The document discusses the concept of ePortfolios as a method for professional discernment, highlighting their role in reflecting on past experiences, envisioning future goals, and synthesizing personal growth. It references William Pinar's currere process, which emphasizes a reflective approach to curriculum through regression, progression, analysis, and synthesis. The value of ePortfolios lies in fostering a dialogue between past, present, and future, thereby enhancing students' agency over their educational journey.

1. Understanding the Past & Present
While Weaving the Future
ePortfolios as a Space for Professional
Discernment and Growth
Gail Matthews-DeNatale, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Graduate School of Education
Associate Director, Center for Advancing Teaching and
Learning Through Research
Northeastern University

2. overview
1 Curriculum: What’s in a name?
2
3
4
ePortfolio as curriculum
Northeastern example
Student evidence

3. 1 Curriculum: What’s in a name?

5. Curriculum

6. Currere
This autobiographical method [for
curriculum] asks us to remember,
even enter, the past and
meditatively imagine the future ...
in order to understand more fully,
with more complexity and subtlety ...
the present
This autobiographical method [for
curriculum] asks us to remember,
even enter, the past and
meditatively imagine the future ...
in order to understand more fully,
with more complexity and subtlety ...
the present.
(William Pinar, 2004)

7. Currere Process
(William Pinar, 2004)
Regression Progression
Analysis Synthesis

8. Currere Process
(William Pinar, 2004)
Regression
Return to past,
capture it,
hover over it
Progression
Look forward to what
is not yet the case,
not yet present
Analysis
Consider how the
future is in the past,
and past in the future
Synthesis
Listen to inner voice
for the meaning of
the present

9. 1 Curriculum: What’s in a name?
2 ePortfolio as curriculum

10. Portfolio Moves
Currere Process
Remember Envision
Analyze Synthesize
Regression Progression
Analysis Synthesis

11. Syllabi, etc. Reflections
Feedback
Artifacts
ePortfolio as
Curriculum
Remember
How can I record
my work and
thinking to revisit
the past as data in
the future?
Envision
What do I imagine
and desire that is
not yet present?
What are the
possibilities?
Synthesize
Given what I have
experienced, who
am I now? How am
I, and my thinking,
transformed?
Analyze
What relationships
do I perceive
between the past,
present, and
future?
Past Future
Present

12. 1 Curriculum: What’s in a name?
2 ePortfolio as curriculum
3 Northeastern example

13. Professional
Four
Concentrations
Fully Online
ePortfolio
Program
Master's Degree

14. Gateway
Course
Education as an
Advanced Field
of Study
Concentration
Core
e.g. How People
Learn
Elective
Courses
e.g. Social Media
Learning Portfolio
Signature
Assignment(s)
Education
Narrative
Signature
Assignment(s)
Case
Study
Signature
Assignment(s)
Media
Critique
Capstone
Learning Portfolio
Work/Life Experiences
Professional Portfolio

15. 1 Curriculum: What’s in a name?
2 ePortfolio as curriculum
3 Northeastern example
4 Student evidence

16. • Week 1 – Annotated Curriculum
• Week 2 – Self-Assessment
• Week 12 – Final Reflection
Evidence Considered

17. Wk1 Annotated Curriculum
WL: At the beginning I felt a bit overwhelmed. I
didn’t know what [terms] meant and how they
related to the work I was doing … that bothered me
at the time.
[Now] I use research to direct my thinking and
deepen my understanding …
I would not have come to that realization
without the starting at the beginning and feeling
overwhelmed at first.
Past
Present
Present
Past

18. Wk2 Self-Assessment
LW: As an undergraduate, I just presented data
that existed.
[Now I ] acknowledge my own perspective and
how it directs my work … [I can] connect ideas on
the spot …
I note a change in my mindset from simply
understanding that issues exist in higher education
to engaging in work meant to change and
improve higher education.
Past
Present
Present
Future

19. Wk12. Final Reflection
JN: Returning to the end at the
beginning, my philosophy statement
reflects what I have learned about
those views I held so long ago in
my educational narrative.
I still believe in equality of opportunity
in education. I still believe in
supporting students as individuals to
find their respective paths in their
lives through education. What has
changed is my ability to help
others achieve these goals.

20. Final Thoughts
The value of ePortfolio as currere is that it
creates a space for students to hold past,
present, and future in dialogue.
If we intentionally elicit this form of
engagement, they will increase their sense
of agency in relation to “curriculum,” their
development, and their path forward.

21. https://champlain.instructure.com/courses/200147/pages/curriculum-mapping
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aciel_akra/28335879908
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