Activities that Comprise this Project:

Project 1: Create a Nursing Portfolio and Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Introduction

Creating a Nursing Portfolio and Professional Development Plan is a multi-faceted class project that combines learning content knowledge of creating portfolios and PDPs, development of language and soft skills, and the use of on-line tools. The intent of the project is for the class to create individual professional nursing portfolios and during the process to gain valuable skills resulting in a product that can be used in the real world. Once the portfolio is completed, learners will "present" their project to the class. The second component is creating a "Professional Development Plan" (PDP) used in many workplaces. The intent of this document is not to give a lesson plan, many of which you can find by using Google search. The intent of this is to give a few examples of using Web 2.0 tools. Integrating Web 2.0 tools can increase communication and deeper learner engagement. Finally, the tools facilitate interaction and collaboration through the web and provide for asynchronous and synchronous communication.

Learners can:

  • Increase language skills in all four strands
  • Develop a personal nursing portfolio
  • Develop a Professional Development Plan (PDP)
  • Reflect during the portfolio process
  • Use technology to make learning even more dynamic

Preparation

Here are some questions to consider:

  • What instructional activities and support will move students through the Project? Introduce and encourage use of research tools such as Skype.
  • What content and skills will be taught through explicit instruction; what will be scaffolded? Make use of social bookmarking for useful content websites.
  • What initial activity will engage the class in a thought-provoking experience and connect them immediately to background knowledge and their own experiences? Use a Flisti poll to capture background knowledge.

Research content information regarding nurse portfolios and PDPs:

This next section has been divided into the following categories:

  • Tools to introduce the project
  • Tools to Support Text-Based Communication
  • Tools to Support Audio-Based Communication
  • Tools to give Multimedia Presentation

Tools To Introduce the Project

Flisti

  • Create a quick poll: do you have a nursing portfolio? __ paper format? __ online format?

FluidSurveys

  • Assess the class's prior knowledge. Instructors can created a survey like this example

Wallwisher

Quizlet

  • Introduce new vocabulary and review; flashcards can be created by the instructor or by the various groups (stakeholders); vocabulary should fit the group's topic

Tools to Support Text-Based Communication

Blogger

  • Create blog for chronologically organized online writing reflect on process of creating a portfolio; may give constructive comments and feedback; also to host the portfolio presentation material and media; use for course with supporting content such as assignment criteria, homework tasks, etc.

Diigo

Diigo.com is a Social Networking bookmarking tool. The following are some suggestions:

  • Assist learners to select and save URLs related to nursing portfolios, describe pages and add tags
  • Bookmark information from reliable sources and sharing that information
  • Set up working groups for research purposes and developing projects
  • Use these bookmarks to provide the content for many different assignments or learning tasks, especially those for research. Remember that the value of social bookmarking is that Instructors can organize, store and manage the bookmarks

Wikispaces

  • Create a class wiki as a resource to summarize lessons for learners
  • Imbed a video with accompanying comprehension questions
  • Imbed an audio-recording with script
  • Introduce concepts by posting on wiki
  • Post authentic materials (e.g. newspaper article)
  • Post questions for learners to answer

Wordle

  • A reading related to the project can be introduced in a variety of ways. One way is to use Wordle.net to examine the vocabulary taken from the reading.
  • Use related articles such as from MedicalNewsToday.com for the reading and for creating the word clouds. (or) New York Times “A Nurse Need Never Forget”
  • Use word-cloud to review to introduce vocabulary.
  • Use word-cloud to write a paragraph
  • Use word-cloud to predict what the text or reading will be about

Text2Mindmap

  • Create this visual tool to show how ideas are interconnected. This will help the learner to easily recall important information.
  • Example - Sections in my Portfolio:
    • Philosophy of Nursing - 1 page document, associated photos, Resume, highlight accomplishments, list job history, include certificates
    • Examples of Work - Job descriptions, copies of presentations, list of committees, publications
    • Education - Nursing Registration, Degrees, Transcripts
    • Reflection - reflective practice journal
    • Feedback - performance appraisals, client emails, thank you cards

Tools to Support Audio-Based Communication:

Vimeo

See videos online related to the topic. There are useful videos about the portfolio process on YouTube and “How to Create a Portfolio” on “eHow videos”.

Podcasts

  • Podcasting is an efficient method of sharing lectures, instructions and information.
  • Podomatic.com is a place to store the podcasts generated by the instructor or the class. An audio-recording or screencast needs to be made first before posting on the podcast channel.
  • Example at: www.karenannberg.podomatic.com "Creating a Portfolio"

Audiopal

Use this tool's feature of “Text to speech” to make an audio recording. A possible script could be the following:

  • What do you put in a portfolio?
    • Information should be included in your portfolio based on the needs of your target audience. Your target audience is whomever you are planning on showing the portfolio to (such as a potential employer.
    • Job descriptions, skill sets, certification requirements, performance appraisals are all examples of things you might include. Formal and Informal Education and Training Items: such as licenses, certificates, transcripts, etc. It should also include work performance items such as job descriptions. You could also include reference letters, resumes and performance appraisals. Add projects participated in, promotions, community work, samples of writing

Voicethread

Post a photo for the portfolio so that classmates can comment on the pictures using voice or text. Use the tool as a springboard for writing. Learners could create a multimedia album of his portfolio with embedded images, text, audio and possibly video.

Screencast-O-Matic

Use this tool for presentation purposes as an instructor or as a class group. Recording what is on the screen and adding audio is helpful in clarifying thoughts and organizing information. It can also be used as a “trial run”.

Tools to Give Multimedia Presentation

Prezi

Use this online presentation tool in a number of different ways by instructor as well as learner. The learner can build a presentation of his portfolio and invite other classmates to edit it. This could also be embedded in their blog. See example.

Wikispaces

  • Use the wiki as a central repository for all learners to refer to
  • Enable all learners to contribute links
  • Assign one page to each learner to indicate progress in portfolio process

Screencast-O-Matic

Use this tool for presentation purposes as an instructor or as a class group. Recording what is on the screen and adding audio is helpful in clarifying thoughts and organizing information. It can also be used as a “trial run”.

Other Useful Resources