Digital Portfolios –Digital Portfolios –Alverno College’s DDPAlverno College’s DDP

Linda Ehley

Robert O’Brien Hokanson

John Savagian

Kelly Talley

Ann van Heerden

College of Menominee Nation

August, 2003

Digital Portfolio Questions

What are digital portfolios? What are the basic types of digital portfolios? What are the trends with regard to digital portfolios? What is Alverno’s Diagnostic Digital Portfolio? What are some benefits and issues we have found in

using the DDP? How are faculty using the DDP within their classes?

What are Digital Portfolios?

Creative means of organizing, summarizing, and sharing artifacts, information, and ideas about teaching and/or learning

A collection of student work that is stored on a computer, on a CD-ROM or using some other digital technology

Characteristics of Portfolios

Portfolios can feature multiple examples of work

Portfolios can be context rich Portfolios can offer opportunities for

selection and self assessment Portfolios can offer a look at development

over time

Assessing the Portfolio: Principles for Practice, Theory and Research (1998 - Liz Hamp-Lyons)

What are the types of Digital Portfolios?

Institution Program Assessment Course Assessment Faculty Assessment

Faculty Teaching Assessment Course Assessment Personal

Growth/Reflection

Student Student Learning Evaluation/grading Showcase

What are the Trends?

To HAVE a Digital Portfolio!

Technology Portfolios in other than digital format are not new

- Electronic/digital portfolios provide easy access

Public Relations Better understanding of student learning in higher education

Accreditation Documentation Teacher Education programs

It’s not about the technology…

…it’s about learning

Alverno College

One of about 80 US women’s colleges Ability-based curriculum Two time frames: Weekday, Weekend About 2000 students with a high level of ethnic

diversity Majors with largest enrollment:

Business and Management; Education; Nursing, Professional Communication/ CMT; Social Sciences/Psychology/CLD

http://www.alverno.edu/for_educators/publications.html

Alverno’s Diagnostic Digital Portfolio (DDP)

A cumulative yet selective record of an individual student’s academic work that is electronically accessible and assessable.

Main purpose - to assist students in analyzing their patterns of learning

A mirror to reflect her learning thus far and a map to chart where she is going

Diagnostic - analyzing the cause or nature of a situation

Digital - readable and manipulable by computer

Portfolio - a collection representative of a person’s work

Why We Created the DDP

Mountains of information on student performance and learning 14 different locations Not easily accessible to students and faculty

Wanted a vehicle to enhance student reflection on their learning across time

ImplementationYear 1

Began with accounts for all new students Piloted key performances

Year 2 Expanded classroom key performances Piloted Independent Learning Experiences

Year 3 Piloted video uploads Mid Program Integrating Moment

Year 4 Set Institutional goal for all faculty to create

and use key performances in their courses Began adding graduate programs

Student Reactions

Very positive and excited Interested in developing a “history” of her

learning Eager to participate and add additional materials Made her learning -- what she does at Alverno --

more visible Provides “one location” to access criteria,

advanced outcomes, learning style templates and advising templates

Faculty Reactions

Very positive for piloting faculty Easy access to Communication criteria,

writing and speaking templates, Advanced Outcomes and self assessment framework

Time and complexity issues Emphasized the need for technology

support

Issues

Provide specific places where students reflect on their learning Integrating Moments

Address the varying computer literacy levels of students

Integrate DDP use into classroom practice Extend understanding of uses of the DDP

Benefits

Increase computer literacy among faculty and students Actual “purpose” for using technology

Provide specific places in curriculum for reflecting on prior work and setting goals

Assist students/faculty in “seeing” learning and self assessment development

Improve quality of self assessment Help students with learning issues

Questions - Comments?

Let’s Look at the DDP!!!

ddp.alverno.edu

References

The How and the Why of Electronic Portfolios in Higher Education - Marsha Leeman-Conley

http://www.softcom.net/users/conley/papers/TechEd99.html#whatis Electronic Portfolios: Students, Teachers, and Life

Long Learners Annette Lamb

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic82.htm

Electronic Portfolios: Emerging Practices in Student, Faculty, and Institutional Learning - AAHE- 2001 Barbara L. Cambridge, volume editor

Alverno’s Diagnostic Digital Portfolio http://ddp.alverno.edu