You can have a look at the grid here.
Cheers Eugene
We were asked to give our opinion regarding open source software and relate this to the Weller recommendations to the OU.
What is Open Source Software (OSS)? Open Source Software is software that is available for everbody. Everybody can use it and everybody can adapt it to suit their own needs.
Wikipedia gives the following definition: “Open source software (OSS) is computer software for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that meets the Open Source Definition or that is in the public domain. This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified forms.
In his paper Weller recommends to use the OSPI project OSS for e-portfolio use. “It also allows us to develop a tool which we both understand and can modify so that it meets our needs”.
The last 4 words in the quote are very relevant and very important if you take a critical look at all the other products. Commercial products often seem to be very rigid and inflexible. OSS provides the user to adapt the software so that it meets the needs. For the OU this solution is, in my opinion, a valid one. However, there are some disadvantages as well. Customer Support, for example, is very important when one tries to implement new applications. I guess the OU has the expertise to fiddle around with Moodle, OSPI or other OSS applications, but most of us don’t. if I take a critical look at the OU blog and compare this with a World Press blog for example then my choice would be very easy. The WP Blog looks fancier than the OU Blog and has much more features. Adding widgets, integrate it with your own website for example is something that I really value. The same goes for My Suff and Mahara or PebblePad. These commercial products don't just look nicer and fancier but do the job as well. Again, using open software and adapting this to match the needs of a institution is a big advantage, but somehow I'm still not convinced and wouldn't just choose for OSPI,Moodle or ELGG on basis of cost analysis or adaptibilty.
Cheers Eugene
This task is very relevant to me because at work I am trying, together with 2 other members of the IT-team, to implement an electronical learning environment in which e-portfolio plays an important role.
Target: European School Karlsruhe Secondary School department
System review: Google Apps and My Stuff (Moodle Based)
Recommendation: Google Apps
In today’s day and age there are many e-portfolio systems. Our team has chosen to take a closer look at Google Apps and Moodle. We have done this for several reasons, but the main ones are:
· Our school is currently using Google Mail as a mail client server, therefore Google Apps seems to be a logical step for using this for e-portfolio purposes.
· In the past we have looked at Moodle because it can be modified to suit specific needs. My Stuff is a good example of how this e-portfolio system has been molded to suit the needs of the Open University.
· We have set up some criteria to compare the two e-portfolio systems. This information is attached to this document as appendix 1.
Usage in Education
Google Apps exists of Google Docs, Google Talk, Google Calender, Google Mail, Google Groups and Google Reader.
Moodle is a Open Source software product which can be modified to match our own needs (it requires specific knowledge).
Currently, neither Google Apps nor Moodle are being used in the other European Schools. So we would be the first ones using either application.
Schools in Germany tend to use a system which is set up by a local cooperation. In Karlsruhe the LMZ (Landes Media Zentrum) is very active in setting up various LMS systems with e-portfolio possibilities. Their system is too rigid to use in our school system.
Functionality
Google Apps contains various applications which one can use for e-portfolio purposes. In general Google Apps is not set up as an e-portfolio system like My Stuff. My Stuff provides more e-portfolio character than Google Apps does. For example, in My Stuff there is a transcript of achievement and CV’s (My Stuffbites) which gives students and tutors the possibility to upload their personal achievements. These can then be shared with a specific community. In Google Apps such documents must be made by the students themselves. They can then be shared in the Google Groups Community.
Google also provides various ways of accessing the Google Apps. For example, there is a Google for Educators portal which gives access to various Google Apps or one can access the Apps through iGoogle.
At this stage it has become apparent that My Stuff is not an option for our school because we do not have the specific knowledge required to implement it and our budget is too tight to buy this knowledge. The question remains as to whether Google apps can meet our needs.
Students’ use
In Google Apps students are able to share their documents, create their own profile for PDP and have ownership of data (because they have their own Google Account). They would have access to their profile through either the schools website or iGoogle (or Google for Educators). We would prefer to organise the LMS system in such a way that only one log in is required for the students.
Teacher’s use
Teachers can create learner groups by using Google Groups and students then can add files, notes, PowerPoint presentations in their files. Teachers have control over these learner groups they can interact online and have if necessary access to the shared documents. At the moment it would be difficult for me to describe how to assess all of this.
