Day 10, The Digital Portfolio: A Richer Picture of Student Performance

The Kentucky’s Reform Act initiative exemplifies the relationship between [social] tacit knowledge and the social dimensions of the change process. David Niguidula(1993) stated that the strategy of using portfolios is a [relatively] easy procedure that does not alter the school culture if the school culture is structured on nontraditional norms. At the same time, he acknowledges how difficult it must be to initiate the Digital Portfolio without the proper structures in place. Niguidula (p. 8) hypothesis that “The most important aspect in the adoption and adaption of a new technological tool is the receptivity of the school’s culture to the new innovation.” Schools that are willing to change will embrace the possibilities while those that do not will [turtle] trudge along in wee-steps. The implication of this new knowledge as it applies to my action research (AR) project is that I must also consider the impact of the tacit knowledge of my participants as they embrace new knowledge for change –as well as my own.