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Thank You for 20 Years.

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After 20 years of teaching at Brookfield Central, I am saying goodbye. Although I spent the majority of that time in the physics classroom alongside my learners. That changed for my last 18 weeks. I ended up in a place similar to where I started, teaching chemistry and biology. So, rather than dealing with juniors and seniors at the end of their high school careers, I was in classrooms with freshmen and sophomores still trying to find their place. At the same time, I was learning and teaching a set curriculum I hadn't taught in over a decade. So, we were learning. But, of course, I already knew the content.  The point of this post is to take a step back, take in, and share the gratitude from the last students I had in my 20 years at Brookfield Central High School through the cards and notes they made for me on my last day with them.  I don't take many yay me moments. But after 20 years, I think I'll soak this one in.
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Mo Portfolios Mo Problems: Version 1.0

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As we approach the school year, two big things have occurred that have made me realize that portfolios can be a place for literacy and learning to be reflected. The first is that we are going 1:1 with Chromebooks at the high school. The second event was our district being included in the Google Sites Beta.  The Beta represents a giant leap in accessibility for students who are able to use the core GAFE apps like Docs and Slides.

What these two changes mean is that we can access to the portfolio anytime (no need to sign up for computer lab) and with ease (it will be a much less intimidating process).  Students who are familiar with GAFE apps will be more able to provide peer support.  They don't need to know the complex menus of the traditional Google Sites (Classic Sites).

So, I'm calling this Version 1.0 because I'm really starting from scratch here guided by the work of George Couros and Vicki Davis with student portfolios. They have so many great resources that I had to use to think about when drawing up my first iteration I plan to implement in 14 days.

Couros asks a simple question about purpose of the portfolio format. Will the portfolio be used as a learning portfolio, a showcase portfolio, or both.  It is my intention that it be a place for both. The learning portion will be in the form of student narratives and the showcase will be presentation and defense of course artifacts.

The outline of version 1.0 is below for what will be in the portfolio. I'm currently deciding on the "visibility plan".  But, will make them live to myself and parents right away. Probably, live to the world after our first unit. And, promote to the world after the first 9 weeks.  I would love if you would provide me with any feedback, questions, concerns, or clarifications.  As my PLN, I'd love your help in clarifying and shaping my vision. I think it would be really cool if I was able to get enough feedback to draft Version 1.1 before school started.  Thank you!



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