Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
professional and student work, in a series of thumbnail pictures which link to
a larger view.
Review and Conclusion
This chapter provided a wide range of cases, interviews and ideas for you to
explore within your own Web portfolio contexts. Examining specific cases in
a range of disciplines will be valuable in the development of an e-portfolio
initiative and Web portfolio program within your own organization. Whether
campus wide, within your own department, or for purely individual reasons,
integrating a program requires you to perform research on existing activities,
develop a sound proposal, sell the superiors on the benefits, develop the
technology relationships needed, create the coursework and support training
for faculty, and launch the program. After launching the program, be prepared
to be involved in action research that helps build on the effectiveness and
illustrates that the e portfolio initiative is results driven-and you have the data
to back the claim.
The Web portfolio cases and interviews provided in this chapter give you as a
Web portfolio author a chance to read about some problems and challenges
faced by others. This section also provided a list of criteria that may serve as
a potential basis for developing Web portfolio components that adhere to a
loosely prescribed, universal standard. Unobtrusive observation of Web sites
was performed and data was funneled into the criteria to display matching
themes and to illustrate how approaches to Web portfolios differ on different
levels within the same discipline. In the study of a successful program, the Penn
State University e-portfolio initiative and Web portfolio program provides an
effective model that has strong program components in autonomous technology
direction, technical support, curriculum standardization of Web portfolio usage
outside of traditional portfolio disciplines, and faculty involvement. The Penn
State E-Education Institute has quantitatively shown that mandatory Web
portfolio assignments in coursework yields more student usage of Web space
for academic and professional purposes. This chapter also holds some basis for
further research in Web portfolio rubrics and e portfolio program initiatives on
all levels of education.
