CHAPTER FOUR

The questions that guided this investigation were:

1. What effect does incorporating technology have on the development of a portfolio for teacher candidates?

2. To what extent does the electronic portfolio process encourage self-assessment and reflection?

3. In what ways does the electronic portfolio provide evidence of student learning and achievement in line with course objectives?

4. What are the problems encountered in putting together the portfolio electronically?

5. What do students perceive as the strengths and/or weaknesses of creating a portfolio electronically?

6. What are the course professor's perceptions concerning the effectiveness of the electronic portfolio as a tool for assessment?

Results from the student computer literacy questionnaire, including previous background and attitude toward the use of technology in education, are considered important for this study. Students shared their perspective through reflections within the electronic portfolio framework as well through open-ended personal interviews. Interviews, portfolio reflections, questionnaire responses, e-mail messages, and other communication provided the data for analysis. Narratives of student responses have been organized into the following general categories:

1. The Portfolio Process
2. Technology
3. Student Perception
4. The Electronic Portfolio Product
5. Self-assessment and Self-reflection.

The course syllabus, designed with emphasis on learning objectives based on current state certification standards, was prepared by the course professor prior to the electronic portfolio project. Two successive groups of teacher candidates were involved in the electronic portfolio project: the spring group of six students (Group I) and the fall group of six students (Group II). The electronic portfolio project was constantly evolving throughout both semesters due to revisions in state credential standards and technological considerations. The course syllabus was altered for Group II due to revised state standards and the implementation of the Reading Instruction Competency Assessment (RICA). In addition, an attempt was made to solve some of the technical problems that were experienced by Group I. Students of Group II were required to attend a computer training seminar at the beginning of the semester to prepare for the electronic portfolio project.

The paper portfolio was an established means of assessment in the teaching training courses at this university before the electronic portfolio project began. When the course professor was asked why she implemented electronic portfolios into her class, she stated:

I have worked for ten years to get faculty to infuse the use of technology into their courses and teach students to do so in productive ways--this is just another step along the way. The benefits for me? Not having to carry home 100 pounds of paper portfolios as I have been doing for several years--and seeing that students DO know how to use the technology in their classrooms when they leave--and understand not just the tech part--but the curricular uses. They have to get through the learning/uncomfortable stage before they can connect to the important parts of teaching them how to use technology in appropriate ways--and since the state does not require the computer course until 5th year--that puts all of us at a disadvantage because most do not know how to do anything but word processing and email--and now most know how to surf the net. This was my way of forcing them to learn what I wanted them to know even though I couldn't make them take the computer course.

All students reported using computers for word processing and e-mail and all but one student used the World Wide Web. Eight students reported playing games on computers and six students used computers for graphics. Only three students claimed to use computers for multimedia. Students generally reported that they used word processing, e-mail, and the World Wide Web frequently. Least frequently used software programs were graphics, multimedia, spreadsheet, and database (see Table 4).
 
 

Table 4. Frequency of Software Use

According to the literacy survey, the general attitude was positive toward the use of computers. Six students reported that they "loved" computers and five students reported that they "liked" computers. Only one student claimed to "hate" or "dislike" computers. Four students reported using computers more than eight hours weekly. The amount of activity in relation to the reported attitude toward computers for the study group is reported in Figure 1. The one student who reported "disliking" or "hating" computers was the same student that reported the least amount of computer activity weekly (see Figure 8).

Figure 8. Activity and attitude toward computers.

The frequency of use of graphics and multimedia software for the twelve students involved was considered significant for this study. The electronic portfolio design was to incorporate multimedia artifacts in the format of graphics, audio, video, and text within the computer framework. Students were expected to present their evidence of meeting course criteria in an interactive format, allowing the viewer or evaluator to link directly from the course objectives to multimedia artifacts (see Figure 9). Seventy-five percent of the students reported never or rarely using graphics and multimedia software prior to the electronic portfolio project.

Figure 9. Graphics and multimedia frequency of use.

Comparisons between Study Participants and Total Class

Table 5. Amount of Weekly Computer Activity – Comparison of Study Group with Total Students in Course

Figure 10. Comparison of frequency of use of graphics and multimedia software between research study participants and total student population.

