ACE | Toolkit - ePortfolios

Guide to Assessing International Learning

•	Preparing for Assessment
•	Overview of the SPIF/ePortfolio Approach
•	Implementing the SPIF/ePortfolio Approach
•	Using the Tools
•	Using the Results
•	Other Assessment Resources
•	Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned in the ACE/FIPSE project:

Building in ePortfolios:
One project institution built the portfolio exercise into existing class syllabi. The ePortfolio was required of all students in the class, and only some of the students agreed to have their ePortfolio used as part of the ACE/FIPSE project. By making this exercise part of the routine coursework, both participants and non-participants in the study benefited from the educational experience of creating the portfolio, and reduced the burdens on those who agreed to participate.

Assignment Alignment:
One project institution identified a sample of students taking the same capstone course. After an initial round of assessment that did not yield a close alignment between the submitted artifacts and the desired learning outcomes, students were provided with assignment prompts in their capstone course. The next round of portfolio collection and assessment yielded more relevant artifacts and by consequence better ratings for the portfolios. This assessment team referred to this congruence as "assignment alignment." The team cautions that such assignment alignment is best achieved through an organic process whereby faculty are inspired to create assignment prompts rather than through an external mandate. Examples of assignment prompts are available here [future link].

ePortfolios are an effective assessment tool when the goal is to assess multiple complex learning outcomes with a single tool. The ePortfolio is a flexible, direct, and qualitative tool that provides a way to feature multiple examples of student work, and can be evaluated by trained raters using a detailed rubric. It allows the assessment team to review student work and to look at student development over time.

Software and Templates

There are many different options available in choosing ePortfolio software for an assessment initiative. The following list provides an overview of software options and links to more information. The choice of ePortfolio software depends heavily on institutional needs, budget concerns, and the current software being used on campus.

(Source: Darren Cambridge "Portfolio Technology" presentation, updated September 2007)

For more information on selecting ePortfolio software, see the Portfolio Technology powerpoint presentation by Darren Cambridge (In order to access the links listed in the presentation, please view as a slideshow).

Portfolio Development and Usage

Each of the institutions in the ACE/FIPSE project developed its own templates for student portfolios—some drawing upon open-source software available to the academic community, others building upon existing data-base software on campus, and yet others asking technicians to upload students artifacts. In a few cases, the institutions used paper or CD-based portfolios as an interim stage because they were in the process of reviewing their ePortfolio software and requirements. Below are links to sample ePortfolio templates from the project institutions:

Student Use

It is important to include detailed student instructions before asking students to submit ePortfolios. The instructions can include:

The flexibility of the ePortfolio allows students to include a wide variety of artifacts to be evaluated. These artifacts include:

Please direct questions about this page to:
international@ace.nche.edu
This page last updated on: 09/03/2008

Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios)

Software and Templates

Portfolio Development and Usage

Student Use