Professional Electronic Portfolios for Preservice Special Education Teachers
By Smith, Sean, PhD; Journal of Special Education Technology, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 49-52Publication Date: Spring 2002
Article discusses the electronic portfolio project, which was created in order develop the skills and knowledge of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for special education staff. The project’s broader outcome was to graduate technologically literate teachers from the special education licensure programs in the Department of Special Education at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. Specific project goals included: (1) to collaboratively infuse AT into teacher preparation programs, (2) to encourage the development of AT related knowledge and skills of college and university faculty, (3) to establish an AT lab and lending library for pre-service special education teachers and faculty that will provide a hands-on opportunity to demonstrate mastery of specific AT devices, and (4) to fully incorporate AT applications into field experience settings. The electronic portfolios were created using iMac computers with iMovie, which is Apple/Macintosh software created for the digital editing of video material. The Netscape browser was also used, which comes with a free web editor called Composer. Students were able to use scanners and digital cameras to digitize documents. The equipment was used to create a variety of interactive teacher training activities. Students reported a high level of satisfaction with the portfolios, as they felt as though such documentation would increase their employment opportunities and develop their technology skills.
Published by: Exceptional Innovations (Website:http://www.exinn.net)
Technology and Media Division (TAM) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (Web Site: http://www.tamcec.org )
