COVA, My ePortfolio and the Future

The EDLD program at Lamar University has been so different from any other learning experience I've had so far.  It has been an adjustment for me going from a structured set of standards and projects to a more fluid model where I have a lot more say in what I produce.  Being on this end of the learning has been eye opening for me.  I have come to realize first hand just how important it is to have a voice in the work I produce and how it helps drive me to create better quality work since it is for me and I will be using it professionally.  I am also gaining an understanding of how I learn within this program.  In the beginning I was worried about self-paced study, but it has actually been a really good experience. I want to help my students by using what I've learned here in my own classroom.

---

The ePortfolio is something I never really thought about prior to this program.  It was daunting at first with so many platforms to choose from and very little knowledge of how to set any of it up.  I was extremely frustrated after trying to set one up through Wix.  For whatever reason, I just didn't connect with that and found basic tasks difficult.  I explored other options and tried out Weebly.  The Weebly builder made a lot more sense to me and once I got the hang of it, it was easy for me to personalize.  After reading the article this week, Factors that contribute to ePortfolio persistence, I realized that my own journey in creating the ePortfolio has helped me make it something personal to me that I can continue to use professionally.  I absolutely agree that my continued use of my ePortfolio is tied to all of the choices I had in making it and the fact that it is mine and represents my work.  If I had not been in control of the creative process, I do not think I'd be as likely to continue using it in the future.  I also know that I'm still in the early stages of creating a good ePortfolio and look forward to editing and adding to it along the way.  

The most valuable take away for me so far is that authentic learning is not what I have experienced in the past, but I am gaining authentic learning experiences now in this program,   I feel like the EDLD program is geared toward creating the types of learning experiences for us that we will in turn create for our students.  It will be an easier task for me now that my experience as a learner has changed and I can share this with my students as I begin to implement blended learning and COVA in my classroom.