This document discusses the implementation of ePortfolios for students in technology careers programs at a community college. The goals are to improve students' technology and communication skills and provide a tool to showcase their work experience and skills to potential employers. Over 400 students created ePortfolios in the first 3 years. The program aims to expand to more departments and involve employers and faculty more to help students build and maintain their portfolios beyond graduation.

1. ePortfolios for Employability Technology Careers Program Geetha Nehemia Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

2. Goals of Technology Careers Learn Industry expectations of technical communication and collaboration Improve technology skills Perform and learn independently Analyze and reflect upon experiences Provide a competitive edge in job-seeking Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

3. Goals of the ePortfolio Career Planning/Awareness Increase writing skills Reflection and Lifelong Learning Centralized repository Unique, individualized portfolio to display strengths, talents and skills Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

4. Inception Received a Perkins IV grant to prepare S.T.E.M. students for the workforce Local employers responded that STEM students needed to strengthen written and oral communication skills Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

5. Implementation Civil Engineering senior students created ePortfolios in Spring 2008 Drawings Incremental approach over a two year period in eFolioWorld C.E.T. Graduate C.E.T. Freshman Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

6. Employer Involvement Grant includes workforce preparation Over the past 2 years Tech Careers Office offered face to face and telephone mock interviews Employers responded that 56% of students had good communication skills 38% of employers noted that ePortfolios enhanced the resumes Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

7. Results 400 students have created ePortfolios within 3 years Reflection and ongoing engagement was intermittent Faculty liaisons engaged students to update and reflect on their portfolios during contact time Intermittent feedback from course instructors Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

8. ePortfolio Course Spring 2010 Hybrid BIT ePortfolio course Students engaged in collecting, selecting, and reflecting on artifacts and life experiences Incorporated Service Learning to obtain career experience Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

9. Adult Learners Service Learning and reflections assist dislocated workers Independent study to continue service learning for skill building Utilizing ePortfolio to showcase skills for master’s program and future employability Graphic Designer Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

10. Career Planning Researching careers - Librarians Creating resumes – Writing Center & Placement Office Alumni evaluations – Alumni Director Employer reviews – Alumni and contacts Oral presentations to peers in class Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

11. Plans for 2010-2011 Incorporating Early Childhood Education, and Business students One credit course offered consecutively over 3 semesters to incorporate ePortfolios and other types of technology Possible model for other departments Incorporate ePortfolios for elementary school students Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

12. Increase technology skills Spatial mapping and video skills Perkins IV grant to learn GIS and collaborate with other institutions to teach our faculty Integration in classes Ability to showcase learning with maps and video in ePortfolio Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

13. Accreditation Utilized ePortfolio for NACEP Accreditation of BCC’s concurrent enrollment program Assisted in the compilation and review of information submitted Ease of use for reviewers Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

14. Questions and Feedback How to motivate faculty and administration to emphasize ePortfolios? How to motivate employers to embrace ePortfolios? How to engage students to continue portfolio building beyond the course? Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act

15. Contact Info Website: http://sunybroome.edu/custom/techcareers Efolio: http://geethanehemia.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu Email: nehemiag@sunybroome.edu Twitter: nehemiag Funding provided by Perkins IV Career and Technical Act