I am so very excited to be piloting Schoology portfolios for the elementary department of TCIS. I am documenting this experience and the thinking behind each step so that I can make informed reflections. First, a bit of background…
I have been using Schoology for about a year. In the elementary, we mainly use it as a communication tool: keeping up-to-date with school events and our fellow teachers across our PreK-12 campus. In the second half of the year, after trying a few other options, I started a ‘group’ in Schoology with all Grade 1 students and teachers (homeroom and single subject) as members. It was really a trial run for next year.
This group is like a digital bulletin board hanging outside our classroom that communicates our learning to interested parties. Yet unlike a bulletin board; it is never stagnent, it has multiple authors (all members can post), it is interactive (people can comment or like an update), it can include video and audio media, and it is accessable from any connected device.
UPDATE: As of September we have been asked to use courses rather than groups in Schoology. I have archived 14-15 year group to use as reference during future discussion. So – I am using the Grade 1 course with all specialist teachers as admins i.e. they can post also.
FURTHER UPDATE: As of September 20 there is now a Class of 2027 group created where we can post blog like posts. Now the blog will continue across grades and can be viewed by other teachers no necessarily teaching the course (much better!).
Next post: next years plans including ePortfolios
