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ePortfolios and modern learning
In modern learning, a true benefit to the student, is ePortfolios. According to efrontlearning.com (https://www.efrontlearning.com/blog/2017/02/requirements-benefits-eportfolios-training.html) there are 6 benefits of ePortfolios. They are:
- Recognizing learning
- Recording learning
- Reflecting on learning
- Validating learning
- Planning new learning
- Assessing learning
The basic process of creating an ePortfolio includes researching the topic(s), writing or creating a slideshow or presentation about the topic, reviewing the creation, obtaining feedback about the topic, and submitting the final thoughts. These steps round out the learning process in a more complete way.
I was first introduced to ePortfolios when I was studying for my Masters degree 17 years ago. I didn’t realize at the time that that is what they were, as they were noted as group projects. But I knew I loved them. They worked very similar to the group projects that I did in the traditional classrooms, however, the team worked virtually on a document, to improve the overall outcome.
Fast forward to present day, and my teenage kids are doing ‘portfolios’ for school. They’ve been in online school for 3 years due to learning disabilities and Neurological disabilities. The first time they had to turn in a portfolio, they couldn’t understand why I was so excited to see this requirement. Admittedly, their portfolios are a little different then the eportfolios that I worked on 17 years ago, as they do not obtain peer reviews on their portfolios directly, but they do have a rubric that guides them. Despite my teenagers fighting the process of portfolios, I’m finding that they are remembering the material more thoroughly, and accurately, then they did with basic report style assignments.
In my opinion, this is the end goal of the learning process: to learn, and to remember what you learned. After all, what is the point of learning if you do not retain the information and use it, or put it into practice. I believe this is accurate at all levels of education, from Elementary to post doctorate learning.
I found the explanation of ePortfolios in this article very well atructures: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/educational-technologies/all/eportfolios
From the definition provided:
According to Basken, ePortfolios “are a way to generate learning as well as document learning (Basken, 2008). Both generating learning and documenting or recording learning are important, but the process of generating learning sometimes gets overlooked. ePortfolios generate learning because they provide an opportunity and virtual space for students to critically assess their academic work, to reflect on that work, and make connections among different courses, assignments, and other activities, such as work experience, extracurricular pursuits, volunteering opportunities, and more. ePortfolios are effective learning tools because they support students’ own knowledge construction, make otherwise invisible aspects of the learning process visible, and place agency in the hands of students, which fosters learners’ motivation.
I find it really interesting that ePortfolios put the student in the position of stucturing and organising not just the content but also the learning process. This way students don't just become acquainted with the subject they are learning but with the very process of learning.
I couldn't agree more with the end goal of the learning process. If we can build our knowledge through a portfolio process, it will become part of our true understanding. I find that it's also a great resource to refer back to. We can't always remember the details but we may remember the big idea and it has impacted our mindset. When we want to refer back, we can go back to our portfolios as a record of our learning and, really, the learning experience. Again, this is a great example of active learning and the building of knowledge.