Phase I

Technical problems developed immediately because of cross-platform issues. The designer created the web pages on a Windows NT computer and saved all files on a CD-ROM. Files were then to be transferred to each student’s zip disk. Initial problems were described in the researcher’s journal:

My original design plan called for cross-platform compatibility between Windows and Mac. I thought that students would want to work at home and I knew many people had Windows machines. The lab was primarily Mac and I knew the course professor would want the final product in Mac format.

I originally named files not worrying about length of file names. I wrote all HTML files on a Windows NT using FrontPage 97. I designed the pages using the original syllabus which had been written in HTML using Pagemill. I determined that my NT files were not being read by Mac because I had used Windows 95 unlimited names. I had to go back and name all files with DOS names using eight or less letters. Somewhere in the process of moving from NT to Mac, the links to files with long names were not readable by Mac. Mac files came up with a % folder division that I did not understand. After renaming all HTML files with shorter names, they were cross-platform compatible. An additional problem came up when I saved all files on a writable CD-ROM. The files were locked once I put them on CD. On the Windows machines, you could simply unlock the files by going to the properties menu. The Mac files were fine once they were resaved on a Mac, but before that, you could not edit the files.

Early in the semester, it became clear that students also were having difficulty using the HTML template. A decision was made to provide an alternative template using Hyperstudio, a multimedia authoring software program. The course professor described the problems:

The initial decisions were based on what would be easiest for the students--most whom had NOT had any computer courses or training--that we could support in the lab. Also, since our lab assistant hours were very limited at that time, we made some decisions (i.e. using HTML) so that students would be able to it at home and change platforms without major problems.

Problems occurred because students didn't find the web construction we gave them understandable--they were overwhelmed with all the cross referencing, etc., and didn't understand most of what they had--particularly the resources--until late in the semester. We also caused problems because we had technical problems and kept changing things on them. We also had problems with the CD and that made things worse for them.

Eventually, we gave them a template to use (Hyperstudio) and that seemed to make more sense to them--so they all used it--with one exception, I believe. Once they connected with Hyperstudio the tension about it eased a bit, but many still found it difficult (because they put it off and didn't just go learn to do it) and by then their attitudes were so bad about the whole thing that it made it more difficult for them.

Penny, a student from Group I, expressed her frustration with the initial electronic portfolio assignment:

If we would have had this assignment from the beginning--and I know that we were the first class to do it--I can see next semester, when they have this, it will be a lot easier for them, in terms of they'll be able to work on it the whole semester, rather than the last month. There were so many changes. We started out with HTML and then we decided that not too many people were getting into that, so--I liked the Hyperstudio, the stacks. That was really great. That was much easier. I can't imagine having to try to do HTML.

The course professor noted that students were confusing the assignments with the actual purpose of the portfolio--showing evidence of completing course objectives. The initial portfolio menu design emphasized the assignments causing students to think completing assignments meant meeting course objectives. I changed the design when moving it into the Hyperstudio format--so that the assignments were under the notes menu. Assignments could be used as evidence of meeting objectives, but they must then be placed in the appropriate place in the portfolio. I believe this gave the course objectives greater prominence in the design, giving the students a clearer understanding of what types of evidence they needed to provide. I believe this was my error because I did not make the opening menu clear. I think this change, along with switching to Hyperstudio, saved this project.

Figure 11. Original Hyperstudio template menu page emphasizing course assignments.

Figure 12. Revised Hyperstudio initial template menu page placing emphasis on course objectives.
 
 

Figure 13. Hyperstudio course objectives menu page.
 
 

The technical expertise of the course professor and her commitment to use technology in teacher preparation were crucial to the success of the electronic portfolio process. The professor stated:

I had to spend much more time talking about it, demonstrating, and trouble shooting technical problems in class than I should have--which meant my concern about the time taken away from the reading instruction was growing. And I finally had to simply call a halt to the in-class time--which meant I also had to compromise the technology standards for the portfolios that semester. They zapped me heavily in their class evaluations--but they did them a week before they finished their portfolios--right at the height of their stress level--and late nights--so I was expecting that. At the end, they did get excited about the portfolios--and most would probably do it again by choice. I believe they saw the benefits of the electronic format and they liked the individuality. Also, they saw the usefulness of the format for later. They were very proud of their products. Many got all excited about buttons they created or little bits of music they put in--they are, after all, going to be elementary school teachers!

