Student Centered ePortfolio

An interesting post from Kev Brace over at JISC Regional Support Centre West Midlands. It talks about models and resources:

http://kev-brace.blogspot.com/2009/07/student-centered-eportfolio-space.html

PebblePad Update Version 2.3.3

PebblePad has just released an update available for self hosting institutions to download and install.

There's quite a long list of fixes and enhancements, but I've listed a very brief summary here:

• Bug: Entering more detail about an activity in the experience asset without entering an
  activity title results in the details being lost
  Fix: It is now not possible to add more detail without entering an activity title
  
  
• Bug: Entering HTML into a comment produces an error
  Fix: HTML is now accepted and is displayed as plain text in a comment
  
  
• New: Added last viewed to rollover on recipient list
  Displays the last time a recipient has viewed an asset in the asset synopsis pad
  
  
• New: Support files other than index/default.htm(l) for websites
  This allows exports from Sakai to be imported as websites
  
  
• Bug: PebblePad stores the local path of uploaded files as the file name when uploading from
  some browsers, this causes error when exporting
  Fix: Local path information is removed during upload
  

The full 13 page PDF is available here: PebblePad Release Notes V2.3.3

PebblePad >> To Go >>

PebblePad have several new ways to get onto PebblePad on the move:

• Use PebblePDA the program designed to operate on Windows Mobile PDA’s and Smartphones
• Use Pebble SendR the java-based file upload tool compatible with most mobile devices
• Use Pebble Mobile to access a very simple version of PebblePad via the browser on any mobile device

I've had a go at the last option, which brings up a clean interface with simple HTML links that work. It doesn't look great, but the fact is when you're on the move you just want it to simple and quick.

I'm not able to test out the other options on my current phone, but when I get my hands on one I'll report back.

More details here: PebblePad Mobile

In response to Bill's question, I have an iPhone which isn't too accepting of files uploaded outside of Apple's iTunes. This would be possible with another 'smarth phone' or PDA.

Teaching & Learning

After my the second IP session with Glenn's group I had time to discuss portfolios with Glenn. We had an interesting discussion about the aim of ePoftfolios and difficulties I may encounter with teaching and learning aspect of reflection. The conversation addressed the priority of teaching and learning within a research led institution, and whether the current climate of economic uncertainty and reduction of research funding would lead to trend towards a focus teaching and learning.

One of interesting points made was that a lot academics have no formal teaching qualifications. This raises the question of formal teaching qualifications/training are required in order to teach a subject in HE; one could argue that being a specialist in a field is sufficient to teach it. Should academics be informed about teaching practises? Is the role of the academic in HE to teach or to deliver information and support the learning process?

I need to look at ways in reflective learning can be taught or supported. Essentially, this is what is required for ePortfolio use.

Trial run - flexibility of webfolios.

I have contacted Prem Kumar and Glenn regarding a trial run of PebblePad ePortfolio with the a group of IP students.

As mentioned in the IP session 2 post below the students generally produce low tech, but very effective presentations. I believe changing this element of the IP sessions would be counterproductive and students would simply get bogged down with 'having' to use technology for technology's sake.

I propose a solution where the students supplement their IP sessions by recording their learning, just as they do with the paper based portfolio forms handed out at the session, but electronically. The aim of this would be to create a record of all IP case studies over the duration of the course.

The students will be using the webfolio tool in PebblePad to record their learning and populate it over the year. The ability of being able to merge/add one webfolio into another means that students can create individual webfolios for each year specifically for IP and then merge them into one webfolio covering all years. In addition to this students can create an overall webfolio for the MBChB course and populate with the IP webfolio, the SSA webfolio as well as other webfolios created for other modules/subjects on the course.

The webfolio can then be exported into a HTML format at the end of the course for the student to keep for future reference. There may also be a opportunity for the Medical school to keep/archive a copy of each students work for future reference, audits etc.

The ability to embed one webfolio into another brings the opportunity to create a felxible eportfolio. As stated above, webfolios can be created for each module/subject on a yearly basis. These yearly webfolios can then be either drawn together as an overall webfolio for the module over the duration of the course, or be compiled to give an view of learning during an academic year for whole course, i.e. embedding webfolios from each module/subject for a particular year into MBChB 1 for example. As well as this, students would be able to create a custom eportfolio for a specific purpose; for example, bringing together webfolios from different years and modules to show a particular learning path/story.

Each of the boxes in the simple diagram below represents a webfolio. The idea is that students pull together specific webfolios into any particular sequence they require; like building with Lego bricks, you decide what parts you need for any particular model.