PLP Target Goal:  4).Subscribe to EdTechReview (ETR) newsletter and read at least one journal article dealing with distance education.

The first article that I read from this newsletter addressed creating a digital portfolio.  I was very pleased to see that EdTechReview (ETR) recommended Google Sites for building an E-Portfolio. I had just posted that this is the tool that I plan to use to create my digital portfolio in the Distance Education Professional course at the University of West Georgia.

ETR states, “Google Sites is another great free tool from Google that enables users to create and share webpages easily” (Saxena, 2014). The tool is designed to facilitate collaboration and sharing and makes digital portfolio creation easy and user friendly. The interface is easy to use and it is possible to make a site private, so that it can be viewed by invitation only or the site can be made public. Using Google Sites, students and professionals can share and link to their very best work. This portfolio can serve as a showcase for potential employers or a link can be provided when applying to graduate schools. All of the hard work of collecting, organizing, and showcasing one’s work is made easy and available through a shared URL.

Since subscribing to EdTechReview, I have received numerous emails and articles involving distance education topics. I am providing the link so that my classmates can join me in reading this newsletter which originates from India.

www.edtechreview.com 

The following YouTube clip is by the founder of EdTechReview, Stephen Shapiro, and gives his reasons for founding this service.


 http://youtu.be/xTTzkEiu9bs

EdTechReview also has information for younger scholars at http://www.edtechreview.com/products/view/125/

       I just completed my PLP goal #3 by following Connie's lead and joining the Sloan Consortium. 

  

PLP Goal # 3-  Join Distance Learning Association and become 
                         more engaged in the DE process.
                         Connect and network with online learners and teachers.

                        

I am excited about the reduced rate that this fabulous source of information has offered me as a student!
Membership in the Sloan Consortium includes valuable resources that will assist me in gaining effectiveness in online teaching and learning.  I believe that being a member will give me access to information that will assist me in my journey as an online student and then prepare me to be a better online teacher.  It all boils down to having the time to take advantage of these great opportunities. Sloan-C conferences and workshops, free webinars, discussion groups, and peer networking will all facilitate my online journey.

Wikipedia describes the Sloan Consortium at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloan_Consortium

Perhaps after graduation I can take advantage of the Sloan-C Certificate Program.  This program
prepares educators to teach and improve online courses using the Sloan-C pillars of quality in online education. The Sloan website states, "The program consists of a 9-week foundation course and a variety of electives that focus on improving overall competency within a specific area of academic focus while working individually with expert mentors".  The program is offered four more times this year and hopefully it will continue to be offered when I am finished with my dissertation.

sloanconsortium.org

Dr. Smolka may be interested in reading this link on Sloan and Texas A&M
http://www.prlog.org/12301524-sloan-and-texas-am-university-commerce-announce-strategic-partnership.html