Leveraging ePortfolios to Drive Learning Success with Virginia ......Leveraging ePortfolios to Drive Learning Success with Virginia Tech Presenters: Amanda MacDonald, Teaching & Learning

Leveraging ePortfolios to Drive Learning Success with Virginia Tech

Presenters:

Amanda MacDonald, Teaching & Learning Engagement Librarian, Teaching & Learning Engagement, University Libraries, Virginia Tech

Kayla B. McNabb, Interim Head of Instructional Content & Design, University Libraries, Virginia Tech

Ashley Hyman, Director of Implementations, Portfolium Inc.

In this session, you will learn:

● Best practices and lessons learned for researching, selecting, and implementing an ePortfolio tool that meets unique requirements

● Virginia Tech’s ongoing process that was employed for designing and promoting the new ePortfolio program

● Success stories from initial launch, including program and student examples● Opportunities that were presented for improving the program moving forward

to the entire campus

https://portfolium.com/educators

Poll #1:

Institutional Context

● Established portfolio program at Virginia Tech● Transitioned to a new LMS (Canvas) which involved decommissioning the

long-established ePortfolio platform in Sakai● Institutional change (new President, new Provost, new Gen Ed, new PIBB

budget model, new vision for the University - Beyond Boundaries)



Establishing Your Approach for System Selection

● Identifying your partners (stakeholder group)● Conducting an initial needs assessment● Establish a matrix for evaluating and selecting the system● Addressing competing priorities● Research behind pedagogy versus technology ● Developing an approach that would blend technology and

pedagogy into a cohesive program and system support


Researching A System ● Priorities that were identified in the matrix

○ Needs to live with the student after graduation○ Flexibility for VT to have access to backend tools○ Canvas integration and possibly badging capabilities○ Possibilities for integration with eFARS○ Repository characteristics for documenting and archiving student journeys○ A partnership versus a vendor relationship

● Talk about who was involved in demos

○ Campus stakeholders○ Library Stakeholders


Selecting A System● Pros and cons of Portfolium versus other systems (Ah-ha! moment)

○ Students keeping access after graduation○ Could use multiple platforms and then use Portfolium as a hub○ Offered an assessment system for those who wanted it○ The API/LTI tool for Canvas○ Portfolium support for migrating prior users○ Networking component (tagging collaborators)○ Cost versus other systems

● Unanimous decision to select Portfolium


Juel DowningBS Consumer StudiesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected Project: Vloggedin Challenge Award Recipient

“My marketing class had a Vloggedin Competition in which our task was to create a personal brand. In the video I talk about about how I discovered what I wanted to do professionally and my journey to that discovery. I also spoke about my internship with the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival and how that experience shaped my decision.”



Our Mission: To Connect Learning with OpportunityPortfolium helps institutions deliver value by bridging the skills awareness gap


https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancraig/2017/03/17/the-skills-gap-is-actually-an-awareness-gap-and-its-easier-to-fix/#19361b923ff4

ePortfolios That Students Use Assessment Software Educators Love

Unrivaled student adoption Effortless faculty & admin adoption

● Social, dynamic, mobile, and engaging● No fees for students (ever)● Unlimited storage● Lifelong ability to add and edit● Searchable by employers

● Intuitive interface● Minimal training required for faculty● LMS integration saves time & redundant effort● Easy reporting for admins + students love it!

Automated rollout Fast, pain-free activation

● Innovative student “pre-boarding” process● No system admin / maintenance required

● Lean, streamlined activation; minimal IT support● Works in one department or campus-wide

Adoption success and ease of use come first


Common legacy platform challenges:

Legacy ePortfolios Legacy Assessment Software

Poor student adoption Poor institutional adoption

Difficult to roll-out Difficult to implement

The right ideas, the wrong execution


Promise -

Deliver quality curriculum w/ tangible learning outcomes

AssessmentSoftware

Promise -

Enable personal growth & career opportunity

ePortfolios


Poll #2: Last time your institution purchased new technology, how long did it take to implement and learn?

