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E-PORTFOLIOS - A VIABLE CAPSTONE ACTIVITY FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Susan MoiseyDebra HovenRichard Kenny

Marguerite Koole

Centre for Distance Education, Athabasca University

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Outline Introduction Current Research on e-Portfolios Our e-Portfolio Project Selection of e-Portfolio System MDE e-Portfolio Competencies e-Portfolio Structure Example of an MDE e-Portfolio Current implementation & future

directions Discussion

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Introduction – Culminating Activity for the MDE ProgramComprehensive exams E-Portfolios

BenefitsPromote program qualityConstrain workload for students & facultyPositive final experience

BenefitsPromote program quality & currencyMeaningfulness - Constructivist learningUse after graduation

IssuesMeaningfulness of experience?Purpose of the activityCurrency of questions

IssuesOngoing vs. end of program portfoliosImplementation – choice of platformExtend workload for students & faculty?

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What is an e-Portfolio? 1…/4

Product created by learners collection of digital artifacts articulating

experiences, achievements & learning

OR Purposeful aggregation of digital items:

Ideas, evidence, reflections, feedback, etc. 'presents a selected audience with evidence of

a person's learning and/or ability’ (Sutherland & Powell, 2007)

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What is an e-Portfolio? 2 …/4

Process? Showcase? Assessment?

(Abrami & Barrett, 2005)OR… a combination of above?

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What is an e-Portfolio? 3 …/4

Process? Purposeful collection of student work that tells

the story of a student’s effort, progress and/or achievement in one or more areas

based on the principles of socio-constructivism

(Abrami & Barrett, 2005) (1) collection (2) selection (3) reflection (4) **evaluation (self- & peer)** and (5) celebration

(QESN-RÉCIT (2004)

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What is an e-Portfolio? 4 …/4

Showcase Illustrating • learner competencies & achievements• workplace skills & accomplishments

Assessment External evaluation or judgment• formative &/or summative

Of complex evidence in a variety of forms To demonstrate• lifelong learning and personal reflection• workplace training

For assessment of prior learning(Abrami & Barrett, 2005)

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E-Portfolios in the MDE

1. Collection2. Selection3. Reflection4. Evaluation5. Refinement6. Discussion & Celebration

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Research on E-portfolios Research and development of e-portfolio tools

(Barrett, 2000; Challis, 2005; Abrami & Barrett, 2005)Australian ePortfolio Projecthttp://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/

Different skills and competencies Lifelong learning (Abrami & Barrett, 2005) Communities (Brandes & Bockic, 2008; Hallam, 2008;

Hiradhar & Gray, 2008) Nexus between Formal, Informal & Non-formal Learning

(Foti & Ring, 2008; Crichton & Kopp, 2008; Hiradhar & Gray, 2008)

Self-reflection & self-regulation (Abrami et al. 2008; van Wesel & Prop, 2008)

Learning effectiveness studies on e-portfolios E.g. Handbook of research in e-portfolio Inter/national coalition for electronic portfolio research

(Abrami & Barrett, 2005; Barrett, 2009)

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Our eportfolios project Selection of an appropriate platform

Graduate profile

Previous work done on creating the list of skills and competencies

Identification of major skills and competencies of graduates of MDE program

Development of the list of skills and competencies through series of synchronous and asynchronous sessions among the project team members

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Selection of E-portfolio Tool

Systems investigated (some of them) Newcastle University ePortfolio

http://www.eportfolios.ac.uk/FDTL4 Petal (Sakai)

http://petal.k-int.com/https://portfolio.alt.ac.uk/cmalt/index.jsp

ELGGhttp://elgg.org/

Maharahttp://www.mahara.org/

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Oveerview of Me2U as an E-portfolio Tool

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Core skills, competencies, knowledge

Features: Essential to have as a graduate of MDE Built up over progression of whole

program of study Combination of personal, professional,

academic characteristics

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Core competencies

1. Problem solving, analysis & decision making

2. Instructional design & development3. Communication technologies &

networking4. Communication & interpersonal

skills5. Research6. Management, organization &

leadership

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E-portfolio Components

Introduction 5 + artefacts Short reflections on how

competencies were attained Concluding synthesizing reflection Evaluative discussion of E-portfolio

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Example of an E-portfolio Artefact in Me2U

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Example of an E-portfolio Artefact in Me2U

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Example of an E-portfolio Artefact in Me2U

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Implementation Issues

Program-wide implementation in Fall/08. Since then, 56 students have graduated:

8 by thesis defense, 33 by comprehensive exams 5 by e-portfolios

2 Training sessions – about 50 students attended.

Growing numbers of advisees are considering, planning, or actually using e-portfolios.

