Zooming into the "miracle" of ePortfolio Project and Technology

1. Zooming into the “miracle” of
ePortfolio Project and Technology
Image shared by Kate Todd from Manhattanville College. Thank you!

2. ePortfolio Project
Technology and ePortfolio Project
Faculty
Technology
Development
Goal
Integrative
Assessment
Learning
There are many components to a successful ePortfolio project…

3. Technology and ePortfolio Project
Faculty
Development
Technology
Goal
Integrative
Assessment
Learning
… and Technology is one of them.
The following slides will present some concepts and criteria to help you lift off
the technology part of your ePortfolio Project.

4. ePortfolio Project
Technology and ePortfolio Project
Goal
Lofty or humble, ePortfolio projects have goals.

5. ePortfolio Project
Technology and ePortfolio Project
Goal
Technology
&
Settings
This goal needs a central tool – the ‘e’ part of the ePortfolio.

6. ePortfolio Project
Technology and ePortfolio Project
Goal
Technology
&
Settings
Support and Training
To make good use of this tool, support and training is essential.

7. ePortfolio Project
Technology and ePortfolio Project
In order to sustain this effort
you need: Goal
•Budget
•Personnel/ roles
•Communication/ Workflow
Technology
&
Settings
Support and Training
Let’s look at how LaGuardia Community College is handling each project components

8. Selecting the Platform
Selection of the ePortfolio platform should be purposeful and thoughtful.
However, don’t stall too long waiting for a perfect platform!
Visual reference is a powerful convincing tool to have more folks on board with
your project.

9. Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces
So what makes an ePortfolio platform?
Of course there are individual ePortfolios…
eP
eP
eP

10. Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces
…which are generally are accessible through the ePortfolio Portal.
Often times, these portals are used to showcase student work and provide tutorials.
eP
ePortfolio
Portal eP
eP

11. Essential ePortfolio Platform Pieces
At the back end, administrators and developers log in to control permissions and
gather data for various purposes.
eP Data Data
base base
ePortfolio
Portal eP
Administrative eP
back-end

12. Types of ePortfolio Platforms
There are three types of platforms:
•Proprietary
•Open Source
•Combined

13. Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary
Proprietary Platform
Most come with course management system
Generally comes with hosted server
Off site and on-site support is provided
 The pricing differs from school to school
depending on:
• number of users
• storage space
• level of customization
• training and additional features.
Customization is limited

14. Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary
List of some Proprietary Platform
• Angel Portfolio
(http://www.angellearning.com/products/eportfolio/learner_experience.
html)
• Blackboard Learning Objects
• Chalk and Wire (http://www.chalkandwire.com/)
• Digication (http://digication.com)
• Epsilen (http://www.epsilen.com)
• Livetext (https://college.livetext.com/)
• Taskstream (https://www.taskstream.com)

15. Types of ePortfolio Platforms - Proprietary
Trying out Proprietary Platform
• Ask for trial accounts
• If testing in large scale with full features, fee
may be required.
• Make sure to test thoroughly as various user
types –
administrator, student, faculty, assessment
committee etc.

16. Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source
Open Source/ Homegrown
Developed by source community
Code is available for any developer to
contribute
Customization is not restricted
Migrating to other platforms is relatively easy
Maintained by school

17. Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source
List of Open Source/ Homegrown Platforms
• Drupal (http://drupal.org/)
• Joomla (http://www.joomla.org/)
• Moveable Type (http://www.movabletype.org/)
• Wordpress Multiuser (http://mu.wordpress.org/)
Created for Educational Use (ePortfolio feature available):
• Mahara (http://mahara.org/) related to Moodle
• Sakai OSP (http://sakaiproject.org/)

18. Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Open Source
Trying out Open Source/ Homegrown Platforms
• Make sure to test rigorously before opening it up to
larger user group
•When working in group, communication and
documentation is crucial.
• Plan ahead for dealing with version upgrades
• Security, security, security!

19. Types of ePortfolio Platforms – Combined Model
Combined Model
Mix and match of open source platform and
proprietary services
The services can range from creating
customized add-on features to a complete
ePortfolio package
Penn State ePortfolio:
Combination of Moveable Type and a
customized software for assessment

20. 3 Approaches to Comparing Platforms
So how do you compare these platforms?
Try 3 approaches:
1. Compare Specs for overall robustness
– Do they meet the minimum requirements?
2. Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs
assessment
– Who are the users and is the platform meeting their
needs?
3. See them in action
– How are other schools using them?

21. Approach #1:
Compare Specs for overall robustness
 Security
Maintenance
Data Hosting
Ownership
Features
Customization
Ease of Use
Interoperability
Support
Cost
Company/ developer Community liability

22. Approach #2:
Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment

23. Approach #2:
Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment
Who are the potential users?
What do they want/need to achieve
with the tool?
How can you prioritize these needs?

24. Approach #2:
Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment
Who are the potential users?
• Administrators
• Faculty
• Students
• Employers
• Alumni
• Counselors
• Admissions

25. Approach #2:
Check strengths and weaknesses based on Needs assessment
Needs Assessment and Design for Use
The following is a simplified list of potential users and their possible needs. Note that it doesn’t lay
out the logistics of ‘how’ this need is met. The ‘how’ should be directed to the developers of the
platforms.
Administrators: • Create collaborative working space
• Create and join groups of various interests
• Collect data for Programmatic/ institutional assessment
and accreditation • Transfer ePortfolio to a different platform after graduation
or transfer
• Sort and categorize data by various matrices
Faculty: Employers:
• Navigate quickly to get necessary information
• Assess students’ prior knowledge and skills
• View resume and evidence of skills
• Capture process and product of learning
• Make contacts
• See student work in various multimedia
• Share rubrics among faculty Counselors:
• Track student progress • Advise students based on ePortfolio contents
• Create collaborative working space • Easily access students data from student management
system
Students:
• Share safely and easily Admissions:
• Customize design • Take into consideration various skill sets of prospective
• Share various multimedia students
• Integrate web tools • Explore curriculum of other schools with articulation
agreement or considering agreement
• Access through various devices

26. Approach 3:
See them in action
See various ePortfolio Platforms in action!
http://www.connections-community.org/eportfolios-in-higher-education
http://www.connections-community.org/campusprojects

27. Thank you! Any Questions?
For Questions about the slide, ePortfolio Project at LaGuardia Community
College, Making Connections National Resource Center, contact:
connections@lagcc.cuny.edu