E-portfolios

=**E-portfolios in Education:**=

As we all think about what shape E-portfolios will take for our teachers and students we share our thoughts, questions and findings.


 * What are e-portfolios and how might we use them?**

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"An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on [|the Web]. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, [|multimedia], [|blog] entries, and [|hyperlinks]. E-portfolios are both demonstrations of the user's abilities and platforms for self-expression, and, if they are online, they can be maintained dynamically over time. Some e-portfolio applications permit varying degrees of audience access, so the same portfolio might be used for multiple purposes. An e-portfolio can be seen as a type of learning record that provides actual evidence of achievement. Learning records are closely related to the [|Learning Plan], an emerging tool that is being used to manage learning by individuals, teams, [|communities of interest], and organizations. To the extent that a [|Personal Learning Environment] captures and displays a learning record, it also might be understood to be an electronic portfolio. Students have been taught to create digital identities using presentation software or tools to create web pages. More recently the use of [|virtual learning environments] (VLEs) in schools and universities has led to an increased activity in the creation of e-portfolios for a variety of reasons. Most of these e-portfolios, however, are retained within the VLE and are not easily accessed outside the VLE. This results in problems of exporting data and related interoperability issues. An alternative approach is to use a system externally hosted to any institution. This permits transition through the various stages of education and employments and even into retirement. E-portfolios, like traditional [|portfolios], can facilitate students' reflection on their own learning, leading to more awareness of learning strategies and needs.[|[1]] Results of a comparative research, by [|M. van Wesel] and Prop, between paper based portfolios and electronic portfolios in the same setting, suggest use of an electronic portfolio leads to better learning outcomes.[|[2]]" ====== From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not only can the ePortfolio present different organisational and functional ‘views’ some ePortfolios (eg eFolio) can display these ‘views’ as different ‘personas’ ie the general image and colour schemes etc can be professional, homely, ‘hippy’, classical, theatrical etc whilst still drawing on some common artefacts. In fact as many images as the owner has interests.


 * What might we use to create portfolios?**

Google docs Mahara - This is found at: [] Remember you can register your school and have all students and staff use the MOE's Mahara for free. For an online tutoria on how to begin in Mahara visit []. [] PowerPoint / Keynote efolio Other?

by Ian are found at: [] Jamin Lietze has some great resources including video on vimeo of pedagogy sessions held at his school on his wiki HERE
 * Guidelines for using e-portfolios**

**Readings & Resources:** The following links lead to interesting and useful thoughts, resources and using e-portfolios**.** **[]** **Also** [] On TKI you will find Ilam School's story as to how they are using E-portfolios to celebrate student learning. [] [] Read what the [|e-portfolio group] in the vln have to say about e-portfolios.