Have you ever felt the need for a tool that teaches your students to set goals for learning, engage in periodic self-reflection and assume responsibility for their own learning? Have you ever expressed a desire for a device that evaluates the effectiveness of learning methods and strategies, provides easy access to student performance and sets benchmarks for student success?
Electronic portfolios provide a direct solution to your development, management and assessment needs in the classroom.
What is an electronic portfolio?
An electronic portfolio showcases selective collections of student work on the Internet in order to provide documentation on students? abilities and illustrate students? reflections on learning and growth.
Faculty members can use electronic portfolios to provide feedback to students, as well as evaluate their success. Administrators and accreditation agencies can evaluate student performance in comparison to benchmark standards, such as accreditation requirements. They can also ?get the big picture,? by comparing student work to other students, programs, colleges and institutions.
Electronic portfolios surpass the capabilities of traditional paper portfolios in that they allow the student to incorporate varied media into their showcase, such as graphics, video, and sound, illustrating their accomplishments in unique and memorable ways. Work can be added to the portfolio as a student progresses through his or her education, leaving the student with a comprehensive compilation of their success upon graduation. Student achievements are no longer filed away, but readily available in one place for prospective employers to review.
How is Towson University incorporating electronic portfolios into the classroom?
In March 2003, the Information Technology Committee (ITC) recognized the need for consistency in approach, design and support for university projects related to electronic portfolios. Over the past year, a sub-committee conducted research to clarify the terminology, criteria and appropriate resources necessary to implement a standardized electronic portfolio system on campus.
College LiveText edu solutions was endorsed as the electronic portfolio provider of choice by the ITC November 2003. LiveText has assisted hundreds of colleges and universities across the country with their suite of Web-based tools. Their teacher- and student-friendly software will allow Towson to develop, manage and assess program and student achievements in a purposeful and innovative way.
The advantages of LiveText are numerous:
