Activity Plan: E-portfolio technologies

This paper provides a description and project plan for the E-portfolio technologies activity within the Technical Standards for Digital Education project.

This document is a work in progress: it will be updated in collaboration with the focus group for this activity.

Table of Contents

• 1.Activity summary
• 2.Expected outcomes
• 3.Deliverables and timeframes
• 4.Methodology
• 5.Related standards activities
• 6.Related projects
• 7.Communication and dissemination plan
• 8.Further information

© Copyright 2009 University of Southern Queensland

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1.Activity summary

There has been a growing interest over a number of years in the use of electronic portfolios or e-portfolios for supporting learners. An e-portfolio can be used for a variety of purposes, depending on context and need. As such, there are varying definitions of the term e-portfolio. Example uses can include reflection on learning outcomes, support during learner transition points (eg. Primary to Secondary School or beyond), assessment, and career planning.

The use of e-portfolios have the potential to directly support the move to a more learner-centered education system in Australia by gathering information about a learner’s progress. However, there are a number of technical barriers to the development and use of e-portfolios for learners that need to be addressed to maximise the benefits to learners.

This activity will explore current and planned e-portfolio usage and identify and document technical requirements for better support for e-portfolios across Australian Schools. The process will require active collaboration from identified key stakeholder groups in the sector.

2.Expected outcomes

A clearer understanding of current e-portfolio use in Australian schools

This activity will contribute to a clearer understanding of current e-portfolio usage in Australian schools. This will be achieved through focused stakeholder consultations and through an analysis of existing intelligence on current and planned e-portfolio usage in Australian schools. This is a vital piece of preliminary work, which will clarify and inform the activity’s deliverables.

Identification of the key technical challenges for supporting e-portfolios in the Australian schools sector

The primary aim of this work is to better understand the technical challenges facing Australian schools. Key questions to be addressed include:

• How to support longevity of e-portfolios so that the investment taken to develop them by schools, government and learners can be maximized?
• How to facilitate e-portfolio interoperability between schools, jurisdictions and other education sectors?
• What technical standards are relevant to e-portfolio implementers and how should they be adopted?

Inform future technical support requirements and activities

Recommendations for future work will be documented as appropriate throughout the activity including potential future work on e-portfolio interoperability. The activity will identify areas requiring collaboration across and between jurisdictions

3.Deliverables and timeframes

4.Methodology

• Form focus group.
• Identify additional stakeholders for consultation in collaboration with focus group as appropriate (see Sector consultation plan below)
• Document current and planned usage of e-portfolios and document technical and interoperability requirements
• Document current international trends and patterns of use of relevance to the Australian schools
• Analyse and document services that could support interactions between e-Portfolio systems and other education systems
• Identify potential pilots and develop collaborative project proposals for future directions where appropriate.
• Develop a report in consultation with the focus group containing findings on key technical interoperability issues for school sector e-portfolios within the context of:
  • Relevant Australian schools sector policy including the Digital Education Revolution and the national curriculum
  • Current international practice and trends
  • The need for longevity, interoperability and continuity.
• Identify key stakeholders for dissemination and communicate outcomes from the activity in collaboration with the focus group.

Sector consultation plan

• Establish focus group through sector contacts, with at least three meetings, including one face-to-face. Focus group to stay in communication through EDNA Groups.
• Approval of nominees for focus group.
• Circulate background brief to focus group and key stakeholders. Integrate feedback.
• Ongoing consultation on requirements and current developments in e-portfolios in the Australian schools sector.

5.Related standards activities

6.Related projects

7.Communication and dissemination plan

It is critical for this activity to achieve its goals that the information it gathers and produces is disseminated effectively to the appropriate audiences. The focus group will define the communication strategies it will employ, taking advantage of existing channels relevant to each member's organisation and jurisdiction. Communication to the sector generally may take advantage of wider dissemination methods such as web site postings, blog posts and sector-wide mailing lists and events.

8.Further information

Activity lead: Owen ONeill

Project team members: Nigel Ward, Caroline Drury

Focus Group: TBA

Link Affiliates: http://www.linkaffiliates.net.au/

The Technical Standards for Digital Education project is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)