Phase II

The course professor described additional changes made for Group II regarding the literacy resource packet and the implementation of Saturday workshops:

Between spring and fall I decided to separate the syllabus and resource files from the portfolio because I believed that was what was so confusing to them in the first place. I did away with some of the cross referencing because it was so confusing to them. I put the syllabus/resource files in a folder named Electronic Packet and put the template for the portfolio itself in a folder named Portfolio--and tried keeping the two things as separate as I could at first. I taught the packet first--and didn't even give them the portfolio until they attended a special workshop (I did two on Saturdays--they had to attend one of them) to learn to use Hyperstudio and the template.

I also want them to learn more than the state currently demands in the undergraduate part of their program--and have for years made them do computer projects (lesson plans, book reviews for Kidline, etc.) and so this serves that purpose also. Recent research says that pre-service teachers do not come out adequately prepared in technology and the use of it in curriculum--ours do. They are ahead of many other schools.

We began offering a one-unit course for incoming school of education students this year--that was elective/not required. Many took it and got a fast (too fast) intro to e-mail, the web, Hyperstudio and HTML. Without exception, their evaluations indicated that they liked the class and what they were learning--and wanted more time--so that word (when spread) may cause more of them to take the computer class early in their coursework--which is what is needed. Most students learned all of the basic skills taught in the computer class and some more advanced skills such as video production using Premiere and audio production using Sound Edit--all learned very basic scanning, image editing (Photoshop) and Hyperstudio skills. The state is in the process of changing these requirements and the computer course will be required earlier in the program.

According to the course professor, the content of the portfolios from Group II as a whole demonstrated a "more meaningful collection of artifacts aligned with course objectives." The first group reported that "evidence selection was determined primarily by the ease of being able to digitize and insert the artifact into the Hyperstudio stack." She stated that artifacts from the Group II were more complete and the portfolios were more elaborate and personalized. Students demonstrated less frustration over the electronic portfolio process throughout the second semester. For the most part, students from Group II reportedly kept up with assignments and did not wait until the last minute to work on the project. The course professor introduced the literacy resource packet early in the semester before discussion of the portfolio project. The portfolio template was not introduced until after the students participated in the computer workshop, resulting in less confusion over the purposes of the project. Also, the students had the advantage of viewing student projects from the previous semester.
 

Student approach to the project

I was scared of the whole assignment at first because I didn't know how to use any other programs than word processing basically…I was really worried about it, 'cause I didn't know how to do it. But now that I know how to do it, it's so simple. You just ask a few questions and it's not that bad.

It started out in class. We were given a list of possible artifacts for our objectives. Basically, I went through some of my stuff and figured out what sort of things--like pictures, text, articles, and web sites--and things that I thought were appropriate for the objectives. I also looked at her [course professor’s] suggestions. I basically went into the computer lab and just started experimenting with it and seeing what it did. It was really neat. I didn't really know what to expect 'cause it was the first time we'd ever done anything like this. It was just hands on and I didn't research the whole lot. I just went in and did it.

I went about looking at the general objectives--the course objectives that I was supposed to accomplish on the ditto piece of paper that Dr. Smith gave us. Before I even sat down at the computer, I began gathering all of the information that I needed, like all the artifacts--paper-wise or on disk. I collected all of mine on disk 'cause I thought--the lab tech at the time had told me it was very easy to transfer and disk copy to the portfolio. So I matched all my artifacts with the objectives and took all the disks of my material to the lab. I sat down probably two weekends before and finally looked at what the portfolio actually looked like. So that's how I set about putting it all together.

I took the objectives from both the pedagogy and the language arts one and tried to think of classes that I'd taken and what artifacts I had that I'd be able to use. With the pedagogical objectives, the artifacts were focused toward the other methods classes I had taken. I looked through all my stuff for each class and I organized and grouped the material together so that I could just find two artifacts for each thing. We had everything on disk so a lot of it was just really easy to save as a text file and bring over to the lab and insert. I basically took everything from the class itself, from class notes, class projects that we did. It's all from the class whereas the pedagogical one is a combination of everything else. I used Hyperstudio. I thought about using HTML but I just wanted to do what was there. I'm going to be a teacher and so I figured I needed to know Hyperstudio anyway.

