AVETRA 2008 ePortfolios: Policy Issues and Interoperability Jerry Leeson

About us <PORTFOLIO> <who we are> education.au is a not-for-profit ministerially owned agency, governed through a Board by nominees from the Australian Government, higher education, school education, and vocational education and training sectors. The agency focuses on the needs of Australian education, training and careers within the context of emerging information and communications technologies (ICTs) and standards as they apply to the Internet. </who we are> <aspirations> to be Australia’s leading ICT agency for education </aspirations> <plan> http://www.educationau.edu.au/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/site/business_plan_2005-2008.pdf </plan> <evidence> <1> http://www.edna.edu.au </1> <2> http://www.myfuture.edu.au </2> <3> http://www.education.gov.au </3> <4> http://code.google.com/p/distributed-search-manager </4> <5> http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/docs/vet-eportfolio-report-v1-0.doc. </5> <6> http://www.globe-info.net <6> </evidence> </PORTFOLIO>

<PORTFOLIO>

<who we are>

education.au is a not-for-profit ministerially owned agency, governed through a Board by nominees from the Australian Government, higher education, school education, and vocational education and training sectors.

The agency focuses on the needs of Australian education, training and careers within the context of emerging information and communications technologies (ICTs) and standards as they apply to the Internet. </who we are>

<aspirations>

to be Australia’s leading ICT agency for education </aspirations>

<plan>

http://www.educationau.edu.au/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/site/business_plan_2005-2008.pdf </plan>

<evidence>

<1> http://www.edna.edu.au </1>

<2> http://www.myfuture.edu.au </2>

<3> http://www.education.gov.au </3>

<4> http://code.google.com/p/distributed-search-manager </4>

<5> http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/docs/vet-eportfolio-report-v1-0.doc. </5>

<6> http://www.globe-info.net <6>

</evidence>

</PORTFOLIO>

Overview Background Research report for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework E-Standards for Training project http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/ Research Environmental scan of current practice in ePortfolio field (emphasis on VET sector) Development of use case scenarios Consultation Desktop research Analysis Identification of business rules, policy considerations for ePortfolio implementation Identification of technical standards to support ePortfolios Some observations

Background

Research report for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

E-Standards for Training project

http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/

Research

Environmental scan of current practice in ePortfolio field (emphasis on VET sector)

Development of use case scenarios

Consultation

Desktop research

Analysis

Identification of business rules, policy considerations for ePortfolio implementation

Identification of technical standards to support ePortfolios

Some observations

ePortfolio Classifications ‘ ePortfolios mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people ’ Some classifications EPICC Assessment, showcase, development, reflective JISC Presentation, transition, learning Becta Learning, assessment, presentation, transition IMS Assessment, presentation, learning, personal development, multiple owner, working

‘ ePortfolios mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people ’

Some classifications

EPICC

Assessment, showcase, development, reflective

JISC

Presentation, transition, learning

Becta

Learning, assessment, presentation, transition

IMS

Assessment, presentation, learning, personal development, multiple owner, working

Use Case Scenarios / consultation Developed scenarios in order to explore the application of eportfolios in different stages of a learners involvement in the VET system Transition into the VET sector Learning/transition within the VET sector Transition out of the VET sector Managing a VET sector workforce Transition into self employment Revealed common functionality Portability of information about qualifications and competencies Recognition of prior learning (RPL) Management and provision of secure and verifiable information

Developed scenarios in order to explore the application of eportfolios in different stages of a learners involvement in the VET system

Transition into the VET sector

Learning/transition within the VET sector

Transition out of the VET sector

Managing a VET sector workforce

Transition into self employment

Revealed common functionality

Portability of information about qualifications and competencies

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Management and provision of secure and verifiable information

Transitions RPL RPL RPL RPL

Emerging differences Looked at a number of projects/project reports, as part of desktop research. JISC,BECTA, Europass, Bologna Process etc. Some reports not available at time of project Findings Australia lags behind similar jurisdictions (Sectoral perspective) Reference model for ePortfolio services particularly useful Separating content and services provides users/portfolio owners the ability to access multiple sources Supports the scenarios that we looked at - transitions At a sectoral level, standards compliance is very important for widespread use

Looked at a number of projects/project reports, as part of desktop research.

JISC,BECTA, Europass, Bologna Process etc.

Some reports not available at time of project

Findings

Australia lags behind similar jurisdictions (Sectoral perspective)

Reference model for ePortfolio services particularly useful

Separating content and services provides users/portfolio owners the ability to access multiple sources

Supports the scenarios that we looked at - transitions

At a sectoral level, standards compliance is very important for widespread use

Policy and Business Issues Guidelines for the development and provision of ePortfolio services Flexibility and Customisation Storage Where? Eg Europass CV How much? Seems to be a major issue for a number of the organisational based ePortfolios that we looked at Accessibility Identity Learner Identity Management Framework (LIMF) / Australian Access Federation (AAF) Evidence authenticity Data management Data exchange Policies and procedures Formats Interoperability (data format, vocabularies, qualifications etc)

Guidelines for the development and provision of ePortfolio services

Flexibility and Customisation

Storage

Where?

