Look Mom, No Binder:
ePortfolio Considerations
Royce Robertson, Ed.D.
Plymouth State University
RIEMA 2007
Verbatim Description
This session, designed for teachers, technology coordinators, and technology integrationists, is focused on describing and applying the core components of a support system for electronic portfolios.~ Topics will include: choosing an ePortfolio system, identifying partners, assessing technical needs, training methodologies, facilities, staffing, and connection to institutional assessment.~ The principles and components of this presentation have been applied at Plymouth State University where iWebfolio has been used as the ePortfolio tool of choice for the past three years.
ePortfolio Defined
Peter Seldin (2004)
"...a factual description of [an individual’s] strengths and accomplishments..."
"thoughtful not exhaustive"
"well-rounded picture of [one’s] effectiveness"
"broad range of skills, abilities, attitudes, and values"
The Three "Faces" of the Student
Three Major Concepts to Remember
Purpose is paramount
FEAT
The 4 Ds
"Verb" Purposes of a Portfolio
Reflect on the growth and change
Demonstrate competence against standards
Illustrate skills against set of competencies
Illustrate growth and change of one (or more) work sample(s)
Supporting ePortfolio: No Small FEAT
Robertson, R. (2006)
Four D Process
Design
Templates
The spectrum of control
Forces of control
How many buckets do you have?
Is this tied to educational initiatives?
Year to Year Flow
What reviewers and owners do — based on a timeline
Four Year Cycle of Review Process for One Student
Good Template Design
What are some pros and cons of this design?
Develop
Definitions
Artifact
Reflection
Description
Time intensive
White space design — the more the better
A to Z file formats
School Goals
Display
Connection to Technical domain
Pop Ups
Browser compatibility
Connection to Functional domain
Permissions
Feedback
Connection to Educational domain
What is the student trying to demonstrate
Steak vs. sizzle?
Determine
Connection to Design
When?
Who?
How? [RLR: show rubric]
Connection to Educational
Growth
Accomplishment
Implications of "regrading"?
ePortfolio Support: No Small FEAT
Complexity of ePortfolio
Team members represent different lenses through which they look
Balance between domains
Lack of balance increases chance of dissonance
Design structure for support programs
Supporting ePortfolio: No Small FEAT
Robertson, R. (2006)
Functional
"Click Paths"
Common Question: How do I add a file (reflection, etc)?
Different paths for different tools
Drastic differences for common vs. custom tools
How does functional support (instruction) integrate with ICT curriculum?
Educational
"Formal Learning"
The connection between the core curriculum and the ePortfolio
Often represented through a curriculum map
Common question: How does the purpose of the ePortfolio reflect the educational program at the school?
Content vs. Intent
Answers the question:
Why am I using this artifact?
Intent vs. Content
Deciding How to Use an Artifact
Intent
- Purpose
- Function
- Demonstration
Cycling through Artifacts, Standards, and Reflections
What This Means in iWebfolio
"Verb" Purposes of a Portfolio
Reflect on the growth and change
Demonstrate competence against standards
Illustrate skills against set of competencies
Illustrate growth and change of one (or more) work sample(s)
Administrative
The Four Ps:
Policy (contracts)
Planning (goals of the implementation)
People (staffing)
Purchasing (budgets, vendors)
Top down or bottom up?
Encouraging practice or blanket mandate?
Technical
"Back end" — different from Functional
Naively associated with "choosing a tool"
System requirements
Maintenance
In-house vs. outsource?
Connection to Educational Media Specialists
Institutional Assessment
Harvesting
Reports [RLR: show one]
Accreditation
Electronic Exhibit Rooms
Alignment of Core Components of the Electronic Portfolio
Questions?
All of these materials can be found at:
http://oz.plymouth.edu/~rrobertson/files/conf
Dr. Royce Robertson
Plymouth State University
rrobertson@plymouth.edu