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Zooming into the “miracle” of ePortfolio Project and Technology

Technology and ePortfolio ProjectePortfolio Project

Faculty

Development

Technology

Integrative Learning Assessme

ntGoal

There are many components to a successful ePortfolio project…

Technology and ePortfolio Project

Faculty

Development

Technology

Integrative Learning Assessme

ntGoal

… and Technology is one of them. The following slides will present some concepts and criteria to help you lift off the technology part of your ePortfolio Project.

Goal

Technology and ePortfolio ProjectePortfolio Project

Lofty or humble, ePortfolio projects have goals.

Goal

Technology&

Settings

Technology and ePortfolio ProjectePortfolio Project

This goal needs a central tool – the ‘e’ part of the ePortfolio.

Goal

Support and Training

Technology&

Settings

Technology and ePortfolio ProjectePortfolio Project

To make good use of this tool, support and training is essential.

Goal

Support and Training

Technology&

Settings

Technology and ePortfolio ProjectePortfolio Project

Let’s look at how LaGuardia Community College is handling each project components

•Budget•Personnel/ roles•Communication/ Workflow

In order to sustain this effort you need:

Selecting the Platform

Selection of the ePortfolio platform should be purposeful and thoughtful. However, don’t stall too long waiting for a perfect platform! Visual reference is a powerful convincing tool to have more folks on board with your project.

eP

eP

eP

Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces

So what makes an ePortfolio platform? Of course there are individual ePortfolios…

ePortfolio Portal

eP

eP

eP

Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces

…which are generally are accessible through the ePortfolio Portal. Often times, these portals are used to showcase student work and provide tutorials.

Administrative back-end

ePortfolio Portal

Database

Database

eP

eP

eP

Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces

At the back end, administrators and developers log in to control permissions and gather data for various purposes.

Types of ePortfolio Platforms

•Proprietary •Open Source•Combined

There are three types of platforms:

Most come with course management systemGenerally comes with hosted server Off site and on-site support is provided The pricing differs from school to school

depending on: • number of users• storage space• level of customization• training and additional features.

Customization is limited

Proprietary Platform

Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary

• Angel Portfolio (http://www.angellearning.com/products/eportfolio/learner_experience.html)

• Blackboard Learning Objects• Chalk and Wire (http://www.chalkandwire.com/)

• Digication (http://digication.com)

• Epsilen (http://www.epsilen.com)

• Livetext (https://college.livetext.com/)

• Taskstream (https://www.taskstream.com)

Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary

List of some Proprietary Platform

• Ask for trial accounts• If testing in large scale with full features, fee

may be required. • Make sure to test thoroughly as various user

types – administrator, student, faculty, assessment committee etc.

Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary

Trying out Proprietary Platform

Developed by source community Code is available for any developer to

contributeCustomization is not restrictedMigrating to other platforms is relatively easyMaintained by school

Open Source/ Homegrown

Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source

• Drupal (http://drupal.org/)

• Joomla (http://www.joomla.org/)

• Moveable Type (http://www.movabletype.org/)

• Wordpress Multiuser (http://mu.wordpress.org/)

Created for Educational Use (ePortfolio feature available):

• Mahara (http://mahara.org/) related to Moodle

• Sakai OSP (http://sakaiproject.org/)

List of Open Source/ Homegrown Platforms

Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source

Trying out Open Source/ Homegrown Platforms

Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source

• Make sure to test rigorously before opening it up to larger user group•When working in group, communication and documentation is crucial. • Plan ahead for dealing with version upgrades• Security, security, security!

Mix and match of open source platform and proprietary services

The services can range from creating customized add-on features to a complete ePortfolio package

Penn State ePortfolio:Combination of Moveable Type and a

customized software for assessment

Combined Model

Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Combined Model

1. Compare Specs for overall robustness – Do they meet the minimum requirements?

2. Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment– Who are the users and is the platform meeting their

needs?

3. See them in action – How are other schools using them?

3 Approaches to Comparing Platforms

So how do you compare these platforms?Try 3 approaches:

Security

Approach #1: Compare Specs for overall robustness

MaintenanceData HostingOwnershipFeatures

InteroperabilityEase of UseCustomization

CostSupport

Company/ developer Community liability

Approach #2: Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment

Approach #2: Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment

Who are the potential users?

What do they want/need to achieve with the tool?

How can you prioritize these needs?

• Administrators• Faculty• Students• Employers• Alumni• Counselors• Admissions

Approach #2: Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment

Who are the potential users?

Approach #2: Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment

Administrators:• Collect data for Programmatic/ institutional assessment

and accreditation • Sort and categorize data by various matrices

Faculty:• Assess students’ prior knowledge and skills• Capture process and product of learning• See student work in various multimedia • Share rubrics among faculty• Track student progress• Create collaborative working space

Students:• Share safely and easily • Customize design• Share various multimedia• Integrate web tools• Access through various devices

• Create collaborative working space • Create and join groups of various interests • Transfer ePortfolio to a different platform after graduation

or transfer

Employers:• Navigate quickly to get necessary information• View resume and evidence of skills• Make contacts

Counselors:• Advise students based on ePortfolio contents• Easily access students data from student management

system

Admissions:• Take into consideration various skill sets of prospective

students• Explore curriculum of other schools with articulation

agreement or considering agreement

Needs Assessment and Design for UseThe following is a simplified list of potential users and their possible needs. Note that it doesn’t lay out the logistics of ‘how’ this need is met. The ‘how’ should be directed to the developers of the platforms.

Approach 3: See them in action

See various ePortfolio Platforms in action!

http://www.connections-community.org/eportfolios-in-higher-education

http://www.connections-community.org/campusprojects

Thank you! Any Questions?

For Questions about the slide, ePortfolio Project at LaGuardia Community College, Making Connections National Resource Center, contact:

connections@lagcc.cuny.edu