ERDEE: About E-portfolios

About E-Portfolios

Broadly speaking, an e-portfolio is a digital collection of work, personal information, and reflection. It can be used, managed and presented in a number of different ways, and for different audiences. The way an e-portfolio is created depends on the software package being used, but is likely to be a four or five stage process, with learners cycling through the stages any number of times.

Portfolios provide a framework within which an individual can map their own learning. Helen Barrett, one of the pioneers in this area, has assembled some of the metaphors commonly used to describe portfolios. These include: mirror, map, sonnet, story, journey, laboratory, test, campfire, butler, dashboard and kaleidoscope. Barrett cites Garry Allan, who wrote to her saying: "Giving students the freedom to choose their own metaphors for this 'thing' called an e-portfolio results in interesting and highly personal constructs, ranging from e-portfolio as a 'jungle', through to an e-portfolio as a 'kitchen' and beyond!" The variety and complexity of the kinds of metaphors different people use to describe eportfolios mirrors (sorry!) the variety and complexity of the concept itself."

Many programmes and courses in Education at Edinburgh already make use of some form of portfolio and/or reflective writing process. The advantages of electronic portfolios over paper-based portfolios include:

convenience: an e-portfolio can be viewed, maintained and updated from any web-enabled computer.

flexibility: the same body of files and information can be easily selected from and organised in many different ways.

growth: an e-portfolio can contain work or reflections from just one course, or from several, or from a whole programme, and can be added to, edited and updated continuously over a period of months or years.

sharing: selected information can be shared with and commented on by any number of individuals or groups, regardless of their location, and without the need to make multiple copies.

choice and accessibility : individuals have choices about the kinds of data they include in their e-portfolio, which can include images, sound files, text, powerpoint presentations, etc. This enables students to show evidence of their learning in ways which make most sense to them, and provides extra flexibility for users with disabilities.

for more information, contact:

Jen Ross, E-portfolio Co-ordinator
Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh
Charteris Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ
0131 651 6133, info@erdee.org.uk



Home Latest News About ERDEE About E-portfolios PDP (Personal Development Planning) Links	About E-Portfolios Broadly speaking, an e-portfolio is a digital collection of work, personal information, and reflection. It can be used, managed and presented in a number of different ways, and for different audiences. The way an e-portfolio is created depends on the software package being used, but is likely to be a four or five stage process, with learners cycling through the stages any number of times. Portfolios provide a framework within which an individual can map their own learning. Helen Barrett, one of the pioneers in this area, has assembled some of the metaphors commonly used to describe portfolios. These include: mirror, map, sonnet, story, journey, laboratory, test, campfire, butler, dashboard and kaleidoscope. Barrett cites Garry Allan, who wrote to her saying: "Giving students the freedom to choose their own metaphors for this 'thing' called an e-portfolio results in interesting and highly personal constructs, ranging from e-portfolio as a 'jungle', through to an e-portfolio as a 'kitchen' and beyond!" The variety and complexity of the kinds of metaphors different people use to describe eportfolios mirrors (sorry!) the variety and complexity of the concept itself." Many programmes and courses in Education at Edinburgh already make use of some form of portfolio and/or reflective writing process. The advantages of electronic portfolios over paper-based portfolios include: convenience: an e-portfolio can be viewed, maintained and updated from any web-enabled computer. flexibility: the same body of files and information can be easily selected from and organised in many different ways. growth: an e-portfolio can contain work or reflections from just one course, or from several, or from a whole programme, and can be added to, edited and updated continuously over a period of months or years. sharing: selected information can be shared with and commented on by any number of individuals or groups, regardless of their location, and without the need to make multiple copies. choice and accessibility : individuals have choices about the kinds of data they include in their e-portfolio, which can include images, sound files, text, powerpoint presentations, etc. This enables students to show evidence of their learning in ways which make most sense to them, and provides extra flexibility for users with disabilities.
updated 9 June 2005	for more information, contact: Jen Ross, E-portfolio Co-ordinator Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh Charteris Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ 0131 651 6133, info@erdee.org.uk