Elizabeth Craker

e-portfolio strategy

I recently attended Nick Rate’s CORE Breakfast, where he spoke on A Framework for Developing ePortfolios.

Nick is an e-portfolio guru and regular speaker and presenter at conferences. He has a large number who follow his own blog, eLearning Infusion. He won an eFellowship award in 2008 where he devoted his time to working on Maximising the formative benefits of ePortfolios.

I have written a report on Nick’s Breakfast presentation on the CORE web site, but thought that this list of ten points would be a really good Facilitator tips post here. So, here’s Nick’s “10 steps of attack” that he recommends working through to implement an effective process for developing e-portfolios:

The ten steps…

1. Research to understand the pedagogy behind the approach:

Read the literature, talk to the experts, look at a range of examples, and discuss widely with practitioners who use them.

2. Define your purpose for using e-portfolios:

Think about who the audience will be, what are the benefits, and how do these align with the broader vision and beliefs of the school?

3. Consult and seek input from all stakeholders:

Include students, teachers, school leadership, curriculum leaders and HODs, parents, the BOT, and related providers. In this way you will shape the beliefs of your school community in a way that best suits the needs of your students.

4. Develop a framework:

This will form an ongoing process for e-portfolio construction, reinforce the purpose and beliefs and ensure that the approach is aligned to a pedagogical approach. This will also be the step where the relationship to formal processes such as reporting, appraisals, etc are also considered.

5. Define the criteria:

Clarify the capability your school requires in the e-portfolio tool.

6. Choose the tool:

There are many options available so choosing the best option for your needs will be important.

7. Educate all those involved in the process:

Ensure students, parents, teachers and mentors all understand the pedagogy, how to give effective feedback, set goals, reflect and self-assess, as well as the necessary technical know-hows.

8. Implement:

Get your e-portfolios up-and-running and integrated effectively into the teaching and learning programmes.

9. Update:

Ensure consideration is given to digital literacy, internet use policies, and user-agreements. This also includes establishing reporting and assessment guidelines and procedures together with appraisal and teacher registration processes.

10. Review:

Assess what you have done, the progress you have made, the key lessons learnt, and the next-steps in the process. Note: this is not the last thing you do, but is woven throughout all phases of development.

Download a copy of this 10 step guide from the CORE Breakfasts downloads page

Other e-portfolio material and resources by Nick Rate

Nick’s excellent list of e-portfolio resources for beginners.
Nick’s A Framework for Developing ePortfolios slide presentation is available on the Breakfast downloads page
“Why e-portfolios?”—another presentation by Nick Rate

For book-lovers, it doesn’t need a Book Month to inspire interest in anything to do with books! E-books notwithstanding, even the smell of a book is inspirational!

But Book Month is an opportunity to celebrate books. Actually, it’s really a month-long series of celebrations of New Zealand authors, illustrators and books centred in Wellington. It’s also an opportunity to inspire others—that includes the kids in the classroom.

Here’s just a few things you can do.

1. Become a book month activist and make it an event

Have a look at the NZ Book Month web site. It’s full of good stuff. Get the class (and staff) involved:

Get them to become a Book Month Activist.
Design a Book Month event with your class. You can even post a Book Month event on the NZ Book Month web site! (You must be NZ Book Month Activist to do this.)

2. Hear Joy Cowley’s Janet Frame Memorial Lecture

Joy Cowley, a pre-eminent New Zealand author of children’s books, will deliver the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, at 6pm on the Marae at Te Papa. This event effectively launches the Book Month.

This event is open to the public and will appeal to teachers, librarians, and book-lovers everywhere – especially those grown-up children who were first introduced to books through Joy Cowley’s writing. And, what about encouraging the class to go along!

Radio NZ National will be recording the event (you can usually download such recordings from their web site), and Joy will be interviewed on TV One’s Good Morning show on Wednesday 2nd March.

3. Book an author to talk to your class—online—through BookTalks

CORE Education’s BookTalks programme is a great way for your students to talk directly with New Zealand writers and illustrators. And it’s easy and fun. All you need to do is register online at: www.booktalks.org to share a Skype conversation that your whole class can enjoy.

The BookTalks site has heaps of information on over 40 New Zealand authors and illustrators. It also features monthly video book reviews by the lively Bob Docherty of Bob’s Books Blog fame.

It’s well worth registering. You’ll want to use it often.

So, that’s just a few ideas. You may have some more. We’d love to hear them. And make the most of the opportunity to connect with an author during NZ Book Month.

CORE Blog