Southampton Solent University conducted research from 2008-2009 on how to better support students' personal development and recording of progress. They piloted the open source ePortfolio system Mahara from 2009-2010 and found that while students liked it, help resources and support needed improving. From 2010 onward, Mahara was adopted more widely across programs and support was expanded. Evaluations found Mahara helped with reflective practice, group work, and professional portfolios. By 2015, additional programs were piloting Mahara's benefits for work-based learning, feedback, and transforming practice.

1. Growing up with Mahara
Sam Taylor
Learning Technologist
@samwisefox

2. Southampton Solent University
● ‘Modern’ University
● South Coast of UK
● Key aims:
o Employability
o Social Justice
o Business Engagement
● 18,000 students

3. Research 2008 - 2009
Led by Dr Barbara Lee, supported by academics,
support staff, career advisors and learning
technology experts:
 How are SSU supporting Personal Development?
(Course audits)
 How do learners record their progress?
(Questionnaires)
 Could an ePortfolio support and encourage more
learners to focus on their development?
(Focus groups with staff and students)

4. Choosing a system
 Elgg
 My Stuff
 Pebblepad
 Mahara
 Wordpress
 Moodle
Why Mahara?
o Demo site to play with
o Open Source
o Moodle
o Amazing community!

5. The first steps…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Flickr_-_law_keven_-_Not_such_an_ugly_duckling..-O))).jpg

6. Mahara animation:
https://youtu.be/Y32NoAgN9Ik

7. Pilot study 2009-2010
 Mahara trialled with a handful of
units/modules
 Usability-tested help resources
 Gained feedback from staff and
students
 ‘Customised’ Mahara
 Theme
 Language
 Help

8. Outcomes 2010:
 Students liked it, but not until
they ‘got it’
 Language needs to change to
reflect UK terminology
 Lecturers were keen to not get
involved
 Having help resources were
useful

9. Conclusion:
 Dedicated help site to be produced to support
all staff
 Dedicated guides for Personal
Development advice to be made
available
 Careers experts to write help
text for Resumé Builder (CV)
 Full-scale Mahara adoption to
commence September 2010

10. “But please, can we use it for assessments?”

11. Teething problems
 Assessment regulations
 Academic misconduct
 Submission process defined
 File size issues
 ‘Can you teach my students?’

12. Early Adopters:
● BA (Hons) PR & Communication
o Preparation for work placement
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=yxpgnbW7fsK5GkcEZzjH
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=Z5rY8yOvtqlD7CsaW0eh
● MSc Shipping Operations
o PD Activities & group work
● BSc (Hons) Geography with Environmental Studies
o Research portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=JmquFQW4w5G93ITbvAZ1

13. Gaining momentum:
● PGCert Teaching & Learning in Higher Education
o Reflective Practice Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=5v9piVPdS8hBLEDxJsbo
● Business Foundation Year
o Market Research Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=8VF0Pf4DHZxSvjKhUBwc
http://www.slideshare.net/BradleyGavin/mahara-presentation-current
● BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
o Professional Practice Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=HjklXu1Z8e5oaOEtKrnD

14. New approach needed:
1
• Lecturer speaks to Sam
2
• Sam & lecturer explore Mahara tools
3
• Sam creates ‘mock-up’ portfolio
4
• Lecturer writes Assessment/Activity brief
5
• Sam puts support in place via VLE

15. …continued
 Technology Foundation Year
 BA (Hons) Advertising
 BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing Management
 BA (Hons) Business Marketing
 BA (Hons) Leisure & Tourism Management

16. Integrated help & support:

17. Integrated help & support:

18. Help site for all users:
http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/help

19. Themes:
• Reflective commentsBlog/Journal
• Developmental journeyPD Portfolio
• Showcasing skills and attributesShop Window
• File storage (virtual ring binder)
Document
Manager
• Mapping elements/evidence
Competency
Portfolio

20. 2015 pilots:
 BA (Hons) Social Work
 BA (Hons) Health & Social Care
Exciting!
o Adults
o Work-based learning
o Improved feedback
o Transforming practice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100155095@N03/14509941883/

21. Pilar Garrido-Sanz:
 “As a visual medium, students can personalise and
individualise it. Students can also structure and arrange
information on their pages in different ways which
allows for a multi-dimensional approach, as opposed to
linear means like word documents.
 Students in general appreciate the freedom that the
ePortfolio gives them. Students are the proprietors of
their ePortfolio and hence can use it as a valuable tool
to show to potential employers.”

22. Colin Bright:
 “Social work placements are based in a wide variety
of settings with diverse geographical locations – the
adoption of E portfolio approaches is enabling design
that we hope will enhance and support the
communication exchange between practice and the
university staff team.
 This in turn is intended to enhance the evidential
potential of our students’ work and support their
learning.”

23. Case studies:
http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/casestudies

24. Advice & thoughts:
 Showcase ‘best in show’ to inspire next year’s
cohort
 Share inspiring stories, such as Prof Sugata Mitra’s
‘Hole in the Wall’ projects.
 Create ‘mock-up’ portfolios
 Student peer leaders?
 Templates are not always the answer…

25. More info…
 Roger Emery, Associate Professor
Learning Technologies Development Manager
 Roger.Emery@solent.ac.uk
 http://portal.solent.ac.uk/rogeremery
As I’m no longer a member of staff at
SSU, please contact Roger for any
information regarding Solent’s
Mahara:

26. Thank you!
Sam Taylor
Learning Technologist
http://about.me/SamTaylorUK
Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Previously of Southampton Solent University