e-portfolios

“**Rather than limit people to the e-portfolio model, why not develop a model providing a personal Web space for everyone, for their lifetimes and beyond?”** Cohn & Hibbits (Educause Review, October 2004) accessed: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dd76m5s2_39fsmjdk 8/10/08

In this session, Nikki and Estelle will present how web-based e-portfolios arose and were implemented in the Senior School at Seabrook. Our challenge was to explore how to use e-portfolios to support student learning. The notion that everything needs to be in a digital format is one that we’re investigating. At this point in time, we have more intention in adapting the use of e-portfolios as opposed to discontinuing traditional portfolios.

Having explored a range of options, we have trialed the use of private wikispaces together with a variety of web 2.0 technologies including glogster, podcasting, photography, video, blogs. Within this process, our primary intention was to find the balance between using technology for technology’s sake and authentic learning. We used the Seabrook practice of personalized learning and differentiated curriculum to anchor our creative urges. Given that the e-portfolios are on the web there was a side-focus of learning how to be safe on the internet within a supervised environment. We’re really interested in feedback around these conversations to help us find our way forward.