Eg Europass CV

How much?

Seems to be a major issue for a number of the organisational based ePortfolios that we looked at

Accessibility

Identity

Learner Identity Management Framework (LIMF) / Australian Access Federation (AAF)

Evidence

authenticity

Data management

Data exchange

Policies and procedures

Formats

Interoperability (data format, vocabularies, qualifications etc)

Organisation vs Systemic ePortfolios Research based on the premise that ePortfolios are ‘learner-owned’ Learner-owned ePortfolios have the potential to cross organisational boundaries Do organisational ePortfolios satisfy learners needs: Over the long term With regards to current and evolving usage of other online services Implications of Web 2.0 type services Combining organisation based services with Web services (not all of a learner’s portfolio may reside in the organisation infrastructure Custodianship of content Who, how long for Access archiving

Research based on the premise that ePortfolios are ‘learner-owned’

Learner-owned ePortfolios have the potential to cross organisational boundaries

Do organisational ePortfolios satisfy learners needs:

Over the long term

With regards to current and evolving usage of other online services

Implications of Web 2.0 type services

Combining organisation based services with Web services (not all of a learner’s portfolio may reside in the organisation infrastructure

Custodianship of content

Who, how long for

Access

archiving

Some examples National example https://www.careerswales.com/home.asp?language=English Public CV builder http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernav/europasss+documents/europass+cv/navigate.action Organisational ePortfolio integrating external services (eg YouTube) http://www.clemson.edu/ugs/eportfolio/examples.html

National example

https://www.careerswales.com/home.asp?language=English

Public CV builder

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernav/europasss+documents/europass+cv/navigate.action

Organisational ePortfolio integrating external services (eg YouTube)

http://www.clemson.edu/ugs/eportfolio/examples.html

Other Models to Consider (1) JISC ePortfolio Engine Reference Model ePortfolio described as a set of services These services could be web services that are distributed across the Web An ePortfolio implementation could be seen as an aggregation of a set of portfolio related services relevant to a particular set of needs (eg resume builder, planner, evidence store, presentation builder etc) Organisations and ePortfolio system buildersneed not be responsible for providing all the services that are required by the users Recognises that there is no ‘one size fits all approach’ Opportunity exists to include more generic web services to provide some of the functionality (eg blogs, document/image sharing services etc) What are the policy considerations for such a model?

JISC ePortfolio Engine Reference Model

ePortfolio described as a set of services

These services could be web services that are distributed across the Web

An ePortfolio implementation could be seen as an aggregation of a set of portfolio related services relevant to a particular set of needs (eg resume builder, planner, evidence store, presentation builder etc)

Organisations and ePortfolio system buildersneed not be responsible for providing all the services that are required by the users

Recognises that there is no ‘one size fits all approach’

Opportunity exists to include more generic web services to provide some of the functionality (eg blogs, document/image sharing services etc)

What are the policy considerations for such a model?

ePortfolio as a set of services Aggregation Presentation planning CV builder … .. reflection evidence networks course information Users ePortfolio ‘engine’

Other Models to Consider (2) The Web Use web services for everything In an age where organisations are moving more applications to the Web (email, Office, CRM etc, why not ePortfolios) Increasing competition from Web 2.0 services and acceptance by learners In some cases, preference for web-based services

The Web

Use web services for everything

In an age where organisations are moving more applications to the Web (email, Office, CRM etc, why not ePortfolios)

Increasing competition from Web 2.0 services and acceptance by learners

In some cases, preference for web-based services

Read/Write Web Is Google my ePortfolio? No (at least, not yet) – for a number of reasons.

Is Google my ePortfolio?

No (at least, not yet)

– for a number of reasons.

Some examples Example of ePortfolio built with free web services http:// eportfolios.googlepages.com /home How to do it yourself with that service http:// eportfolios.googlepages.com/howto Social network http:// www.facebook.com / ‘ professional’ social network http:// www.linkedin.com / Integration between social network and job site http:// myspacejobs.careerone.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction = careers.au Claiming your content http:// claimid.com /

Example of ePortfolio built with free web services

http:// eportfolios.googlepages.com /home

How to do it yourself with that service

http:// eportfolios.googlepages.com/howto

Social network

http:// www.facebook.com /

‘ professional’ social network

http:// www.linkedin.com /

Integration between social network and job site

http:// myspacejobs.careerone.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction = careers.au

Claiming your content

http:// claimid.com /

But what about authenticated evidence? EUN Bologna Process Diploma Supplement Certificate Supplement Language Supplement Australian Graduation Statement Contains authenticated information about an award (eg degree) Secure and verifiable Static (unlike an ePortfolio which is a continually evolving document) What value would an authenticated (electronic) statement of achievement have in an ePortfolio? In a lifelong ePortfolio such services could perform an important component

EUN Bologna Process

Diploma Supplement

Certificate Supplement

Language Supplement

Australian Graduation Statement

Contains authenticated information about an award (eg degree)

Secure and verifiable

Static (unlike an ePortfolio which is a continually evolving document)

What value would an authenticated (electronic) statement of achievement have in an ePortfolio?