Poll #2:

Portfolium Lean Activation Overview - ePortfolios

Activation Step Institutional Time Investment (Hours)

Kick-off call 1

Import users 1

Integrations 2

Pre-populate skills or assignments 0.5

Email whitelist 0.5

Faculty / admin training 1

Go-live 0

Total: 6 hours (estimated)

Portfolium Lean Activation Overview - ePortfolios

Activation Step Institutional Time Investment (Hours)

Kick-off call 1

Import users 1

Integrations 2

Pre-populate skills or assignments 0.5

Email whitelist 0.5

Faculty / admin training 1

Go-live 0

Total: 6 hours (estimated)


Pilot Design ● Our initial pilot included one college● As excitement grew, many colleges came on board● Career & Professional Development● Student Affairs


On Campus Activation● Communicating with campus● Transitioning from previous home department

○ Technical○ Programmatic

● Pilot Support○ Individualized○ Multi-pronged approach

● Diverse training options (NLI, CampFYE, Department-level)○ Faculty/Instructor Training○ Graduate School



Managing Expectations● Scholar (Sakai) vs. Canvas ● Clarity of roles and responsibilities● Case study: Graduate School

Managing Scope Creep (or not)● Size of pilot● Varying stages of implementation● Requests beyond initial goals (example: badging)● Case study: Career & Professional Development versus faculty adopters


● Deciding when Portfolium should be used● Establishing boundaries for support offered● Case study: Honors College

Managing Needs


Success stories from the initial launch ● Usability Testing● Student Showcase Event● For-Credit Offerings


Usability Testing● Usability Testing

○ 35 students○ 2 Usability Test Prompts○ Approximately 20 minutes ○ Preliminary Thoughts

■ Positive response to interface■ Easy to use■ Interested in employers profiles■ Many suggestions


Emily PaetzMA Higher Education and Student AffairsVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected Project: Practicum with Thrive Living Learning Community

“I participated in a practicum with the Thrive Living Learning Community at Virginia Tech. I participated in leadership meetings, and worked on projects such as an incoming student survey, a class resource list, as well as planning and coordinating the end of the year dinner. I learned a lot about how to adjust and communicate in an office that is spread across multiple areas, explored a new area of student affairs, and grew my knowledge of CliftonStrengths and learning initiatives. I was able to gain an understanding of supervision and my preferences for supervision styles.”


Student Showcase Event● Portfolio Showcase - over 100 in attendance

○ 23 Presenters selected■ 15 Undergraduate Students■ 8 Graduate Students

○ Industry partners to serve as judges○ A tweet from the Showcase led to us being contacted by OCLC for a group consultation

with us granting permission for them to write about how libraries can select and house successful eP programs


Wael SaabPh.D. Mechanical EngineeringVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected Project: Three Degrees of Freedom Measuring Machine

“Designed, analysed, simulated, prototyped and experimentally validated a 3 degree of freedom measuring machine for industrial inspection applications.”


For-credit course offerings● Invited to Create For-Credit Courses for Graduate School

○ Introduction to Portfolio Practices○ Portfolio Practices for documenting and reflecting on your graduate school journey○ Portfolio Practices for marketing your research; a creation and action-oriented course


Range of Participants● Varied Training

○ Instructor-Focused○ In-Class Training○ Graduate Student Sessions

● Pilot Participant Examples○ Career & Professional Development relationship (Clemson trip, future plans)○ SERVE Living Learning Community (general education - Pathways minor)


Ava SchwarzEnvironmental HorticultureVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected Project: US Botanic Garden Horticulture Intern

“As an intern, I split my time between the horticulture and public programs departments. When working with the horticulture department, I assisted in the upkeep of the garden's collection, which includes desert, tropical, mediterranean, and native plants found in the conservatory, National Garden, and 25 greenhouses that make up the production facility...I created and implemented campaigns aimed at increasing tourist traffic to the garden and ran their Facebook and Instagram accounts throughout my internship.”


