E-Portfolio in the ABLE Classroom: Innovation Proposal

Dear Administration of BHISD and ABLE Teachers at ISN,

Currently, students in the ABLE Program at Barbers Hill Intermediate School North (BHISN) with different abilities have a difficult time communicating. Barriers and challenges start as early as when they start to communicate. In social interactions, these students freeze and lose thoughts. Being able to communicate is a key ingredient to become independent. Students with disabilities are trying to surpass all the obstacles and barriers that may arise when trying to move forward in their independence. Young adults with different abilities need more resources that will allow them to be successful in communicating who they are and what they can do.

What if there was a solution to this? A solution that allows young adults with disabilities to make something that allows them to go into an important communication environment with questions already answered, and all they have to do is point to their videos and written responses on a website they created. The solution is a pilot ePortfolio creation curriculum within their blended learning environment using videos and online writing platforms. Their ePortfolio is a place where they can share their wonderful ideas, innovations, and knowledge with others to promote who they are and what is important to them in their growth.

I am proposing to start a pilot ePortfolio building curriculum for my 6th Grade ABLE students in my school in which:

• 6th grade ABLE students use their school google drive account to access Google Sites to start making their ePortfolio that will be kept in their BHISD folder until ready to use.

• 6th grade students will start working on their ePortfolio, using their already assigned Chromebook and I-Pads in the classroom.

• An ePortfolio that will be built while continuing their daily rotations in the classroom throughout their secondary education.

• 6th Grade students will be creating blog posts that are chunked quests.

• 6th Grade students can then build on their ePortfolio beyond intermediate school.

Teachers are full of ideas and so are our students, no matter their ability. An ePortfolio that is embedded with the student’s videos and writings that include an about them page, their choice of what to share, and their voice through videos. They will then be able to build and edit their ePortfolio through their secondary education and future. The young adults can use their ePortfolio to advocate, publish, and show what they have created, show how they have succeeded, and show what they plan on completing in their future. The ePortfolio can then be shared with future employers, investors, peers, and colleagues.

I am looking forward to allowing the ABLE students to look at their ability and beyond through the creation of their own ePortfolio. I am asking for BHISD Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Chloe Yowell, BHISD ABLE Specialist, Meagan Dow, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services, Stephanie Martin , and ABLE Colleagues to support this plan by allowing me to implement this type of instruction in my school's ABLE program. I am also asking Assistant Superintendent of Technology, Kristen Davis, to provide a yearly 6th grade student set of I-Pads so that my students are able to record their videos and attach them to their authentic ePortfolio.

Sincerely,

Rebekah Ard