I basically had no experience on Macintosh. I came in the week after I heard about this project and I just started getting familiar with the portfolio. I'm also taking Microcomputers in Education, which also helped a great deal in this portfolio. I also had a lot of help from the lab technician. The way I started putting it together was that I used the Hyperstudio template. I did a lot of it in Hyperstudio--which I really enjoyed.

The use of templates

Ten of the twelve students in this study used the Hyperstudio template provided for them on zip disks. One student used a template designed in HTML and one student created her own HTML portfolio without a template. Students generally responded favorably to the use of templates. Maggie stated, "I liked having the prepared one [template]. That was great, 'cause I was just getting started. I really liked the templates --those were helpful." Some students indicated that they made changes to the template as they worked on the project. Barbara stated, "I liked having the template. I could change things later to spice it up." She described how she would improve her process in the future: "I would use Hyperstudio but I'd design my own template. The ease of the template took the stress off for the first time, but I'd do my own next time." Penny agreed that "it was easy having a template instead of having to create one on your own."

Lisa described how she started with the basic template and made changes as she worked on the project:

I used the Hyperstudio program. I used the portfolio that had been pre-done, the template, but I took it apart and put it back together the way I wanted it to connect. I set up how I wanted the computer part of it first. Then I went in and plugged in what I wanted to add for the objectives and artifacts and things. There were links between stacks that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, so I changed the links. The biggest thing that I did--there was one assignment that I wanted to use pieces of in different stacks. I had to take it all out and make it a new stack, so I ended up linking. There are some pages that look the same but they're actually two different pages that I ended up double creating so it would link the way I wanted it to.

The first step was organizing material I wanted to use, the artifacts. I looked at competencies required. The second step was to apply the technology. Once all the artifacts were gathered and collected, I began to enter field experiences in Hyperstudio. The second template was easier to use. I cut and pasted in the material.

Using the Hyperstudio software and the templates that were already designed, I went through with the objectives and the goals that we had on a list. I just went through and I got words that came to my mind first from what the objective was. I’d try to think about what I'd done that related to it.

I've kept binders full of all the work I've done through 4 years of college and I went through that and picked it out. I took some photos of work I'd done with kids and put those in. Also--photos of books for different age levels. The rest are papers I'd written, observations I'd done, and discussions I'd had at various points throughout my education. I used more than just from this class--in fact very little from this class.

All students involved in the study had access to computers at home. Several students reported being able to successfully work on files for the electronic portfolio project on their own home computer. Kate described her process of working at home:

My little Microsoft Word disks--I collected in a pile 'cause most of mine [artifacts] were on other disks. I hadn't been using a zip disk 'cause I never really worked on a zip disk 'til this portfolio project. I did most of all my work at home. I collected either actual pieces of paper that were going to be my artifacts and scanned all of the information that I had--like different articles I had on disk. I brought all that with me, along with the course objectives, and actually opened the portfolio on zip disk for the first time in the lab and just started inserting everything that I had.

I typed out most of my stuff at home and I used Claris Works. I had to save it as Word Perfect 4.0 so I could transfer it to the computer over here in the LRC. Then I just basically cut and pasted most of my stuff into the electronic portfolio. I wrote all the objectives and I kind of picked little parts from each objective because they're so broad. Most of the things that I chose were segments that I had to do for my class.

I brought in separate text files that I typed elsewhere and put them in. I saved all my graphics on a disk. I got them from internet sites. I did all of the work outside and then came in and just cut and pasted and copied all the competencies that I had to write for a pedagogical and all the explanations--the cover sheets. I wrote them all at home 'cause the lab hours were limited and it's hard to fit in with the schedule. I may as well do all the work at home. I work best late at night anyway so…I either did everything through inserting a graphic or through a text box. I would insert a text box, cut and paste, and insert the reading material into the text box. When I was done, I moved on to the next one.