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Implementation Issues

Faculty responses have been mixed. Concerns over time required to prepare

for evaluation Lack of comfort and understanding

– use of new technology – how to advise students on its use– underlying philosophy– questioning techniques

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Implementation Issues

Program-Wide Advantages Competency analysis updated Review of program core Revision of comprehensive exams Broader focus -- transformative

learning; reflective practice

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Future Directions

Pedagogical-- Expand purpose of e-portfolios -- Integrate e-portfolio activities into courses

Evaluative-- Comps vs. e-portfolios -- Synthesis?

Further research

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Discussion

Questions? Comments?

Thank you!

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ReferencesAbrami, P., & Barrett, H. (2005). Directions for research and

development on electronic portfolios. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 31(3). Retrieved January 29, 2005http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/92/86

Abrami, P., Wade, A., Pillay, V., Aslan, O., Bures, E. & Bentley, C. (2008). Encouraging self-regulated learning through electronic portfolios. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(3). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/507/238 Barrett, H. 2008. Online personal learning environments:

Structuring electronic portfolios for lifelong and life-wide learning.

http://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios/Hawaii08.htm &http://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios.html#conf Barrett, H. (2009). http://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios.html

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References cont’dBrandes, G. & Boskic, N. (2008). E-Portfolios: From description

to analysis. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 9 (2). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/issue/view/31 Crichton, S. & Kopp, G. (2008). The value of eJournals to

support ePortfolio development for assessment in teacher education. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(3). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/502/233 Challis, D. (2005). Towards the mature ePortfolio: Some

implications for higher education. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 31(3). Retrieved January 29, 2007 http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/93/87

Foti, S. & Ring, G. (2008). From ePortfolios to iPortfolios: The find, refine, design, and bind model. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(3). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/506/237

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References cont’dHallam, G. (2008). The Australian ePortfolio project and the

opportunities to develop a community of practice. In Hello! Where are you in the landscape of educational technology? Proceedings ascilite Melbourne 2008.

http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/melbourne08/procs/hallam.pdf

Hiradhar, P. & Gray, J. (2008). From a social digital identity to

an academic digital identity: Introducing ePortfolios in English language enhancement courses. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(3). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/503/234 QESN-RECIT. (2004). Portfolio process: On-line resources for

teachers. Retrieved August 17, 2004http://www.qesn.meq.gouv.qc.ca/portfolio/port_eng.htmlSutherland, S. & Powell, A. (2007). Cetis mail list discussions.

Retrieved July 9, 2007www.jisc.ac.uk/arcives/cetis-portfolio.html

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References cont’dVan Wesel, M. & Prop, A. (2008). Comparing students’

perceptions of paper-based and electronic portfolios. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34(3). Retrieved April 21, 2009

http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/505/236

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References & other linksThe CDE Moodle site on eportfolioshttp://cde.lms.athabascau.ca/(select MDE ePortfolio Orientation & Instructions)Helen Barrett’s information on Reflection

http://newali.apple.com/ali_sites/ali/exhibits/1000156/Reflections.html

Some other links & resourceshttp://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios.htmlhttp://www.jisc.ac.uk/eportfoliohttp://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/effectivepracticeeportfolios.aspxhttp://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/Some links to Teacher Ed portfolioshttp://electronicportfolios.org/teachers/index.htmlLinks to a Business student & a nursing student’s sample e-

Portfolios (in Quicktime tour format)http://www.studenteportfolio.qut.edu.au/forstudents/samples.jsp