I believe my prototype met the initial learning goals I had originally proposed. I selected a topic that is wide and varied. I feel I presented the content I wanted to impart to the audience I expect to attract to my PLE.
I like the use of multiple tabs in my PLE. This feature helped to categorize topics and discussions by interest focus. If someone wanted to know what new ideas are surfacing in research, there is information in my research conversations tab. Also, the strategy conversations tab offers a few instructional approach ideas that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. The dashboard design I now find to be rather limiting. I found I needed to minimize and cut out websites or videos for fear of creating an overwhelming/busy site presentation. I also felt the environmental options I explored all limited the presentation style I was seeking, as I wanted a site that didn’t require a lot of scrolling and appeared visually overwhelming.
I changed several options in my PLE. First, I changed from a wiki format to a startpage. I switched the base design as I felt my original wiki design caused visitors to scroll too much through the pages I created and the additional media pieces didn’t “feel” right. When I looked at the videos and images I had first incorporated on the site, it felt like an isolated demonstration of ideas rather than a cohesive presentation of ideas, discussion and learning development. I also decided to focus on one specific segment of special education: inclusion and instructing students in inclusive classrooms. This is a very large overarching topic and could be further narrowed to subject area (i.e. reading, math, social studies, etc.)
I would like to figure out how to incorporate a synchronous conversation window within the research and strategy tabs I created. I created separate pages on my blog site and linked those pages to the respective tabs; however I feel I could figure out an option that would allow for a more seamless appearance on the startpage environment. Also, I would like to flesh out more ideas and conversations that relate to inclusion, as well as add more discussions and tabs that explore the issue of teaching reading in inclusive classrooms. I would also like to create another startpage that provides more interaction and discussion on learning disabilities and have that linked up to my current startpage.