I did very little scanning. Almost all of it was cut and paste. I took it just right off my desktop at home. I had a Mac but I didn't have the equivalent so I just saved it in text format, brought it over here, pulled it up on Word, and cut and pasted a lot of what I did on it. A lot of it though I did type in myself. All the lesson plans I just retyped 'cause it seemed to be easier 'cause the format was different. It took me less time to retype than it would to try and figure out how to cut and paste and do other stuff. I didn't do a lot of graphics. Mine was very simple. I was more concerned about what went into the portfolio than trying to make it look fancy. My scanning consisted of all the photos I brought.

HTML web portfolios

I used Microsoft FrontPage and I scanned a lot of the stuff in as well as I used a lot of the resources that you had given us on the running records and some of the other things that were already included…I'm working on an IBM and I knew that you would be on a Mac, so it had to be something that could be used on the Mac format. I used a scanner and I used some of the backgrounds and things that come with FrontPage. I dragged and dropped a whole bunch of stuff from the electronic pack.

I did it on the web. I did HTML using VI editor on the UNIX machines. I either telneted from home or used the UNIX lab here. I wrote the code. I was upset at first 'cause we weren't told we could do it on the web. I did a lot of web pages as it was web based...The Mac lab hours were bad. I would not have been able to get in to finish it if I'd had to work there. I did it mostly at home and in the UNIX lab.

Time

Barbara said, "Once I’d gathered the evidence, I processed what was fulfilling competencies. Once I’d learned Hyperstudio and gathered artifacts, it took about 12 to 18 hours to complete." Paula stated, "Collecting the information wasn't so time consuming. It was more of the thought process involved in that than anything else. Mostly it was putting it together. It took actually pretty much the whole weekend, so three days." When asked what took the most time, Karen replied, "The scanning, making it pretty, choosing what I needed. I spent almost two months in the computer lab, every night after class and work, weekends."

Dana described the problems with technology as she worked on her electronic portfolio:

Changing the backgrounds and putting in images--Cutting and pasting. They had real problems with the computers. Something would just happen. It just takes a while to cut and paste on each page and then you get efficient at it. I'd say, in the lab, a good 10-15 hours--Outside of the lab, probably another good 10-15 hours. It was just a matter of collecting everything and saving it as a rich text file. Finding images and sounds--I've never really experimented with sounds on the internet. I'd seen other people do it and got a feel for how that was done.

It gets to the point when you're down to the time factor, so you just start asking rather than sit there for an hour trying to figure it out. I did try and succeeded now and then.

Probably just simply gathering artifacts. Honestly, actually getting in there and sitting in front of a portfolio, once I had everything, it was not difficult. At first I thought it would be and I was amazed at how easy it is to do a portfolio…At the time I was doing it, I was on a time limit. I actually would have done HTML had I had more time and been more prepared, 'cause it would have been a lot better to be able to access it on the web easier, in my opinion.

The coversheets took the most time. I think it was just putting it all together and organizing it and actually taking it from like all the stuff you have on paper to putting it into the computer--whether it's scanning it or typing it in or copying it in. I think it's just generally just sitting down and doing it that was the most time consuming. Organizing it. If she [the course professor] hadn't given us suggestions, I could see it taking a really long time. I guess just doing it is the most time consuming.

The actual time in the computer lab working just on the portfolio was at least 40-50 hours. The most time consuming was probably figuring out what I was going to put in each and what I was going to say about each. Scanning things in or just linking it to your web page and do whatever was easy because Linda [the lab technician] the magnificent works in there. Trying to figure out what I was going to say….and then to pick them [the artifacts] --so that was the most time consuming--actually sitting down and trying to do it.

Resource packet

The resource folder is full of information which students can copy into their portfolio as evidence of meeting course objectives. The question is: will they actually link any resources to their portfolio? Also, does the resource packet actually help them, or does it possibly cause confusion? As I designed this package, I thought that students would link to resources, or cut and paste, adapting resources to their own web pages. It appeared early on that they liked the resources, but did not see relationships between resources and course objectives. Particularly, once they moved to the Hyperstudio template, they were unable or not interested in attempting to link resources.