Upcoming Plans for a Full Campus Rollout:● Spring 2018

○ Interest from 11 new partners○ Inclusion in the university’s Student Experiential Learning Conference instead of having an

individual showcase■ This event corresponds with family week, so allows for not only wide scale

participation but also exposure ■ This event is also an indication of how well received Portfolium and ePs in general are

on this campus


Embedding ePortfolio Practice into Programs● Growth by Embedding Programmatically

○ Honors Portfolio Practices (2 Semesters)■ By the end of second semester, all students should have a developed eP to showcase

in the Student Experiential Learning Conference, if they choose to participate ■ While this specific course will only be held during the 2017-18 academic year, our hope

is that the content developed for this course will serve as the basis for future ePortfolios instruction across the university, whether that is through a formal course, a series of intensive workshops, or a collaboration with individual faculty to help them embed ePortfolio into their own practices


Opportunities for Further Expansion/Improvement:● Undergraduate Research Excellence & Advanced Research Skills Programs

■ UREP is a university-wide program that provides undergraduate students for the first time with the opportunity to receive recognition via a cord at graduation

■ Students in this program can receive credit towards this program by documenting their engagement via undergraduate research in an eP

■ Additionally, ARS is a workshop series that supports UREP. Throughout the series students will document their journey through the series in an eP to receive credit in UREP


Sogand MohammadhasanzadehPh.D. Civil EngineeringVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected Project: Situation Awareness Using Eye Tracking: Phase I

“This study — for the first time — applies well-established theories in the cognitive science literature to the creation of a novel hazard identification strategy for proactive accident prevention in the construction industry.”


Engagement Journey1. EXPLORE → 2. DISCOVER → 3. SHOWCASE


Engagement Metrics*

# Notes:

Active 5,749 Students active in their account

Projects 3,129 Projects uploaded to ePortfolios

Skills 41,403 Skills articulated in ePortfolios

Top Majors Represented

#1) General Engineering #2) Business Information Technology #3) Mechanical Engineering

The VT Library team has worked on a targeted pilot to provide students access to Portfolium. Engagement and usage has been impressive thus far.

*As of 1/23/2018


ExploreWhat’s Out There?


Exploration Metrics*VT students took full advantage of the opportunity to explore knowledge across domains and areas of

study. Portfolium’s social networking features served as a catalyst for peer exploration, helping students understand more about the surrounding world.

*As of 1/23/2018

# Notes:

Peer ConnectionsMade 4,186 Students connecting with other

students to share applied learning

Work Samples Liked 278 Students examining and liking each

others work

Project & Profile Views 132,142 An overall indicator of

exploration activity


DiscoverWhat are my skills and

interests?

Discovery Metrics*VT students used the Portfolio creation process to reflect upon the workforce skills acquired from their

academic experience. With a deeper view into their own strengths, they uncovered matching job descriptions and industries.

*As of 1/22/2018

# Notes:

Skills Articulated 41,403 Students prompted to articulate skills as they add projects to their portfolios

Unique Company Follows 541 Students leverage a suggestion

engine to explore job possibilities

Top Industries Explored

#1) Internet #2) Aerospace & Defense #3) Consumer Electronics


Showcase Metrics*In a cycle that began with exploration and discovery, VT students used Portfolium to showcase their

skills. The journey continues after graduation as students become lifelong learners and professionals.

*As of 1/22/2018

# Notes:

Portfolios Shared with Employers 2,851 Students “follow” companies to send

a signal to recruiters

Resumes Uploaded 1,300 Students link their resume to their profile building a stronger presence

Student Job Applications 130 Total number of job & internship

applications submitted on Portfolium



Questions?To learn more, visit:

https://portfolium.com/educatorsOr contact:

[email protected]@vt.edu


Documents

Leveraging ePortfolios to Drive Learning Success with Virginia ......Leveraging ePortfolios to Drive Learning Success with Virginia Tech Presenters: Amanda MacDonald, Teaching & Learning