Implementing e Portfolios in 6 Months Through an

Implementing e. Portfolios in 6 Months Through an Open Source Solution NERCOMP SIG Ravishanker Beth Gordon Klingner Samantha Egan September 20, 2010

Reminder: SIG Evaluation • bit. ly/nercomp_eport

A Year of Progress For e. Portfolios! Advisory Board established Template created All faculty, Develop students and staff get webpage accounts Train Launch Pilot faculty Program & staff 08. 09 09. 09 10. 09 11. 09 12. 09 1. 10 2. 10 3. 10 4. 10 5. 10 6. 10 7. 10 8. 10

Previous Experiences With e. Portfolios • • • 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 • • “e. Portfolios [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 e. Portfolio] is a comprehensive online showcase of a student’s academic experience. ”- Pace Magazine Spring ‘ 10

• • • Introducing e. Portfolios 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

e. Portfolio Resources For The Pace Community • e. Portfolio Webpage – www. pace. edu/eportfolio – Tutorials, news, student samples • e. Portfolio 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 Train library staff and Redesign advisors Expand Reach out to Theme Pilot UNV 101 Program classes Create Rubrics Student Showcase September October November December January February March April May

Student Showcase • Samantha Egan: Recent Graduate, e. Portfolio intern through Ameri. Corps

Student Showcase • Chiara Travia, Graduate Student, Media & Communication Arts

Reminder: SIG Evaluation • bit. ly/nercomp_eport