From the AAEEBL 2016 Midwest Regional Conference, see http://eportfolio.nd.edu/aaeebl/ for more details

1. Incorporating ePortfolios
into Advising Practice
G. Alex Ambrose, Ph.D.
Michelle Smith Ware
Trunojoyo Anggara, Ph.D.

2. Ambrose, G. Alex , Smith Ware, Michelle, Anggara, Trunojoyo, (2016)
“Incorporating ePortfolios into Advising Practice” The Association of
Authentic, Experiential, and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL)
Midwest Regional Conference, South Bend, Indiana
How to Cite this Presentation:

3. Background

4. The First Year of Studies
Collegiate home for all incoming students
FYS Advising
Individual & Group Meetings
Academic Monitoring
Communication with Faculty
First-Year Milestones

5. Rationale
Increase student engagement in
the FY advising process
Improve FY student-advisor
interactions
Static
Synchronous
Assess FY student growth

6. Blended Advising
Approach

7. Traditional vs. Technology-Mediated Advising
Traditional Advising
Admissions Information
Advising Objectives/Goals
Synchronous Meetings
Group
Face-to-Face
Faculty Inquiries
Academic Monitoring
Midterm
Final Grades
Technology-Mediated Advising
Up-to-date Student Information
Assess On-going Progress
Asynchronous Learning Opportunities
Reflections before/after synchronous meetings
Early alert to potential students of concern

8. What is an ePortfolio?
e•Port•fo•li•o noun: an electronic space, story, and system
that functions as a workspace and showcase in which to
collect, select, reflect, publish, link, archive, and demonstrate
knowledge, skills, reflections, and more as multimedia
evidence of what you know and can do.4
4. Ambrose (2012)

9. What is an Advising ePortfolio?
“Teaching tool designed to assist students in improving their
decision-making, goal setting and planning skills.”1
Blended Advising Model2
Grounded in Blended Learning Theory3
1. Ambrose, Martin & Page (2014)
2. Ambrose & Williamson Ambrose (2013)
3. Garrison & Kanuka (2004)

10. Advising ePortfolio Initiative
Began in 2012-13 Academic Year
Goals:
1. Introduce students to using
ePortfolios early in their collegiate
careers (University)
2. Enhance the first-year advising
experience (FYS)
3. Strengthen first-year student
engagement (FYS)
Ambrose, Martin & Page (2014)

13. ePortfolios in Advising
Practice

14. ePortfolios in Advising Practice: Context
Early Actions
November 1st
Regular Decision
January 1st
Welcome Weekend:
August 22nd-23rd
ca. 8-10 months gap between
admissions deadline and
welcome weekend!
Taken from: http://bit.ly/1T7abkM

15. ePortfolios in Advising Practice: Framework
Framework: First Year of Studies Milestones
1. Connect with our community
2. Have a vision
3. Manage your learning
4. Navigate the system
5. Plan your studies
6. Evaluate your progress
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
ePortfolio

16. ePortfolios in Advising Practice: Timeline
One month before Welcome Weekend:
Taken from:

17. ePortfolios in Advising Practice: Prompts
Fall 2015: “Initial Thoughts” Examples
What skills do you hope to begin developing through your First Year courses and
experiences? How will these skills help you prepare for your future? Milestone: Connect
Everyone has some apprehensions about their first year of college. They often worry about
their ability to manage the separation from family and friends, making new friends, living
with a roommate or fitting in a new environment (find their place at Notre Dame). I plan to
be comfortable and find my place at Notre Dame by (Be specific)...
Milestone: Connect (Belonging)
List the top 3 of your expectations walking into an advising session.
Milestone: Connect & Plan

18. Example: List the Top 3 of your Expectations Walking into an Advising
Session

19. Example: List the Top 3 of your Expectations Walking into an Advising
Session
… That the [advisor will help] me find the best courses …
… that my [advisor will help] me set up a plan …
… My [advisor will help] me to discover new courses …
… I hope my [advisor will help] guide me to explore degrees …
… my [advisor will help] me to define a path …
… a vision of what my [next four years] will entail, knowing full …
… what my plan for the [next four years] should look like, that …
… map out of what my [next four years] are going to look like …
… to achieve them during my [next four years] in college. I expect …
… a realistic plan for my [next four years] in college …
… about my career for the [next four years] of my time at Notre Dame ….

