Tags: Formal versus Informal learning, life long learning, PLE, e-learning2.0, situated learning, Activity theory
At the multimedia program at the business academy we are using a LMS called It’s Learning as the virtual Learning environment.
On 1.semester the students have to make a presentation portfolio as part of the HTML, CSS and Dreamweaver lessons.
Later on we encorage the students to update an redesign their portfolios, because it is very usefull, when they what to apply for a job or an internship/external projects.
Recently we have desided that the portfolios shall have a more central role on all four semesters. see plan in danish portfolio-pa-mmd-jan-09
According to the plan all students must have an Assesment portfolio (inside It’s Learning) with links to course outcome (reports and productions), personal reflections on their motivations, learning goals for the semester.
On the final 4.semester the students have to get their presentation portfolio’s ready for the marked (outside the school). E.g. by getting feedback from external business partners. One of the ideas is that the presentation portfolio can help the students into intership in the multimedia business.
From spring 2010 it is required by law that all students at the business academy have (some kind of) work experience internship on 4.semester.
It can be hard for every student to get an intership, because the companies don’t think they have enough ressources. This problem is also know from programs at the Aarhus Technical College (vekseluddannelser, eud).
Another problem is that some companies are seeing the students as free labor for low level tasks, instead of being interested in the students learning proces and competence development.
My masterproject
I’m interested in how we can help the students develope a personal learning portfolio/environment (PLE) that can support the students workplace(4.sem intership) , home- and school learning by the use of social software.
Maybe the students can have a value to the intership companies as an evangelist for the use of web2.0 in connection with their competence development.
I have just started this project, so please write me some thoughts and comments 