I don't believe that doing it that way increased the student's use of the resource files--but I do think they at least understood what they had--and most used the excuse of time for not making use of them--but said they would use them later--which is probably true. The only way I could really force them to make use of all of it during the semester I give it would be to require reports on things in the resource folder--or test them...maybe...haven't really thought too far on that. I talk about all of the subjects of the things that are in the resource folder--so they don't have to go there to learn the basics--and most are too busy to want anything extra during that time. I hope they use it later. I do tell them that there are many handouts I used to give on paper that are now in that packet--and I do specifically refer them to some of them that they really need for certain assignments. The top students usually explore more of the resources (surprise!).

When Barbara was asked if she used the resource packet, she said, "I used Zoo-phonics in the field experience. I haven't really gone through resources. It didn't intimidate me. I like having the information. It's most exciting to know there are tools I can use later." Paula was the only student in the study who reported using the resources in the packet. She linked the objectives on her web page directly to several resource web pages, including the running records, phonics, and phonemic awareness web pages. She said, "I used a couple of things off the electronic packet. I used some phonics stuff and the graphic pictures of phonics animals…The electronic packet had tons of stuff that we could have used. It's just a matter of exploring that and utilizing it."

Technical support

Barbara stated:

Linda was the key component. She was there for guidance and support. She provided knowledge of how to navigate so I now could do it on my own. Some classmates freaked out and were critical. It was overwhelming to them. There would be no way without support.

Well I needed someone to stand there and basically tell me what to do. I really liked the templates, those were helpful, but I did need somebody to stand there and tell me what to do because I didn't know how to do it.

Linda--she was a big support. I also talked to Lisa a lot about it. I was afraid I wasn't doing something right or I messed up here or I’d ask Lisa--I just can't understand this one. What did you do? OK--that gives me some ideas and was able to go from there. I would ask her questions about how you would do this.

We had to basically rely on Linda. She helped us out tremendously in terms of how you do this--how you do that--how do you import this--this doesn't do this.

I knew how to do most of everything--and I knew what I wanted to do--but it seemed like I needed her [Linda] to be in the room to make sure that I got what I really wanted and what I thought could happen was really valid--her encouragement. I don't feel comfortable enough to do it on my own--even though I did it all the time.

It was nice to have Linda in there 'cause there were some things that I had to ask her. I think I had to ask her again how to scan, just because I couldn't remember from the last semester. One time the Hyperstudio wasn't on the computer for some reason so I needed her help to get it back. Most of the time I could have done without it and if she wasn't there, I always could have left and come back at another time--or just chosen another computer. I think it is pretty important [to have technical help].

Lisa described the on-line technical support she received through e-mail from a friend 300 miles away:

I needed a copy of the program for PC to use at home. The most support I had was when I had that animated graphics problem and it froze. I e-mailed my whole portfolio to my friend. He's getting a computer science degree masters so he knows what he's doing. I sent it to him and I said--here tell me how to fix it. We spent a lot of hours back and forth just making sure that when I finished things, I would e-mail it to him and he would make sure it did what I said it was doing. That's something I had never done before. We collaborated a lot over 300 miles.

Technical skills

I became more efficient with computers and using Macs and PCs--the programs--how to keep things open. I learned little things about programs that I use all the time just from trying out new things. I became very efficient at Hyperstudio….I'd never used Hyperstudio before, so that was a really good experience. I have a better idea. I didn't actually create my own stack but, through using it, I learned a lot more about it--Same thing with Pagemill and I had never really scanned a lot of stuff before so that was the first time in experiencing that. I never had a lot of Mac experience. I'd always had Windows and IBM, so this was another good experience.

I became more efficient with computers and using Macs and PCs. I learned little things about programs that I use all the time just from trying out new things. I became very efficient at Hyperstudio. I really like Hyperstudio.

Taking from Photoshop to transfer pictures to Hyperstudio--to work in and transfer to the other Hyperstudio stacks 'cause you use stacks and transfer those too--When I had to do my own Children's book--that was a brand new stack for me. I did erase what was unnecessary to me--And I changed all the look of it--the color and everything 'cause it was pretty bland. I changed the coloring, the headings, and the text styles.