Integration into the European School Karlsruhe
Google Apps will not be hosted from the schools’ sever. Google provides server hosting outside of our school and has its own servers. From a cost point of view this will save us some money.
Google Apps is interoperable with other platforms and allows data migration in two directions(use of Google docs is compatible with Office and Open Office).
Google Apps has an OpenAPI system which interconnects other providers’ websites within the system. This would be very useful as it would enable us to integrate our school website and WebUntis into Google Apps.
Parental Access through Webuntis which can be integrated in Google Apps as it is Open API.
Conclusion
This team recommends Google Apps as a use for e-portfolio. The main reason for this is that Google Apps is part of an integrated learning system (Google for Educators or iGoogle) which can be modified and administrated by its user. We suggest setting up a trial group in our school and seeing whether this projects has the ability to succeed or not.
Previous Postings Unit 3:
3.1: Understanding e-portfolio Software
Unit 3 looks very promising. Martin Weller (I've come across him as well in H800) is always in for some controversial opinions. Core activity 3.1 provided me with some useful insights. How to use Mobile Devices in your e-portfolio for example. I haven't looked at this feature in my review, but I find this a useful criteria to look at in other e-portfolio applications.
However.......back to Unit 2.3 reading the papers and write my summary.
Cheers, Eugene
|
Product |
Google Apps |
My Stuff |
|
Organisation |
With iGoogle you can have various Google Applications under one roof. For file repository one can use Google Docs which is compatible with the common Office files. However, large Excel documents tend to upload quite difficultly. |
Interesting comments made in the OU forum (inside and outside H808) can be stored by exporting the file into a word document and upload it into Items.. The file repository is different than Google Docs. It is a list of saved documents which are tagged by the drop down menu at the top of the page. Office compatible documents can be stored very easily. |
|
Blogging |
Google provides an aggregator as well. Google Reader is a tool which can be integrated in iGoogle as well. Google Reader gives an overview of the blogs you want to follow. You can share your rss feeds with your contacts (they have to be notified). If you have a Google Blogspot account then it’s very easy to access your blog. |
I haven’t found an aggregator in My Stuff. Once logged in the OU VLE you have access to your personal Blog and My Stuff. It is not integrated and as for now My Stuff can’t be used as an aggregator (I haven’t found it) |
|
Sharing |
Google reader and Google Docs give the user the opportunity to share saved files, articles, documents and so on. Notification by email and a fellow H808 student can follow your shared items. If in doubt, Google provides a clear tutorial. |
My Stuff provides a clear sharing system as well. Once your documents or other stuff are saved, you can easily transfer the files to the shared content (compilation). Click on the people you want to share it with and they receive a notification. I believe they will be guided to your compilation area. |
|
Groups |
Google Groups is an application in which one can set up a Group with shared interest pretty quickly and easy. One can create a learning environment with shared members with restricted and shared areas. Invitation by email only and people have to register to have access. |
I haven’t come across to create groups in My Stuff. My Stuff provides the members of your tutor group which is set as a group. My fellow H800 students were listed as well. I found this feature very useful. |
|
Ease of Use |
iGoogle provides some kind of portal to the Google Apps. All the applications combined together provide a, in my opinion, good e-portfolio |
I still have to find my way around My Stuff. The immediate save button in the former OU’s VLE was very useful. Each comment, reflection, article could be stored within one mouse click. Exporting the file into a Word document is useful as well. |
|
Interoperability |
Google Apps communicate very well each other. Google Docs is compatible with Office. Other blogs can be followed by reader (making comments on a Blog which isn’t a Google one is difficult) |
Files can be exported as Office files, the OU VLE provides access to your OU Blog. I would say it isn’t as interoperable as Google Apps |
I have looked at the following two applications: Google Apps and My Stuff.
I have worked with iGoogle for a while now and have saved all my H800 and H808 stuff in there. Easy access and other interopearble applications under one roof. What I like about My Stuff is that it is integrated with the OU's VLE. I have now access to my course data, my blog, my instructions and my e-portfolio. However, I use far more applications than this for my learning which I can't import in the OU's VLE...unfortunately.
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