Research

The Portfolio Connection asks the question:

How does the process of using a comprehensive eportfolio tool during teacher preparation impact teacher candidate's practices and use of technology in P-12 classrooms ?  

To address this question --

• Cohorts of pre-service teachers and higher education faculty at the University of Vermont and in four Vermont colleges will be taught how to use an online electronic portfolio system to support reflective practice and knowledge construction.
• Student volunteers will be recruited and throughout the pre-service experience receive support from their faculty, other students and the PT3 team.
• Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to determine the impact of the electronic portfolio system on the pre-service teacher's ability to be a reflective learner, to use technology in planning and field experiences, and in social construction of knowledge.
• College electronic portfolios will be able to be aggregated to learn about and evaluate teacher education programs.

To support this effort --

• The Portfolio Connection partners will develop resources and tutorials and help design and deliver professional development workshops/courses to faculty and students using a train the trainer model.