The Learning Portfolio and Assessing Learning Jon Kruithof Learning Technologies Support kruithj@mcmaster.ca Laura Harrington Learning Portfolio Project Manager harrinl@mcmaster.ca

Essays – A Common Assignment Goals? Talk about ways to convert an essay assignment into one that uses the strengths of the Learning Portfolio. Demonstrate some of the tools you will use should you adopt this idea.

Steps To Transform Essays - Easy Add a Dropbox in Avenue to allow submissions Give feedback through Avenue Allow students to take this feedback and submission back to their Learning Portfolio

Steps To Transform Essays - Moderate All the easy steps, PLUS… Have students reflect on the essay using the Learning Portfolio Use some participation marks for this reflection

Steps To Transform Essays - Complex All the moderate steps, PLUS… Break down the essay into it’s parts Proposal, Research, Drafts, Final Product Use some participation marks for reflections throughout the process

Break Down the Essay – Part 1 Require a research pitch/introduction/proposal Have students submit to Dropbox Allow students to take this feedback back to their Learning Portfolio Reflect on this process

Break Down the Essay – Part 2 Require an annotated bibliography Have students submit to Dropbox or Peer Review through the Learning Portfolio Allow students to take this feedback back to their Learning Portfolio Reflect on this process

Break Down the Essay – Part 3 First Draft Have students submit to Peer Review through the Learning Portfolio Give marks not on content, but on the feedback peers give Reflect on this process

Break Down the Essay – Part 4 Final Paper Have students submit to Dropbox Allow students to take this feedback back to their Learning Portfolio Reflect on this process

Break Down the Essay – Part 5 Reflections illustrates thinking process Students create Learning Portfolio Presentation that documents the trip through this essay with all components Submit through Dropbox Reflect on this process

Thanks! For more information: avenue.mcmaster.ca/help/docs/essay_to_lp.pdf Jon Kruithof xt. 27497 kruithj@mcmaster.ca OR xt. 22911 support.avenue@cll.mcmaster.ca