E-portfolios A Useful Tool For Both Students And Faculty

Found this interesting article on using e-portfolios, defined as digital collections of student work where students collect, select, and reflect on their work. There are lots of links included to universities who are currently using these as part of their curriculum.

E-portfolios would also be a useful way for faculty to put together their own research, publications, teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, etc., to use for annual review, tenure, and promotion.

Download E-portfolios

Comments

[Ray Tolley]

Dear Dr Kirk,
Thank you for pointing up the LaGuardia document a most comprehensive statement of the mainly HE position.

However, as usual, the writers appear to see no further than their own silo, ignoring the fact that e-Portfolios are being steadily introduced into mainstream education.

There is, I suspect, another issue, that of the institutionalisation of the e-Portfolio. If the e-Portfolio is to be truly 'learner-owned' it should be held independently of an institution's teaching programme. As I often say, here in the UK, "Let the VLE do what it does best, and leave the e-Portfolio to do what it can best do." There is a serious problem about over-ladening an e-Portfolio with content, assessment tools etc which are all better placed within the VLE. This leaves the learner to populate their e-Portfolio with just those things that best represent themselves.

As you may guess, I am particular interested in the use of e-Portfolios in mainstream education and just wonder whether some of the more complex e-Portfolio systems available could ever be adopted by the younger learner, the less able, the elderly or those with specific learning disabilities.

I could go on, but present may of these ideas or arguments within my blog at:
www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com
or:
www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm

Kind Regards,
Ray T

[Dr. Delaney Kirk]

Thanks for the observations and links. I have to admit I'm not that familiar with e-portfolios myself but see this as a great teaching and learning tool. Your blog is very informative. Thanks for commenting.