Mapping

This diagram (created by Kevin Kelly at SF State, click to enlarge) shows how ePortfolios can be used to map individual student work to the overarching campus goals. Campuses can build on the process from the top down during program review cycles by helping departments align their program objectives with university strategic plan goals and/or graduation requirements. These graduation requirements often include General Education (GE) content objectives, campus student learning outcomes (SLOs), or both. At the same time, campuses can promote the use of ePortfolios to assess students' achievement of program objectives. Academic technology units and faculty development centers can work with departments and instructors from the bottom up to map course objectives to program objectives. Next, staff and faculty-in-residence can work with individual instructors to identify student projects that would generate appropriate artifacts to demonstrate student competencies. When these two approaches meet in the middle, it is then possible to show the connections between student work and institutional goals.

We will be sharing more ideas about how to use ePortfolios at the course, dept.,and campus levels...

The DEBATE

At SF State, we are approaching assessment with a multiple strategies.
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion re: an article: The Limitations of Portfolios (10/16/09)
October 16, 2009
Inside Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2009/10/16/shavelson

Richard Shavelson, Stephen Klein and Roger Benjamin write that "Electronic collections help show the range of students' work, but are not standardized or scalable enough to be used for broad assessment purposes."

The reactions to the article are really worth reading as are AAC&U President's Carol Schneider's response here: http://blog.aacu.org/index.php/2009/10/19/the-proof-is-in-the-portfolio/

Our response? Assessment need not be an "either/or" between testing or portfolios. We are addressing the "scalability" issue through the use of "tagging", wherein students can tag artifacts that map to course, dept., institutional and national learning outcome/goals. We no longer feel that there need be a dicotomy between ePortfolio and Assessment systems, as tagging can address both needs.

ePortfolio Conference, August, 09, CSU/Merlot

ePortfolio Day of Planning August 13, 2009 ~~ San Jose, California

A great post-conference website has been set up as a source of information and support:
Videos of presentations are available and cover these topics:
Day of Planning Home
Orientation
Mapping
Creating an ePortfolio Culture

ePortfolio Overview Video

Here is a great overview PPT movie about ePortfolios made by a student at BCIT.
I especially like the emphasis on developing a positive online "reputation". With employers now checking social media before hiring candidates, having an ePortfolio will be an important distiction for students.