The Electronic College Portfolio as Self-Directed, Life-Long Learning Michael Vigorito, Ph.D, Elena Pasquariello, Class 2004

port·fo·li·o (pOrt-'fO-lE-"O) n. pl. port·fo·li·os 1. a.A portable case for holding material, such as loose papers, photographs, or drawings. b.The materials collected in such a case, especially when representative of a person's work: a photographer's portfolio; an artist's portfolio of drawings. 2. The office or post of a cabinet member or minister of state. 3. A group of investments held by an investor, investment company, or financial institution. [Italian portafoglio : porta-, from portare, to carry (from Latin port re. See per- 2 in Indo-European Roots) + foglio, sheet (from Latin folium, leaf. See bhel- 3 in Indo-European Roots).] SourceSource: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Students at Seton Hall are required to purchase and use a portable case for holding electronic material. If you were to examine a graduating senior’s laptop would you find a well-organized collection of artifacts representing the student’s college work? Why not? Given the mobile computing program at SHU the answer should be Yes !

Showcase or Best Works Portfolios (Marketing) Assessment Portfolios (Summative) Learning Portfolios (Formative) From Barrett, H. C. (2001) Electronic Portfolios. Educational Technology: An Encyclopedia Types of Electronic Portfolios

The Electronic College Portfolio Self-directed, self-reliant learning - students create personalized resources, integrate material in particular courses, and carry these resources to related or advanced courses and activities (e.g., independent research). Technological literacy - develop and master information technology skills. Self-assessment of learning - maintain a permanent, easily accessible record of course work, related co- and extra-curricular materials, and reflections of their academic work and related experiences The opportunity to Showcase “Best Works” – to seek employment or entry into graduate programs, or to satisfy formal assessment processes. A personal resource that supports: Should be more than just a repository of artifacts

Example Electronic College Portfolio in Microsoft Word™ A hyperlinked index organizes electronic documents and resources from all college years on the students’ laptop. Associating courses by hyperlinking may serve as a partial antidote for the “Balkanization” of the college experience

Example Electronic College Portfolio Artifacts Personalized resources e.g My Personalized Library Resources PageMy Personalized Library Resources Page Homework assignments Traditional papers Reflections Course Portfolios

Example Course Portfolios Larkin, J. E., Pines, H. A., & Bechtel, K. M. (2002). Facilitating students’ career development in psychology courses: A portfolio project. Teaching of Psychology, 29, Rickabaugh, C. A. (1993). The psychology portfolio: Promoting writing and critical skills about psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 44, Sciutto, M. J. (2002). The methods and statistics portfolio: A resource for the introductory course and beyond. Teaching of Psychology, 29, Elena Pasquariello- Using Computers in Psychology Course e-Portfolio (this e-portfolio was saved to a CD and submitted to satisfy a course requirement) Tim Hogan- Physiological Psychology Course e-PortfolioPhysiological Psychology Course e-Portfolio

What students need to create and maintain electronic college portfolios. A Computer Microsoft Office and related applications Effective instruction in using Windows Explorer, Microsoft Office, and hypertext. Faculty encouragement, support, and nudging A electronic portfolio culture (Department-, College- or University-Wide)

Who Grades the Electronic College Portfolio? As a Learning Portfolio No one and everyone Faculty grade the portfolio content for their particular course. As an Assessment or Showcase portfolio a formal process must be developed 1.Department level- Designated Advisors and Senior Seminar Instructors? 2.College Level – e.g., SHU College of Education 3.University Wide – coordinated by an office of e- portfolio development (e.g., Kalamazoo College).

How Can Faculty Contribute to the Development of a e-Portfolio Culture? Talk about the e-portfolio idea in your classes. Include a “Electronic Course Portfolio” assignment in at least some of your classes. Suggest “Personalized Resources”. Encourage and support students’ efforts. Explore the feasibility of a departmental e-portfolio requirement.