1.A New Path to Online Learning: ePortfolios at BronxCommunity College
Howard Wach
Office of Instructional Technology
howard.wach@bcc.cuny.edu
JordiGetman-Eraso
Honors Program
Jordi.getman@bcc.cuny.edu
15th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning
October 30, 2009

2.

What Can ePortfolios Bring to Online Learning for Students?

For students, an online context for:
Learning:
Interdisciplinarity, making connections across curricula
Self-reflection, meta-cognition
Ownership:
Expressions of identity, aspiration, and achievement
Understanding ones online audience
Community 2.0:
Comments, tagging, categories
Overcoming the commuter campus divide: Student clubs, project work, online
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What Can ePortfolios Bring to Online Teaching for Faculty?
For faculty, an online context for:
Interdisciplinarity, making connections through faculty development activities
Examination of instructional objectives and goals through course design
Technology-based innovations: podcasts, embedded media, networked communication
8. 9. 10. 11. And for institutions
ePortfolios can provide the architecture of assessment:
An online archive of student work to be evaluated across time
An organizational setting for standards, rubrics, articulated objectives for
Externally accredited programs
Internally measured programs
Institution-wide curricula (General Education)
12. 13. 14. 15. Where Did We Begin?The Pilot Program, Fall 2008
Participation in the LaGuardia ePortfolio Seminar, 2007-2008
Determining a curricular strategy:
Honors Program (cross-disciplinary, Gen Ed)
Education Department (assessment)
Digital Arts (portfolio-based, strong technology skills)
Selecting a Platform. Our Criteria:
Ease of use
Education focus
Per student cost
Support costs
Our choice: Digication
16. Where Did We Begin?The Pilot Program, Fall 2008

Selecting Faculty. Our criteria:

Technology friendly
Course integration
1 year commitment
Release time

Support Structure. Our criteria:

Cost effectiveness
Software compatibility
Space efficiency ePortfolio labs
ePortfolio tutors
17. Where Did We Begin?The Pilot Program, Fall 2008
IT integration. Our needs:
Programming:
Login procedure
Student database
BCC Website landing page
IT help desk coordination
Funding. Our reality:
Slow track: Student technology fee
Fast track: Title V grant
18. How Did We Start?January 2009

Faculty Development

Introductory meeting late Fall 2008

ePortfolio account activation

19. Course development guidelinesJanuary 2009 coordination meeting

Hands on software training

20. Learning objectives and ePortfolio integration 21. Assessment objectives General Education, program specific accreditation 22. Course Scheduling CoordinationOffice of the Registrar
Honors courses and the cancellation challenge
23. How Did We Start?February 2009 Semester Begins
Activating Student Accounts
IT Roster transfer activation
ePortfolio Administrator control
Tweaking technological/registration shortfalls
Challenge of late registration
Going live! February 1, 2009
24. How Did We Start?February 2009 Semester Begins
Student Training
1 hour introductory sessions
Scheduling with faculty
Lab scheduling coordinated with IT
Sessions led by Howard and/or Jordi
ePortfolio tutors available for in class sessions
Course/technology specific training
ePortfolio Lab
Finding a space!
Maximize tutor availability/minimize frustration
25. What Did We See? Faculty and Student Experiences
Student Variations:
The Transferring Student (Clara Fernandez)
The Job-seeking Student (Audrey Rodriguez)
The Self-Reflective Student (Jerry Naeem)
Faculty Variations:
Course management (Graphic Design)
Portfolio assignments (History Outside the Textbook), and resources (eHerodotus)
Scholarship/Professional Identity
Assessment
26. Semesters EndMay 2009 Reaping the Benefits
ePortfolio Student Showcase
Faculty, student and administration participation
Best ePortfolio competition/prizes
Student Focus Groups
Themes: competition, aspiration, academic focus (the Honors effect?)
Lesson Learned Remain student focused
Survey said (n=51)
Platform use:78% very easy or fairly easy
Personal value themes: self-awareness, audience.
Academic use: 51% said ePortfolio was often integrated; 43% said it helped me learn.
27. Future ePortfolio ObjectivesWhere to Next?

Expand Pilot Program

Honors Program Incorporate all program faculty
Education Department NCATE Standards
Art Department Assessment
New ASAP Program, General Education
Fast v. Slow expansion benefits and drawbacks

Expand Support Structure

ePortfolio tutors expanded schedule
Online support website, online tools
Close collaboration with Digication
28. Lessons Learned
The importance of integration: relationship between the syllabus and the ePortfolio
Sustaining continuity for students and faculty
Assessment puzzles: necessity vs. simplicity
The 2.0 challenge
And finally, keep the student at the center: remember the power of aspiration