1. Implementing the ePortfolio
Benefits, challenges, answers, and how to succeed at implementation and institutionalization.
Susan Kahn Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Judith Kirkpatrick University of Hawai`i, Kapi`olani Community College
Yves Labissiere Portland State University
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

2. Understand the Benefits for Students
ePortfolios:
Teach reflection, analysis, and integrate learning across the full educational experience
Integrate knowledge and experience
Assist with management of educational and professional records
Provide a place to maintain a catalog of accomplishments over time
Prepare for career selection and the job search
Enhance self-esteem and confidence
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

3. Understand Benefits to faculty and administrators
Course-level assessment for student learning
Program-level assessment for student learning and accreditation
Enhanced student-faculty relationships
Improved advisement
Enhanced professional development
Streamlined contract renewal
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

4. Understand Benefits of ePortfolios for various audiences
Parents—a window into their children’s education by providing an opportunity to:
View learning presentations and products
Share more directly in experiences like study abroad and service learning
Employers—a resume-enhancing tool that provides critical information about applicant skills and learning
Faculty—colleagues exchange information and feedback about research, teaching, committee work, and service
Programs—a means to assess programs, learning outcomes, and enhance the transcript
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

5. Anticipate Challenges for ePortfolio Use
Limited faculty and student time and energy
Lack of funding
Lack of understanding of the value of ePortfolios in enhancing student learning
The willingness of faculty and administrators to promote the ePortfolio and matrix thinking
The need for faculty and students to develop the skills to use ePortfolio
Inadequate technological resources and support
Fear of technology
Resistance to change
Educating ePortfolio audiences for viewing
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

6. Answers to Challenges
Time and Energy: ePortfolios use the same time for more benefit by empowering students to:
Document their own educational and professional progress
Get the feedback they want and need
Become more self-directed in their learning
Money: Once implemented, ongoing costs are minimized if you adopt an open source solution (i.e. SAKAI or MOODLE)
Value of Reflection: Reflective analysis improves everyone’s learning through promoting higher level thinking
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

7. More answers to challenges
Skills: The software is easy; the habit of documenting and reflecting upon one’s learning is more difficult
Fear of technology: ePortfolio, if set up right, is a user-friendly technology
Resistance to change: Matrix and folio thinking necessitates new ways of thinking about teaching and learning
Educating ePortfolio audiences: encouraging opportunities for academic, community and family interface (internships, service learning, study abroad) helps train ePortfolio users in soliciting and preparing comments that can guide viewers feedback
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

8. Campus Implementation Venues Can Include
Student Development
Admission, Student orientation
Advisement
Assessment of Learning at the Course, Program and Professional Certification
Institutional Assessment
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Study Abroad
Co-Curricular Activities, Service or Experiential Learning
Career Development
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

9. Suggestions for Campus Activities
Initiate conversations among faculty, administrators, and students about
Benefits of ePortfolios
Challenges to ePortfolio use
Provide hands-on learning about ePortfolios through
Faculty & student orientation sessions
Master student classes and first year seminars
General education courses
Advisement
Faculty development
Faculty contract and/or tenure documents
Provide resources for pilots in various campus programs
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

10. Motivate Faculty Reward faculty for implementing ePortfolios with:
Release time
Summer institutes or retreats
Small grants from institutional money
Assistance in seeking external grants
Showcasing effective faculty portfolio use
Encourage faculty to develop their own to learn and model ePortfolio use
Demonstrate how ePortfolios can streamline faculty workload by:
Decreasing paper flow
Minimizing lost assignments
Assisting with assignment review & feedback
Improving assessment of student learning
Enhancing benefits already present in a course management system
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

11. Demonstrate to Administrators
Emphasize the Flexibility and Possibilities
Strengthening and streamlining the advisement process
Providing students with view access to their student records
Encouraging students to document and appreciate their
learning in and beyond the classroom
Developing and accessing data on learning assessment
Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration in curriculum development
Developing and submitting contract/promotion and tenure files
Streamlining applications for grants and awards
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

12. Get students to use them
Enhancement of self-esteem by
Becoming aware of how much & how deeply one has learned
Being able to demonstrate one's progress to faculty, peers, family, & employers
Improved learning outcomes through
Additional scaffolding and incorporation of standards
Enhanced feedback from faculty and peers
Increased learning, creativity, and control
Integration of learning in and outside of the classroom
Recognition of learning relevance to the real world
Better positioning for career choice and job search
Enhancing ability to apply for a academic and co-curricular opportunity
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

13. How to Succeed Begin small Expand as demand builds With pilot groups
Specific colleges, programs, or activities
Cohorts of students
By discipline
By year or semester
Expand as demand builds
Incrementally by adding units, activities, or cohorts
Include as many common interest groups as possible
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

14. Promoting ePortfolio Thinking
Academia values the creation, organization, and refinement of knowledge
Matrix/Folio thinking gets to the heart of these academic values
Through reflective analysis and ePortfolio development, students define and refine their relationship to knowledge and develop habits that sustain their collection that best represents their academic preparation
Folio thinking promotes deep learning through
Organization
Reflective analysis
Evaluation
Creative manipulation of information
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

15. ePortfolios Provide Opportunities for Curricular Coherence
Integrative Learning and Reflection
Synthesis and Analysis
Co-curricular and Extra-curricular learning
Making sense out of the college process
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

16. Provide Incentive for Colleagues
Employ value motivators, note frustration points, and use strategic thinking to encourage ePortfolios
Demonstrate the educational value and benefits that can be obtained from implementing ePortfolios and matrix/folio thinking in the classroom
Showcase faculty and students who have gained new enthusiasm for teaching and learning through ePortfolio use. It will happen.
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

17. Example: How would you document today’s workshop for your ePortfolio?
The ePortfolio database procedure
Fill out a form with the basics, when, where, why
Upload accompanying notes, plans, things you would like to remember
Connect your form with your notes
Present information to colleagues, deans, administrators, via ed links/announcements or even put the presentation as a permanent link on your website
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08

18. Develop flexible policies
Example:
The ePortfolio system is available for anyone affiliated with our College
The ePortfolio system is a value-added opportunity for our College
The ePortfolio system is free for users.
This is a model. It’s not the only model, but it works.
Plan for people to use it over time and over lifelong learning.
WASC ARC Conference
4/17/08