MEDIA SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS IN TEACHER TRAINING

Abstract

The present paper documents the use of an e-portfolio to promote a process of reflection on the digital skills of in-service teachers. Teachers have been involved for 75 hours in experiencing a training methodology for the promotion of media skills necessary to design paths of media education. The use of the e-portfolio as a means of course assessment was evaluated by the participating group of 91 trainee teachers. The methods of data collection took the form of an analysis carried out thanks to the use of a check list with 22 indicators deduced from the research, of which the frequency was observed. The analysis of the e-portfolios revealed a high trainee teachers’ ability to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses, the typical causes of their mistakes as well as the ability to identify and explain the learning strategies used routinely, guiding them to mature self-evaluation skills for their own learning, thus realizing their progress along with the difficulties encountered. The use of the portfolio has therefore helped them develop reflection and self-assessment skills that are critical for the professional awareness and to excel in any area of life The compilation of the e-portfolio has clarified the thoughts that accompany each production and usually follow the learning process. The narrative reconstruction of the learning process has allowed trainee teachers to formalize structures and concepts and to recognize what they have learned.