20. Fall Advising Session
Meet one-on-one with the students:
1. Building rapport
2. Discuss ePortfolio content
3. Provide guidance and academic support
1. Connect with our community
2. Have a vision
3. Manage your learning
4. Navigate the system

21. Winter Break
First-year students got their first semester GPA:
One week before Spring semester starts:
Reflection through “Mid-Year Adjustments and Plans” prompt

22. ePortfolios in Advising Practice: Prompts
Spring: “Mid-Year Adjustments & Plans” Examples
List the top 3 struggles you had during your first semester of college and how to overcome it.
Be Specific.
Milestone: Reflect
Every student feels like he or she has failed something - a paper, an exam, an audition or
tryout. What are some ways that you have managed to rebound from setbacks? Which classes
were most challenging, and how did you handle these challenges? Milestone: Evaluate
What major are you now considering studying? What do you find intriguing about it and how
has your interest in this area developed at ND? How confident do you feel about your present
choice? Milestone: Broaden/Plan

23. Spring Advising Session
Meet one-on-one with the students:
1. Reflecting back on first semester
2. Discuss adjustments
3. Declaring college(s) and/or major(s)
1. Evaluate your progress
2. Broaden your horizons
3. Reflect on your experiences
4. Plan for the future

24. Outcomes

25. OUTCOMES: Blended Advising Model
Increase/strengthen student
engagement in the FY
advising process
Improve FY student-advisor
interactions
Introduce students to using
ePortfolios early in their
collegiate careers
Enhance the first-year advising
experience
Assess FY student growth
Ambrose & Williamson Ambrose (2013)

26. OUTCOMES: FY Student Engagement
Email: 200
Online Form: 1643
ePortfolio: 3814
Ambrose, Martin & Page (2014)

27. FYS Advising Assignment
Voluntary Assessment Engagement
67.2 71.1
79.1
92.2
39 39
21
64.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016
% completed first assignment % completed second assignment
27
Academic Year: 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-16
# of submissions % submitted # of submissions % submitted # of submissions % submitted # of submissions % submitted
Assignment #1 (Initial
Thoughts) 1269 67.20% 1488 71.10% 1607 79.10% 1859 92.20%
Assignment #2 (Mid
Semester) 816 39% 953 39% 430 21% 1310 64.90%
Total # of Submissions 2085 2441 2037 3169

28. OUTCOMES: Assess FY Student Growth
FYS Advising ePortfolio Building Process
Are students meeting First Year Milestones?
What types of artifacts (evidence) do students provide?
Individual/Group Advising Meetings
Are conversations more fruitful & meaningful for students?
Do students ask more substantive questions?
Non-Participators
Is this a red flag for other issues?

29. Challenges
Getting student buy-in
Providing quality reflections
Adjustment to new technology
Getting advisor buy-in
Dedicating time & adjusting old routines
Adjustment to new technology
Developing strategic questions
Not making it too complicated for students
Providing substantive questions for advisors

30. Best Practices
Provide a framework for why developing an ePortfolio
is beneficial.
Align with your advising goals
FYS Milestones
Tell them why it’s important & how you will use it
Take time to review students’ ePortfolios.
Read the eP & ask questions
Use students’ own words your meetings and ask
the student to elaborate
Offer suggestions for continued ePortfolio development.
Allow the student to maintain control over the
content of their ePortfolios.
Encourage participation in additional engagement
opportunities
Use as another check-point
Quality of student academic work
Red flag for other issues

31. Questions?

32. As of 9-22-14 As of 7-1-15 As of 5-4-16

33. References
Ambrose, G.A. (2012). FAQ: What is an ePortfolio. Retrieved from
https://sites.google.com/site/ndeepresources/support/blog/faqwhatisaneportfolio
Ambrose, G.A., & Williamson Ambrose, L. (2013). The Blended Advising Model:
Transforming Advising with ePortfolios. International Journal, 3, 75–89.
Ambrose, G.A., Martin, H. & Page, H. (2014). Linking advising and e-Portfolios for
engagement: Design, evolution, assessment, and university-wide implementation.
AAC&U, 16(1).
Garrison, D. R., & Kanuka, H. (2004). Blended learning: Uncovering its transformative
potential in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 7(2), 95-105.
doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2004.02.001