Reflection

= = =**Reflection** = =**This phase demonstrates, opportunities(lessons learnt), challenges(short comings)experienced during the development of the e-portfolio and prototype webquest intervention. It also highlights possible solutions in light of the formative evaluations discussed.**=

Opportunities/Lessons learnt

 * ==I have learnt that the e-portfolio is an innovative way of storing and keeping a record of information in a digital format that can be referred to by anyone(those invited or access through links).It can be accessed by a large audience at anytime from any where in places with internet connection. For example the my supervisors and classmates have accessed my e-portfolio and advised accordingly and i have also accessed theirs( collaborative learning). ==
 * ==I have acquired in-depth understanding of webquests; how they are made,how they work and the benefits that they can bring the teaching and learning process. ==
 * ==I have also learnt that planning is very important for any online learning activity to be successful. This is because planning is made basing on clearly established goals and expectations.For example my choice of learning design model Dabbagh and Ritland model(2005)provides background information and outline of clear structures and learning standards that can benefit the online learning developer. ==
 * ==The activity of developing an e-portfolio is reflective in nature.The feedback from the supervisors, provided with a deeper understanding of what i needed to accomplish. This provided me with further opportunities to reflect on learning .==

Challenges

 * ==I faced a problem of network failure while working on the e-portfolio.The internet connectivity was very unreliable, i kept on losing connection and in some instances it connectivity was so slow. This really affected my progress. Further still, the electric power supply was very unreliable. In Uganda load shedding is a daily routine.Therefore in such instances, i could not work on the e-portfolio and on the prototype webquest activity. ==
 * == I also faced moments of being lost and confused. Sometimes i got confused and wondered whether i was really on the right track especially when it can to certain sections of the e-portfolio and the prototype webquest intervention.However, i must confess the supervisors provided enough feedback about the e-portfolio and webquest prototype that enabled me gain confidence and get back on track.My classmates also sent me e-mails,text messages and phone calls to clarify issues that were not clear. And also, i looked at other peoples' e-portfolios and interventions and this guided me on how i could go on with mine. ==
 * == It was not easy to balance between work,family and the course assignment. I had many deadline to beat at my place of work and the same time i needed to be with the family and also carry out the course assignment . It was really demanding! ==
 * ==The case study student respondents spent alot of time with the prototype webquest task. This delayed my evaluation process because i had to obtain feedback from them and establish the 'worthiness' of the online activity. ==
 * ==Working with wikispaces is not user friendly,you will find that the fonts on the e-portfolio are in different sizes. ==

Possible suggestions to improve the prototype webquest.
==In light of the comments received in the formative evaluation of the prototype webquest and feedback from the course supervisors. Possible improvements are :==
 * ==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Setting questions for the webquest task that test higher order thinking skills of Analysis,Synthesis and Evaluation. ==
 * ==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Providing websites that are relevant to the subject(using interactive methods in history education) and also indicating the important pages to be read. This helps learners to become more focused. ==
 * ==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Using CD-ROMS for the webquest intervention so that lecturers and students can access it offline. This can be done to solve the problem of limited and slow internet connectivity. ==