Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Finally, Greenberg affirms that the electronic portfolio is not a course manage-
ment system such as Blackboard or WebCT. To add to this, the electronic
portfolio allows a student to manage his or her work throughout an academic
and a professional career. The use of the electronic portfolio has greater
potential for adding value to someone's professional life after he or she
graduate more so than as students. The grass roots of how to create an
electronic portfolio is fostered within a learning environment. Or, the skills are
gained through self learning. The electronic portfolio provides opportunity for
both. The electronic portfolio is a tool for lifelong learning and will be part of
learning and growing throughout college and professional life. Having to gather
materials and create Web pages provides the author of the electronic portfolio
a learning experience that will carry over into his or her professional skill set.
As network computers and the Internet become standards in every aspect of
our lives, the skills and abilities needed to present creative and intellectual
capital will become paramount to one's success in a technological marketplace.
Greenberg (2004) defines three types of electronic portfolios. The definitions
of the three are based on the assumed goals of the author. He believes this
arrangement can be helpful in developing content management structure in a
simplified manner. The structure of each is based on when the work is organized
relative to when the work is created. Greenberg believes these results in three
types of e-portfolios (p. 29):
1.
The
showcase e-portfolio:
organization occurs after the work has been
created.
2.
The
structured e-portfolio:
a predefined organization exists for work
that is yet to be created.
3.
The
learning e-portfolio:
organization of the work evolves as the work
is created.
I find that the three types of portfolios that Greenberg defines are effective in
establishing types of portfolios based on content. This point can be argued by
saying that a more appropriate structure would focus the electronic portfolio
specifically to the audience established by the author. The electronic portfolio
must be user and audience centered. I think Greenberg's e-portfolio types need
to be looked at as fitting into an author-based definition of electronic portfolio
types. Looking at author types, we look at a broader approach to classifying
