Implementing ePortfolios in 6 Months Through an Open Source Solution

NERCOMP SIG

Ravi Ravishanker

Beth Gordon Klingner

Samantha Egan

September 20, 2010

Reminder: SIG Evaluation

• bit.ly/nercomp_eport

A Year of Progress For ePortfolios!

08.0908.09 09.0909.09 10.0910.09 11.0911.09 12.0912.09 1.101.10 2.10 2.10 3.103.10 4.10 4.10 5.105.10 6.10 6.10 7.107.10 8.10 8.10

Advisory Board

established

Template created

Launch Pilot Program

All faculty, students

and staff get accounts

Develop webpage

Train faculty & staff

Previous Experiences With ePortfolios

• Isolated courses using various products & home-grown solutions

• Not enough technical support or faculty/student buy-in

• Searching for the perfect platform

Turning Point

• New IT leadership• Creation of University-wide template• Advisory Board: bringing together

staff/faculty across disciplines and support areas

• Grants: Making Connections and internal Thinkfinity grant

Why ? • Other tools considered• How we discovered Mahara• Why Mahara is different from other

platforms• Advantages of Mahara: masquerade

feature • Challenges of Mahara: upgrading process

Customizing Mahara

• template vs. need for flexibility

Mahara Feedback

• Faculty feedback– More customization

• Student feedback– More creative flexibility

Published Feedback

• “ePortfolios [have] become an assessment tool and can be used in lieu of a final exam or as a capstone experience…”- Opportunitas April ‘10

• “The final result [of an ePortfolio] is a comprehensive online showcase of a student’s academic experience.”- Pace Magazine Spring ‘10

Introducing ePortfolios to the Pace Community

• Spring 2010 pilot (20 Sections, 230 students)• Faculty Development Day-Trent Batson, keynote

speaker• Student focus groups• Training staff/faculty/student groups—focus on

pedagogy and reflection in addition to technology• Coordinated with Career Services on resume

section

ePortfolio Resources For The Pace Community

• ePortfolio Webpage– www.pace.edu/eportfolio– Tutorials, news, student samples

• ePortfolio Resource/Information Group on eportfolio.pace.edu

– Troubleshooting, feedback, forums– Useful files (tips, guides, news)

Keeping the Momentum• Contributing to Accepted Students Blog• Increased outreach to major stakeholders—

including Making Connections summer workshop

• Upgrading and maintaining Mahara• Presenting at faculty workshops• Teaching circles for Fall 2010

2010-2011 Timeline

SeptemberSeptember OctoberOctober NovemberNovember DecemberDecember JanuaryJanuary FebruaryFebruary MarchMarch April April MayMay

Reach out to UNV101 classes

Train library staff and advisors Expand

Pilot Program

Redesign Theme

Create Rubrics

Student Showcase

Student Showcase

• Samantha Egan: Recent Graduate, ePortfolio intern through AmeriCorps

Student Showcase

• Chiara Travia, Graduate Student, Media & Communication Arts

Reminder: SIG Evaluation

• bit.ly/nercomp_eport