ePortfolio for immigrantsModular personal portal supporting lifelong learning

ePortfolio and Digital IdentityOct 24th, 2008, Maastricht, Netherlands

Samantha Slade

ePortfolios for lifelong learning

A learning resource that is meaningful for the learner supports personalised learning has a wider and longer use than regular course or training material (before, during and after a course).

By El Dude, Flickr.com

ePortfolios for learning regions

Organisations, community groups and employers collaborating for the prosperity, vitality and stability of a region collectively developing tools to support individuals.

ePortfolios for immigrants

The successful and harmonious integration of immigrants/migrants is a challenge of most modern societies.

Multiple stakeholders- Government: education, employment, immigration- employers- community groups- immigrants

Interests of the various stakeholders: Immigrants...

- move to the region and stay (qualified work force)- access local language courses and develop proficiency in local language- access employment services and resources and find appropriate employment (based on their skills)- integrate into a new work culture- develop ease in daily life - bridge between home country and adopted country- integrate well with others

ePortfolios and challenges of knowledge society

Ensuring development of digital competence of citizens

By Babak Fakhamzadeh, Flikr, Creative Commons

ePortfolios and challenges of knowledge society

Integrating and improving access to rich and diverse resources and services that are hidden, dispersed or

fragmented.

By Kazuhiko Teramoto, Flickr.com

A regional ePortfolio project in Québec

A partnership of 5 organisations- 3 educational organisations (CS Laval,

CS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Cégèp Montmorency)

- technological research institute (CRIM)- applied R & D company (percolab)

For the region of Laval

1 person in 5 is an immigrant more than ¼ of the population has a mother tongue other than English or French immigrant group has high level of poverty and social exclusion (despite education) regional strategic plan includes recruiting and retaining immigrants for work force

Goals for the ePortfolio: immigrants can ...

- start anytime, anywhere- learn local language and customs- develop employability skills and understanding of local work culture - develop awareness of their competence and ability to communicate it- share and interact with others (family in home country, support network, teachers, potential employers)- develop a sense of pride, self efficacy and identity

A successful pilot phase

Proof of concept for interest and use, technological solutions, and pedagogical orientations...

A modular widget based environment

Users may set up the environment as they wish: edit, move, add, adjust, rename everything.

Helpful structured methodologies

Scaffolding activities to avoid the blank page syndrome.

Based on already existing resources and services

Bring existing information into a process based on immigrant needs.

Technological aspects – flexible “non-sequestered”

1. Personal portal like Netvibes/Posh2. An open-source library of widgets for ePortfolio processes 3. Embedded services

See: Widgets for flexible learning and ePortfolios, Yves Otishttp://www.percolab.com/blog/2008/09/14/widgets-for-flexible-learning-environment/

Creating Flexible User Applications Using Widget Technology, Scott Wilsonhttp://www.elearning.ac.uk/features/feature.2008-07-08.2311704736

Phase 1, Basic version (early 2009)

Language proficiency Personal profile Experiences Competence

By Chris Darling, Flickr.com

Phase 2: Integration into the workplace (mid 2009)

Finding employment Health and safety Performing at interviews Local work culture Conflicts in the workplace Business networks Starting a business Team work Volunteering

By GracinhaMarco Abundo, Flickr.com

Phase 3: Daily life (late 2009)

Health Family Housing Leisure activities Banking Citizenship..

Challenging project management that requires

Integrate and adapt resources/expertise from government organisations, community groups and businesses... Establish and maintain multiple agreements and partnerships

A portfolio project with a clear and large vision

For all regional stakeholders Towards the successful integration of immigrants Give control of learning to immigrants Facilitate communication and networking Support lifelong learning, employability and personal identity development

By fady habib, Flickr.com

Samantha Sladesam@percolab.com

This presentation is available at slideshare.com/sam5

The development blog is available at percolab.com