The Digital Rucksack

Wayne Barry - LTEU The Digital Rucksack (Embarking on The Learning Journey with e-Portfolios) Contents

Defining e-Portfolio

Features of e-Portfolio

Roles of e-Portfolio

Uses for e-Portfolio

How e-Portfolios work

Features in Blackboard e-Portfolio

Meet Alex

Contents Contents:

“… is a digital collection of authentic and diverse evidence, drawn from a larger archive representing what a person, a community or organization has learned over time and on which the person, community or organisation has reflected , and designed for presentation to one or more audiences for a particular rhetorical purpose . ” Source: Educause NLII (National Learning Infrastructure Initiative) , (2003) The Digital Rucksack Defining e-Portfolio:

“ An e-portfolio is a personal digital collection of information describing and illustrating a person's learning, career, experience and achievements. e-Portfolios are privately owned and the owner has complete control over who has access to what and when . ” Source: EIfEL (European Institute for e-Learning) , (2005) The Digital Rucksack Defining e-Portfolio:

“… e-portfolios have emerged as a valuable online tool that learners, faculty, and institutions can use to collect, store, update, and share information. e-Portfolios allow students to reflect on their learning, communicate with instructors, document credentials, and provide potential employers with examples of their work ” Source: Educause , (2005) The Digital Rucksack Defining e-Portfolio:

“… is a personal webspace within which an individual can plan , document , evidence , reflect and comment upon, and present information relating to their study or work for a variety of contexts and time periods . ” A working definition? The Digital Rucksack Defining e-Portfolio:

The Digital Rucksack Features of e-Portfolio:

Uses electronic technologies as a form of “ rucksack ”.

Allows students to collect and organise portfolio “ assets ” of many media types (audio, video, graphics, text, websites, etc.).

Uses hypertext links to organise and link the material together.

Allows students to collaborate and receive feedback from tutors, mentors, peers, friends, and family.

Traditional processes:

Collecting

Selecting

Reflecting

Projecting

Presenting

Celebrating!

Processes using technology:

Archiving

Linking, connecting

Storytelling

Collaborating

Publishing

Feedback

to show growth and change over time

The Digital Rucksack Roles of e-Portfolio:

Portfolios of Learning - used to document and reflect upon learning over time, and to plan future learning. They can be particularly useful in linking and integrating diverse learning experiences, such as curricular and extra-curricular activities

Portfolios of Assessment - used to demonstrate achievement and competences by presenting evidence within the e-portfolio which relates to performance criteria or standards of a particular authority.

Portfolios of Experience - used, as form of web-based CV, to evidence both learning and achievement .

CPD / PDP - supporting the general process of reflection, self-evaluation and action planning for lifelong learning, including guidance on educational and/or career pathways.

The Digital Rucksack Uses for e-Portfolio:

Expression of self-identity.

Powerful tool for representation, reflection and revision.

Document knowledge, skills, abilities, and learning.

Track development within a programme / module.

Showcase accomplishments to prospective employers.

Tool for assessment of learning, professional development, and accreditation.

Monitor and evaluate personal performance.

Enables feedback and exchange of comments between author and tutors, mentors or peers.

Enables the formation of communities of learning through various modes of communication.

The Digital Rucksack How e-Portfolios work:

Scans Pictures Files Movies Sounds Transcript Ability Achievement Action Plan Experience Meeting Thought Blog Portfolio Shared Published Printed Create Edit Review View Comment Copy Collaborate Asset Linked CV

The Digital Rucksack as a growing asset store Placement CV Placement Action Plan Reflections Module 1 Feedback Module 1 Officer SU Placement Experience Placement Reflections Placement Report Personal Stuff Initial Diagnostic Assessment Transferred From College Careers Action Plan Careers Meeting Personal Tutor Meeting My Thoughts Feedback Module 5 My Thoughts Presentation Module 4 Abilities Audit Module 1 Work Experience

The Digital Rucksack Features in Blackboard e-Portfolio:

User interface is simple to use.

Uses a powerful WYSIWYG editor to create bolder and more interesting text, graphical or hypertext entries.

Special templates designed to aid personalisation and can provide structure.

A personal and private space.

Can share assets with people inside or outside of the Institution for user-defined periods of time.

Sharing allows users to invite others to access the assets they share with permissions to view, comment, copy or collaborate on individual records or collections like portfolios.