Reflection #3

I can understand the reluctance to create and maintain a portfolio.  To the students, it seems like the never ending homework assignment.  If you look at it from a professional view point, you will see the true value of it.  First, it can be an advantage over other applicants for a job you are seeking.  What if you are able to include a URL on your resume that a prospective employer can look at and get an idea of the level of knowledge you have acquired.  They can go beyond your work history and see your educational philosophy and examples of your work.  Second, the portfolio is an excellent tool to use on the job.  I plan to use my portfolio as a reference guide to things I have learned.  I also plan to include items that I have created on my job.  This would be a “refresher” to knowledge and ideas that I acquired in the past.

Although I agree with all of the tenants, I especially can relate to two of them; AFL should focus on how students learn and AFL should be part of planning, teaching and learning.  The biggest challenge I face as a training manager for my unit is how I can ensure my personnel receives quality training in a minimum amount of time.  People use digital technology today more than anything else.  My trainees can’t tell me when their course expires, but they can tell me what someone put on Twitter a month ago.  We must take advantage of the digital medium.  Since my trainees read blogs and wikis, my training must take advantage of this.  Everyone is very busy these days, but my applying my training to the environment that my trainees use hopefully they will digest it more effectively.  Also consider many web applications are now available on smart phones.  Students can have access to learning everywhere they go.