scad de l2010-s_porto
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TRANSCRIPT
USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR EPORTFOLIOS
Dr. Stella PortoMaster of Distance Education & E-LearningGraduate School of Management & TechnologyUniversity of Maryland University College
Agenda
• Introduction ePortfolios defined Background & context
• Eportfolios in the MDE Challenges & Issues: technology
Social media impact Challenges & Issues: management
Support Examples Future
• Final remarks
ePortfolios defined
Blog
Documents
Photos Videos
Journal
Projects
ePortfolio defined
• Electronic version of portfolios Collection of artifacts in different digital
media;• Serves the purpose of
Assessment of competencies, skills and knowledge;
Showcase and evidence abilities and achievements in specific areas; and
Promote reflection of one's development and learning.
Context:The program
• Potential managers of the DE enterprise
• Entirely online for part-time working adults
• International• Collaborative
FacultySupport
InstructionDesign &Support
Leaders &Managers
HigherEducation
Media & technology
CorporateTraining &Learning
DistanceEducation
The MDE focus on developing managers and leaders in the areas of e-learning & distance education within different settings, including: K-12, higher-education, corporate, non-profits, government and military.
Our mission is our means and our
means is our mission
ePortfolios in the MDE:Goals & process
Development Process Students' journeys and growth in the DE field
The MDE ePortfolio will:
•Portray students’ qualifications•Demonstrate students’ knowledge and skills in a variety of DE contexts.
Gather
Select
Reflect
Evidence
ePortfolios in the MDE:Earlier Challenges
Before• Students spent significant
amount of time learning the technology
• Instructors were not savvy enough
• Storage was done through an ‘ftp’ interface to a common server Limited time Student would have to transport
the website somewhere else• Development using
‘Dreamweaver’ type software• Not technical support available
for development
Possible answers
• Institutional support Financially Personnel
• Specific environment/platform
• Creating tutorials, supporting materials
ePortfolios in the MDE:Earlier Challenges
Why these didn’t/don’t work
• Institution not committed to an ePortfolio philosophy MDE is the exception
• Such answers go against the MDE ePortfolio philosophy and goals
Possible answers
• Institutional support Financially Personnel
• Specific environment/platform
• Creating tutorials, supporting materials
ePortfolios in the MDE:Issues
• Institutional involvement can have unintended consequences. Faculty and administrators might define too
tight a framework Ownership
“Conundrum between student ownership, interoperability and the continuous use of ePortfolios beyond the program.”
Web 2.0 tools web users are now at the helm when it comes to
generating, storing and sharing content.
ePortfolios in the MDE:the closed institutional approach
Inst
itutio
nal c
ontr
ol
ePortfolios in the MDE:and Open approach
Per
sona
l con
trol
Social media impact:OLD an new - Walti’s ePortfolio
http://info.umuc.edu/mde/Portfolios/cwalti/default.htm
Social media impact:Old an NEW - Walti’s ePortfolio
http://sammelsurium.weebly.com/
ePortfolios in the MDE:Further managerial challenges
• Continuous activity vs. activity allotted in the end of the program Students
overwhelmed and underprepared
Need for constant attention and work from the learners throughout the program.
Focus is on current courses
• ePortfolios must be promoted in a programmatic way Help students
understand the nature of the activity
Students need to be proactive and disciplined
Need for institutional support
ePortfolios: Examples
sporto.wordpress.com
www.epsilen.com/sporto
ePortfolios: Examples
www.netvibes.com/stellaporto
umuc.academia.edu/StellaPorto
Do I have more time?
If I have time, I’ll talk about the support structure we created for students.If not jump to slide 24…
ePortfolios in the MDE:Support
• Action research initiative undertaken within the program (A series of consecutive, iterative steps to identify and enhance support to students) The use of Web 2.0 tools has been ingrained
in this process Web-based tutorials; Creating and maintaining a learning journal in
at least one course in the program; A one-week online orientation; and An ePortfolio wiki that is always available
ePortfolios in the MDE:Support
• Promoting the use of learning journals• MDE student lounge
•Continuous support: answering students questions•No prescribed or suggested activities
• Creation of the ePortfolio tutorial
ePortfolios in the MDE:Support - Rubric
ePortfolios in the MDE:Support - Wiki
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ePortfolios in the MDE:Future
• Protecting ownership and authenticity Copyright policies for all the posted work
• Vertical study following up with students and how they continue to use their ePortfolios
• How to make it useful after the program?• Outcomes assessment ties into the
program• Commentary/feedback from selected
faculty/experts• Enhance reflective aspects• Institutional support viable?
Learning lessons…
The need for continuous support at the program level
Enhancing the inter- relationship within the curriculum
Learning lessons…
Social media can provide enormous support
Making ePortfolios important for professional development and career planning
