Our Distance Learning programme is designed to train already competent consultants in our Organisation model. Weller (2005), quoting a recent JISC report, states that an e-portfolio is “‘a collection (or archive) of reflective writing and associated evidence, which documents learning and which a learner may draw upon to present her/his learning and achievements. Incorporating an e-portfolio dimension on this programme would, in my view, improve the learning experience during the programme, and give learners valuable material for incorporating the model into their practice. It would also give my colleagues much greate visibility of how learners are engaging with the material.
From my colleagues’ point of view, several factors about an e-portfolio system will matter:
• Ease of use
• Integration with other technological packages, such as Powerpoint, Word and Blogging
• Enhancing the group dimension
• Assessing the performance of the learners
• Technical support
• Costs
Learners, in addition, are likely to value features that allow them to present their finished material professionally.
I have chosen Google Apps and Open Source r/Smart to consider as options for an e-portfolio platform.
Easy of Use/Accessibility
Google is likely to be a system that is very familiar to my audience. However, the e-portfolio functions will be supplied by using various Google Apps Tools, ie. Documents, Reader, Groups and Blogging, which may make the system feel cumbersome to users
Opensource has an integrated portfolio of tools and templates which we can customise. Users are able to select from a number of preset options to customise the look and feel of their portfolio, and can set up their own templates for collecting artifacts.
Interoperability
Both systems offer equivalent interoperability with popular software packages.
Group
Google Apps have a group forum for discussions and sharing of documents and the Documents Application can be used by a group to produce documents collaboratively. The Blog is also a forum in which the group can communicate and collaborate. Opensource has much less functionality in this arena, with neither a groups forum or a blog facility. However, documents can be shared amongst a group.
Assessment
Opensource has a function which enables tutors to prompts to mark progress. There is a template which enables tutors to monitor the progress being made by learners to their learning goals. There is also a review tool for the tutor's evaluation of the e-portfolio. No such features are available on Google.
Technical Support
Google Apps offers technical support through Help Functions, FAQs and user forums. Open Sources offers full technical support.
Costs
Google Apps is available for use at no/minimal charge, whereas Opensource Portfolio r/Smart is provided via a certified license on an annual subscription.
Presentation
Google Apps does not offer any facility to create presentations. Open Source, on the other hand, has choices of templates that learners can use to create professional presentations.
If I were purely taking an educational point of view, I would recommend Open Source r/smart with its Assessment, Technical Support and Presentational features being most attractive. However the familiarity of the Google system, along with the lesser cost and the group features is likely to make Google Apps an easier first step for my colleagues to take. On balance, although this might offer fewer educational benefits in the short term, encouraging colleagues to take a step into using e-portfolios will familiarise them with this technology. Persuading them to upgrade to a better system will be easier once that first step is taken.
Ref:
Weller, M (2005), ePortfolios report
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