eFolio Minnesota: A Statewide Electronic Portfolio Infrastructure Paul Wasko – eFolio Minnesota Director Tiffni Deeb, Manager – Century College Jim Deacon, Manager – Inver Hills Community College AACC 2004 Mission Impossible X

The challenge!!  Design and implement an electronic portfolio that would support: Students Educators Workers/professionals

The result!!!  eFolio Minnesota TM was launched in August of 2002 and is available to all: Minnesota residents Minnesota students Public employees within the state  At no cost!

Today……  As of April 1st there are over 15,400 registered users which represents a growth of over 600% since January of  In March 2004 there were over 2 million hits with over 42,000 visitors to the sites.

The eFolio Minnesota journey.. …. getting there can be half the fun.

Laying the foundation…starting off on the right foot  Funding for this effort came through a FIPSE administered Congressional Award that was intended to ramp up e-learning efforts within the Minnesota State College and University system (MnSCU).  By all definitions eFolio Minnesota has been deemed a “success”. Some the key reasons for this success involved how the project was initially structured: Project teams Assumptions Key partners

Project teams  Three teams were established: student, educator, and worker. In addition, there was a design committee that met briefly on design/layout aspects of the project.  Teams chaired by individuals knowledgeable in their fields.  Each team was allowed to create their own “culture” with the worker team focusing on how this could be a multi-media resume, the educator team looked at how this effort should support professional development, and the student team focused on a students use of this tool within a classroom or learning setting.

Assumptions…CRITICAL  Assume the value of portfolios within an education and workforce setting.  One size does NOT fit all – personal customization key.  Owned by the individual and not by the institution - learner driven.  Need to accommodate reflections for a lifetime worth of learning and work.  “Word processor” technology literacy for users.

More assumptions  “Nothing but net!” Everything should be web based.  “KISS – keep it simple stupid” If a simple alternative presents itself - take it!  Accommodate our multi-media world.  Provide for help tools and templates to assist users.  Provide for security mechanisms that keep the user in control.  Make it free!!

Key partners – ties that bind  Contractor: Avenet, LLC ( was selected. Avenet offered a “buy” (as opposed to “build”) solution that provided a lifetime, in perpetuity license to their core technology.  Legal: There were a variety of legal issues the project faced beyond contracting. These included: security, terms of use, data practices, under age issues, etc.  State labor department: Help desk services are provided at no cost through the Career One Stop Service Center.  MnSCU IT staff: Have provided and continue to provide the support for server operations.  MnSCU academic staff: Tech prep and Perkins, have provided support in the form of funding and out reach.

Development – when rubber meets the sky.  Development work began in the late fall of 2001 and was complete for alpha testing to begin in the spring of  was launched in August of 2002 and was re-launched in May 2003 after a re-design effort.  Enhancements continue to come on line as Avenet makes changes to their core code and/or additional resources become available.

An end-users view of eFolio Minnesota Browser-baser user interface/site management tools Content: text, HTML, images, audio, and video Interactive tools: forms, surveys, and events Display engine Public views Restricted views User – portfolio owner

Seeing is believing!! Projects can look great on paper but the real measurement for a project’s success is whether it has a made a difference for the people and organizations it is intended to serve. Two great examples for eFolio Minnesota can be found at:  Century College (  Inver Hills Community College (

Century College  College Initiative To raise awareness concerning the uses of electronic portfolios in higher education and to support students and faculty in using efolios to enhance learning  Utilize the eFolio Minnesota tool to support Century’s accreditation process and other functions of the college by creating an institutional eFolio.

Century College  The following courses are offered: Creating an Electronic Portfolio Portfolios for Educators I Portfolios for Educators II  Kitchen & Bath, VCT, Horticulture, Nursing programs are working on incorporating eFolios into classes and programs  Offered hands on training to students, faculty, and staff  First year probationary faculty are encouraged to use eFolio Minnesota to document progress.

Inver Hills Community College  Urban Teacher Program had interest  Early Pilot site

Inver Hills Community College  Two one credit courses approved EDU 1196 Electronic Portfolio  using the tool EDU 1197 Electronic Portfolio  Choosing artifacts  Two courses now combined  Established INTS 1196

Inver Hills Community College  What we have found Tool is easy to teach Building the content takes the most guidance

What the future holds  State level Lifecycle costs - We are exploring a number of ways to raise future revenues (e.g. selling additional disc space). Business agreement with Avenet – Avenet is marketing eFolio around the country. Other Minnesota efforts – The Board of Teacher and the Department of Education are both interested in how eFolio Minnesota can support their efforts.  Local level “Adoption” by schools and workforce centers. Local customization.

Thank you!!!! Paul Wasko Tiffni Deeb Jim Deacon