1. Implementing ePortfolios in 6 Months Through an
Open Source Solution
NERCOMP SIG
Ravi Ravishanker
Beth Gordon Klingner
Samantha Egan
September 20, 2010

2. Reminder: SIG Evaluation
• bit.ly/nercomp_eport

3. A Year of Progress For ePortfolios!
08.0908.09 09.0909.09 10.0910.09 11.0911.09 12.0912.09 1.101.10 2.102.10 3.103.10 4.104.10 5.105.10 6.106.10 7.107.10 8.108.10
Advisory
Board
established
Template
created
Launch Pilot
Program
All faculty,
students
and staff get
accounts
Develop
webpage
Train
faculty
& staff

4. Previous Experiences With ePortfolios
• Isolated courses using various products &
home-grown solutions
• Not enough technical support or
faculty/student buy-in
• Searching for the perfect platform

5. Turning Point
• New IT leadership
• Creation of University-wide template
• Advisory Board: bringing together
staff/faculty across disciplines and
support areas
• Grants: Making Connections and internal
Thinkfinity grant

6. Why ?
• Other tools considered
• How we discovered Mahara
• Why Mahara is different from other
platforms
• Advantages of Mahara: masquerade
feature
• Challenges of Mahara: upgrading process

7. Customizing Mahara
• template vs. need for flexibility

8. Mahara Feedback
• Faculty feedback
– More customization
• Student feedback
– More creative flexibility

9. Published Feedback
• “ePortfolios [have] become an assessment
tool and can be used in lieu of a final exam
or as a capstone experience…”-
Opportunitas April ‘10
• “The final result [of an ePortfolio] is a
comprehensive online showcase of a
student’s academic experience.”- Pace
Magazine Spring ‘10

10. Introducing ePortfolios to the Pace
Community
• Spring 2010 pilot (20 Sections, 230 students)
• Faculty Development Day-Trent Batson, keynote
speaker
• Student focus groups
• Training staff/faculty/student groups—focus on
pedagogy and reflection in addition to technology
• Coordinated with Career Services on resume
section

11. ePortfolio Resources For The Pace
Community
• ePortfolio Webpage
– www.pace.edu/eportfolio
– Tutorials, news, student samples
• ePortfolio Resource/Information Group
on eportfolio.pace.edu
– Troubleshooting, feedback, forums
– Useful files (tips, guides, news)

12. Keeping the Momentum
• Contributing to Accepted Students Blog
• Increased outreach to major stakeholders—
including Making Connections summer
workshop
• Upgrading and maintaining Mahara
• Presenting at faculty workshops
• Teaching circles for Fall 2010

13. 2010-2011 Timeline
SeptemberSeptember OctoberOctober NovemberNovember DecemberDecember JanuaryJanuary FebruaryFebruary MarchMarch AprilApril MayMay
Reach out to
UNV101
classes
Train library
staff and
advisors
Expand
Pilot
Program
Redesign
Theme
Create
Rubrics
Student
Showcase

14. Student Showcase
• Samantha Egan: Recent Graduate,
ePortfolio intern through AmeriCorps

16. Student Showcase
• Chiara Travia, Graduate Student, Media &
Communication Arts

18. Reminder: SIG Evaluation
• bit.ly/nercomp_eport