Project SET
Modules
Building Effective Electronic Portfolios
launch moduleBetsy DeGeorge
Publications Manager, Office of Research and Public Service, College of Social WorkAn electronic portfolio is a digitized and "organized collection of complex, performance-based evidence that indicates one's growth, goals, and current knowledge and skills needed to be competent in a role or area of expertise." (Campbell et al., 1997.) This kind of collection holds the potential for wide and diverse application within the academy. This instructional module will introduce the user to the basic ideas, techniques, and processes necessary to create and develop these digital collections. The module will examine the elements common to all ePortfolios, allowing the user to study a blueprint for constructing an effective portfolio. It will then define and examine two main categories of digital collections used by the academy: 1) The Professional ePortfolio, and 2) The Instructional ePortfolio. This online course module will provide the user with the opportunity to practice skills needed for the successful development of portfolios. It will set out some working scenarios, allowing the module user to actually create ePortfolios or parts of ePortfolios to serve the needs outlined in the scenarios. The course will also identify and study some of the characteristics for successfully using the ePortfolio concept within the classroom. Some of the particular issues to be addressed will be:
- Creating a learning space and establishing learning standards
- Celebrating quality and identifying exemplary work
- Establishing the centrality of student work
- Incorporating feedback from the instructor and from the learning community
- Managing instructional assessment
- Encouraging self reflection