I typed, cut and pasted--some scanning and video--Definitely, being comfortable with the Mac and Hyperstudio and learning the drawing portion--Really everything about it, 'cause I didn't know anything. Most of the skills--I became better at--scanning and using Photoshop, linking to web pages, clicking on buttons and making them links.

I learned how to scan and I learned how to use the Hyperstudio portfolio. I learned how to put buttons in and take buttons out and add new pages…The pictures and other artifacts I scanned in--which was new to me.

How do I scan, how do I add a new card to the card stack and how to get the pictures into the right size because they had to be a particular size? At first I didn't know that, so I had to go back and make sure they were the right size--cutting them down to the right size. The picture there I have of myself actually is me and my father. I cut my father out and just put me in there--like it was a little portrait.

Seeing I was doing it in HTML format, I had to make sure that all of my links were active--I'm sure the same kind of process that you went through to create the electronic pack--Making sure that all the links were live and active and working. I learned how to scan. It helped me focus and hone…I deleted some templates. I deleted unwanted links and I retained some links.

It was interesting to learn how easy it is to zip it up and send it off over the internet, unzip it on the other end and get it all hooked up and fixed. I've learned a lot technology wise about how that works and how to fix things.

I have a scanner at home so I scanned various things. I didn't have to scan too many of the pictures. I'm still learning about OCR and how to change things that I don't have on the disk so I don't have to re-type everything. That's one thing that I really wish the lab would work on-- helping us do things like OCR.

Several students indicated that having previous experience with computers was helpful in preparing them for the electronic portfolio process. Cathy indicated that she had taken the microcomputer course for teachers previously. She said, "I know it really helped me that I'd worked with Hyperstudio before. I'm not sure how many problems other people had--not being familiar with it. I'm sure I would have had severe problems." Carol had taken the same computer course and agreed that it was beneficial to the portfolio experience:

I got much more efficient at Hyperstudio, but I did take the microcomputer class beforehand, so I did have a big edge up on everybody else in the class. I became better at scanning and using Photoshop, linking to web pages, clicking on buttons and making them links.

I'm also taking Microcomputers in education, which also helped a great deal in this portfolio...If I had more computer knowledge, I can see that would be easier. I know that the people in our class who had experience with that--during the lesson plan assignment they were just flying through it and doing really great. And then there was our group who had no experience at all. We were like--help, help. I think if you had more experience, of course, you'll be more comfortable doing it. They could probably do a lot more stuff, especially if they've had the computer class. You could see the difference between a person's portfolio who'd had a computer class before. They had a bunch of really neat stuff like 'gif' files--where some people who'd never [had experience] were just saying--I'm just going to type in all the words and that'll be it.

Technical Problems

Many of the problems students related were due to compatibility issues between their home computers and the lab computers. Seven of the twelve students mentioned problems with compatibility between computer formats or their lack of experience with Macintosh computers as being a concern for them completing this project. Paula explained her problems with graphics compatibility: "It was time consuming to take pictures from IBM to Mac and go through and change graphics from Photoshop and Word 97." When Lisa was asked about the problems she encountered, she stated:

The little things I ran into--a lot of it was that everybody was doing it here on the Mac version and I had it on my PC. It was really hard sometimes because they’re not fixing things the same way I'm fixing things--So it was hard to find the resources and help. The PC version was a little older.

I was frustrated when the pictures had to be limited in size because I know my personal picture is kind of fuzzy because I had to scan it at a low resolution. So then it turns out fuzzy and I don't like that but if I scanned it bigger--then it blew up then--There wasn't enough room to put it all on, so I got frustrated with all that.

I had some problems with songs and sounds picked out and when I went to put them in it wouldn't let me put them in. They told me it had to be 16 bit or stereo and it couldn't support in that version I had. I ran into that little problem...and I ended up finding other stuff. If I had more time or a more advanced system, I would have been able to…I ran into a problem that took me a few hours to fix. I put a graphic in and I animated it and it crashed everything. It froze it and it would just shut down the program, so I had to redo a whole section. After that, what took the most time was, before I inserted any more graphics, I would copy the whole thing and dump it somewhere else [as a backup] in case it crashed again.