In a lifelong ePortfolio such services could perform an important component

Authenticating claims Aggregation Presentation planning CV builder RPL claims reflection evidence networks course information Users ePortfolio ‘engine’ Certificate supplement

Some definitions Standards A definition: “ A Standard is a published document which sets out specifications and procedures designed to ensure that a material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and consistently performs in the way it was intended.” (Standards Australia website: http://www.standards.org.au/cat.asp?catid=2 - March 2008) Interoperability Requires standards Enables us to make ePortfolio related information portable (eg aggregation, syndication, migration) Complete interoperability requires agreement on: Communications method Common data format Semantics vocabularies Difficult to achieve How necessary is it?

Standards

A definition:

“ A Standard is a published document which sets out specifications and procedures designed to ensure that a material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and consistently performs in the way it was intended.” (Standards Australia website: http://www.standards.org.au/cat.asp?catid=2 - March 2008)

Interoperability

Requires standards

Enables us to make ePortfolio related information portable (eg aggregation, syndication, migration)

Complete interoperability requires agreement on:

Communications method

Common data format

Semantics

vocabularies

Difficult to achieve

How necessary is it?

Standards and specifications Some of the standards we looked at included: IMS ePortfolio RDCEO LIP Content Packaging Vocabulary Definition Exchange General Web services RSS, Atom WebDAV W3C Microformats Shibboleth / MAMS HR-XML FOAF opensocial

Some of the standards we looked at included:

IMS

ePortfolio

RDCEO

LIP

Content Packaging

Vocabulary Definition Exchange

General Web services

RSS, Atom

WebDAV

W3C

Microformats

Shibboleth / MAMS

HR-XML

FOAF

opensocial

Some observations Impact of Web 2.0 Tension between individuals and systemic benefits A number of specifications are very complex and difficult to implement Little support / few implementations of complex specifications Agreement on complex, heavy weight specifications and implementation of such would be very difficult to achieve across a large, disparate sector Simple, lightweight specifications already have widespread support Could be adapted/adopted in this area Longevity Will the lifespan of individual ePortfolios outlast the technologies / solutions that support them Storage space / ownership / custodianship

Impact of Web 2.0

Tension between individuals and systemic benefits

A number of specifications are very complex and difficult to implement

Little support / few implementations of complex specifications

Agreement on complex, heavy weight specifications and implementation of such would be very difficult to achieve across a large, disparate sector

Simple, lightweight specifications already have widespread support

Could be adapted/adopted in this area

Longevity

Will the lifespan of individual ePortfolios outlast the technologies / solutions that support them

Storage space / ownership / custodianship

Acknowledgements and References Acknowledgements The Australian Flexible Learning Framework and in particular, the E-Standards Expert Group for providing the opportunity to undertake the initial study. The Australian ePortfolio Project for the Australian ePortfolio Symposium. University of Maine: Reading Revolutions for the Magna Carta Image: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/MagnaCarta/5190MagnaCarta_wl.jpg References AeP (2008). The Australian ePortfolio Project. Retrieved February 10, 2008 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/information/ . Smallwood A. (2008), the Australian ePortfolio Symposium, Review of Day 1. Retrieved March 16, 2008 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/docs/AeP_presentations_web/AeP_Smallwood_8Feb08.pdf . PILIN (2008). PILIN Project. Retrieved February 10, 2008 from http://www.arrow.edu.au/PILIN.php. European Commission (2008) a. The Diploma Supplement. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html . European Commission (2008) b. Recognition and transparency of qualifications. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/rec_qual_en.html . Harman G (2008). Proposal for an Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement. Retrieved March 16 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/docs/AeP_presentations_web/AeP_Harman_7Feb08.pdf . Curyer, Leeson, Mason, Williams (2007). Developing e-portfolios for VET: Policy issues and interoperability. Retrieved December 2007 from http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/docs/vet-eportfolio-report-v1-0.doc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/au/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

Acknowledgements

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework and in particular, the E-Standards Expert Group for providing the opportunity to undertake the initial study.

The Australian ePortfolio Project for the Australian ePortfolio Symposium.

University of Maine: Reading Revolutions for the Magna Carta Image:

http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/MagnaCarta/5190MagnaCarta_wl.jpg

References

AeP (2008). The Australian ePortfolio Project. Retrieved February 10, 2008 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/information/ .

Smallwood A. (2008), the Australian ePortfolio Symposium, Review of Day 1. Retrieved March 16, 2008 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/docs/AeP_presentations_web/AeP_Smallwood_8Feb08.pdf .

PILIN (2008). PILIN Project. Retrieved February 10, 2008 from http://www.arrow.edu.au/PILIN.php.

European Commission (2008) a. The Diploma Supplement. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html .

European Commission (2008) b. Recognition and transparency of qualifications. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/rec_qual_en.html .

Harman G (2008). Proposal for an Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement. Retrieved March 16 from http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/docs/AeP_presentations_web/AeP_Harman_7Feb08.pdf .

Curyer, Leeson, Mason, Williams (2007). Developing e-portfolios for VET: Policy issues and interoperability. Retrieved December 2007 from http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/docs/vet-eportfolio-report-v1-0.doc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/au/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

Thank you