By Nathan White, First-Year Masters of Journalism, 杏吧原创 University
Instructors say the dynamic online multimedia space is a great way to make connections between assignments. Students say it helps them see their accomplishments and growth across the semester. It鈥檚 no wonder cuPortfolio use has doubled since 2014, with nearly 4,000 total users from 100 different classes between the first year and PhD level.
杏吧原创鈥檚 electronic portfolio system allows students to collect academic and co-curricular 鈥渁rtifacts,鈥� from assignments and projects to videos and images. They鈥檙e encouraged to showcase their personal and intellectual growth, and reflect on connections between course work and experiences. It gets students engaged, supports authentic assessment, and can even be shared with potential employers as a digital resume.
Allie Davidson, an Educational Technology Coordinator at the EDC, is 杏吧原创’s ePortfolio expert. Below is a compilation of her top tips and advice for any instructors planning to use cuPortfolio in a course.
1. Familiarize yourself with the pedagogy of ePortfolios
cuPortfolio is as much a way of teaching聽as it is a technology. The key is to engage students in reflection as they build their portfolios, taking it beyond just a digital filing cabinet.
2. Get to know the tool
There are plenty of resources to help you get the most out of cuPortfolio. Hit up the Help Centre, or register for an introductory session at the EDC. If you need more support, email edtech@carleton.ca to book a meeting with an educational technologist at the EDC.
3. Define the purpose of cuPortfolio in your course
Ask yourself, 鈥淚s cuPortfolio adding value or just adding extra work?鈥� cuPortfolio is not meant to be an add-on. It should be integrated into the course with multiple checkpoints as students build their portfolios through the term. They need to see their progress and have opportunities for feedback and improvement.
4. Give it a grade
Students need incentive to put effort into their entries and reflections. A suggested minimum is at least 10 per cent of the final grade.
5. Set up a template or create an example
This helps students cut down the learning curve, and helps both student and instructor envision what is expected from a complete portfolio. As a bonus, knowing where to find the content in each portfolio can speed up marking time.
6. Make sure all of the technical settings work
You鈥檝e come up with a great plan to integrate cuPortfolio into your course 鈥� don鈥檛 let technical get in the way of a great learning experience. Consult with an educational technologist at the EDC to make sure the settings for sharing, submissions, templates and course group visibility are set up for success.
7. Set up an intro session for your class
Contact cuportfolio@carleton.ca to request a visit from cuPortfolio support staff to introduce your students to the tool.
听8.听Join the cuPortfolio community of practice
At the end of every semester, the EDC hosts a lunch meeting for instructors using cuPortfolio. Connect with other instructors, share successes and challenges, exchange innovative ideas, and learn from each other.
9. Get feedback from students
Constructive feedback from students is one of the most useful resources when considering improvements for the next time you use cuPortfolio in your class. Consider asking what they liked and didn鈥檛 like about the cuPortfolio assignment, or if they would suggest any changes.
10. Reflect and improve for next time
After your first year using the system, it鈥檚 likely you鈥檒l have your own ideas for improvement, as well as ideas from your students and the community of practice meeting.