Keynote speaker Sam Taylor at Mahara Hui in Auckland on 9 April 2015 https://maharahui.org.nz/course/view.php?id=3

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