LONG TIME NO SEE... reflective ePortfolios
Today I went to a day seminar about ePortfolios - the use of electronic portfolios in Higher Education.
The main presentation was on the experience of US institutions. They have a large variety of experiences, mainly in colleges. Some very successful in achieving reflection. As summarised by a member of the audience, they seem to represent different voices - voices of students/individuals, voices of institutions/organisations, and voices of communities. Some allow students to really costumise the ePortfolios and express their identities better than others. Others are very much determined by the organisation they belong to. Some are constructed more as individual reflective tools, helping in the process of self-discovery and development; while others are more organised towards a professional presentation tool, which can be shown to prospective employers and help improving students' chances of getting a job.
A very good example was one of a college in New York with a large number of immigrant students. The ePortfolios provide students with an opportunity to reflect upon their cultural roots, presenting and discussing them within the context of the northern american culture. This has been a helpful experience and has had an effect on students' academic achievements.
