The Benefits of E-Portfolios for Students and Faculty in Their Own Words

Abstract

Ross Miller, senior director of assessment for learning, Association of American Colleges and Universities Wende Morgaine, VALUE initiative manager, Association of American Colleges and Universities A well-executed e-portfolio program is incredible tool for higher education. They provide institutions with authentic assessments of student learning and promote the deeper learning that we want for our students. I don't understand why more institutions aren't using them. Candyce Reynolds, associate professor, Post-Secondary, Adult, and Continuing Education, School of Education, Portland State University From matriculation through graduation, the goals for expected student learning are wide-ranging and ambitious. After reviewing mission statements from multiple institutions, examining various accreditation guidelines, and interviewing business and community leaders, AACU 18, 21 ) call metacognition an internal conversation in which students monitor their own understanding and state that teachers should explicitly emphasize metacognition because it enhance student achievement and develop in students the ability to learn independently. E-portfolios provide rich opportunities for metacognition through periodic (and often required) reflections which may help students develop array of outcomes and skills. Reflection on work saved in e-portfolios can * build learners' personal and academic identities as they complete complex projects and reflect on their capabilities and progress, * facilitate the integration of learning as students connect learning across courses and time, * be focused on developing self-assessment abilities in which students judge the quality of work using the same criteria experts use, * help students plan their own academic pathways as they come to understand what they know and are able to do and what they still need to learn. The reflections of students and faculty below mention these and other outcomes. …