I recently stumbled upon this ePortfolio concept map. It is an excellent illustration of what a student-centered ePortfolio space could look like. If you ask 10 people to define a learning portfolio, chances are that you'll get 10 different answers. But we can all probably agree on the language surrounding the circle in the middle of this map. ePortfolio methodology promotes reflective learning, enhances an understanding of our own learning (meta-cognition), documents learning and creates a permanent learning record.
I'm convinced that once we move toward an ePortfolio culture in our schools that the role of grades and standardized texts will be minimized and authentic student work will be valued greatly.
What are we waiting for? Let's build an ePortfolio culture in our schools now!
*Image from
Cal State University's ePortfolio Portal*
Direct URL to image
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI like the illustration but a bit naughty of you not to quote your source - I'd be most grateful if you could supply it.
Secondly, I cannot see any reference to one powerful area that of collaboration or formative assessment amongst peers, eg such things as feedback comments, star-ratings, polls or questionnaires.
As I have said elsewhere, there appears to be a confusion about what the institution's MLE (or VLE) does best and that which is uniquely the domain of the e-Portfolio.
The loginc being that if the e-Portfolio is truly owned by the learner and capable of transition or portability from one institution to another, then the whole are of assessment tools should remain with the institution and let the e-Portfolio do those things that are learner owned.
Hello Ray,
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly for the comment. I updated the post to reflect the location where the image lives on the web (California State University has some excellent resources on ePortfolios at the university/higher ed level by the way).
I agree with your observation regarding a key omission in the map relating to peer feedback and comments. I would take this a step further and add parental comments and feedback from potential content area specialists/experts (scientists, health care workers, human rights advocates, etc). The fact that other people around the world may interact with a learner's ePortfolio is transformationally different than the old model in which feedback was submitted by a few teachers.
If I get time I'm going to attempt a remix of this map to incorporate feedback...I'll be sure to give proper attribution to the source of the inspiration if I do so ;-)
Cheers!
Matt Montagne