E-PORTFOLIO: A PEDAGOGICAL TOOL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

This experimental research is based on a main question: how can it be used an e-tool through the educational practicum by having as endpoint the professional development of students involved? I believe that professional development starts with the very first step of the training system. Therefore, this survey had 96 students from the first year of study of being future kindergarten and primary school teachers. The main intervention was done during the educational teaching practicum by having the support of mentor teachers who were agreed to apply a cooperative learning model completed by developing an e-portfolio as a final instrument for formative and sumative assessment. All developed tasks were focused on the essential abilities of being a good teacher, like: values, vocation, common objectives, principles and rules, frequent interactions, building a trust environment, having well defined roles, using a common technology, and innovation. To trace the impact of this model of professional development, students had a weekly task to fill in a reflective journal by using an e-learning platform. A reflective journal was built on four categories related to the teaching activity: design and organising, activity developing, teacher personality, and ability of self-assessment. Also, all didactical materials used during the educational teaching practicum were part of the e-portfolio, and loaded on the e-plarform to build a network between students and mentor teachers. The final evaluation consisted in filling in an e-questionnaire, as a last element of the e-portfolio. The results of this experimental research show the importance of applying a collaborative model as a pedagogical tool for the professional development by using an e-portfolio.