E-PORTFOLIOS AND THE CULTURE OF LIFELONG LEARNING

Dr. Stella Porto Master of Distance Education & E-Learning Graduate School of Management & Technology University of Maryland University College

Christine Walti Anne Arundel Community College, CEWD eLearning

Focus

This presentation discusses the advantages and challenges faced by online programs in the adoption of ePortfolio activities to promote an enduring culture of lifelong learning among students and graduates.

Agenda

•  Introduction   ePortfolios defined   Background & context

•  ePortfolio activity in the MDE   Goals & process   Challenges   Support   Examples   Future

•  Final remarks

ePortfolios defined

Blog

Documents

Photos Videos

Journal

Projects

ePortfolio defined

•  Electronic version of portfolios   Collection of artifacts in different digital media;

•  Serves the purpose of   Assessment of competencies, skills and knowledge;   Showcase and evidence abilities and achievements in specific

areas; and   Promote reflection of one's development and learning.

Introduction: the MDE

Introduction: Context The program

•  Potential managers of the DE enterprise

•  Entirely online for part-time working adults

•  International •  Collaborative

Faculty Support

Instruction Design & Support

Leaders & Managers

Higher Education

Media & technology

Corporate Training & Learning

Distance Education

The MDE focus on developing managers and leaders in the areas of e-learning & distance education within different settings, including: K-12, higher-education, corporate, non-profits, government and military.

Our mission is our means and our means

is our mission

ePortfolios in the MDE: Goals & process

Development Process

  Students' journeys and growth in the DE field

  The MDE ePortfolio will: • Portray students’ qualifications • Demonstrate students’ knowledge and skills in a variety of DE contexts.

Gather

Select

Reflect

Evidence

ePortfolios in the MDE: Challenges

•  Institutional involvement can have unintended consequences.   Faculty and administrators might define too tight a

framework   Ownership

  “Conundrum between student ownership, interoperability and the continuous use of ePortfolios beyond the program.”

  Web 2.0 tools   web users are now at the helm when it comes to generating, storing

and sharing content.

ePortfolios in the MDE: Challenges

Inst

itutio

nal c

ontro

l

ePortfolios in the MDE: Challenges

Per

sona

l con

trol

ePortfolios in the MDE: Challenges

•  Continuous activity vs. activity allotted in the end of the program   Students overwhelmed and

underprepared   Need for constant attention

and work from the learners throughout the program.

  Focus is on current courses

•  ePortfolios must be promoted in a programmatic way   Help students understand

the nature of the activity   Students need to be

proactive and disciplined   Need for institutional

support

ePortfolios in the MDE: Support

•  Action research initiative undertaken within the program (A series of consecutive, iterative steps to identify and enhance support to students)   The use of Web 2.0 tools has been ingrained in this process   Web-based tutorials;   Creating and maintaining a learning journal in at least one

course in the program;   A one-week online orientation; and   An ePortfolio wiki that is always available

ePortfolios in the MDE: Support

•  Promoting the use of learning journals •  MDE student lounge

• Continuous support: answering students questions • No prescribed or suggested activities

•  Creation of the ePortfolio tutorial

ePortfolios in the MDE: Support - Rubric

ePortfolios in the MDE: Support - Wiki

mde

caps

tone

.pbw

orks

.com

ePortfolios in the MDE: Support - Orientation

ePortfolios: Examples

sporto.wordpress.com

www.epsilen.com/sporto

ePortfolios: Examples

www.netvibes.com/stellaporto

umuc.academia.edu/StellaPorto

ePortfolios in the MDE: Future

•  Protecting ownership and authenticity   Copyright policies for all the posted work

•  Vertical study following up with students and how they continue to use their ePortfolios

•  How to make it useful after the program? •  Outcomes assessment ties into the program •  Commentary/feedback from selected faculty/experts •  Enhance reflective aspects •  Institutional support viable?

Learning lessons…

  The need for continuous support at the program level

 Enhancing the inter- relationship within the curriculum

Learning lessons…

  Social media can provide enormous support

  Making ePortfolios important for professional development and career planning

Thank you!

Questions? Presentation is available @ slideshare.net

Contact: sporto@umuc.edu