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WL LLN e-Transition Project - 'GetProgressive' e-Portfolio Programme

Thursday 15 January 2009Comment on this article Permlink

WL LLN e-Transition Project - 'GetProgressive' e-portfolio programme

The launch dates of the programme were 23rd and 24th October 2008. The following message was sent to the transitional students to get them involved:

So what’s in it for you?

When you are ready, you will also be able to selectively release sections to tutors, friends and family, and prospective employers.”

The ‘Blackboard Vista’ e-portfolio system had been installed on u-Link (Brunel’s VLE) and a comprehensive section had been developed within u-Link to support the e-Portfolio programme. The following initial information appears in the section for students when they log on:

“GetProgressive is an online programme designed to help you maximise your professional and personal development during your time at Brunel. The activities you do in this section will also help you to build an e-portfolio where you can capture and present your progress.

A portfolio is a case containing a demonstration of your work. An e-portfolio provides electronic storage which allows you to organise and display ordinary word files, but also to add video or audio clips and image files. Extra features include the facility to add links to web pages on your homepage, such as your own blog or Facebook, for example, and the ability to control who has access to the contents of the portfolio.

The e-portfolio provides a showcase of your work and achievements that you can be proud to show others – specifically future employers. It also acts as a learning log where you reflect on what you have learned and see the developments that have taken place during your time in higher education. It also acts as a virtual space in which to plan your goals and learning strategies for university and beyond.

We have created a special GetProgressive section in u-link in order to support you as you develop your own e-portfolio. This includes tools, resources, suggested activities and discussion areas.”

To date, about forty transitional students have started with the development of their e-portfolios. Students are currently quite involved in the demands of their academic programmes, but the e-Transition project team continue with organising events and opportunities for the transitional students to get involved with the programme!

Posted by Phil Alberts, Head of e-Learning at Brunel University

Your Comments

  1. Dear Ray

    We have started with web pages for our project: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/apdu/researchprojects/wllln

    You’ll find here a presentation I made at the Blackboard World Europe 2009 Conference, namely: Introducing e-Portfolios to First Year Students to Assist their Transition into Higher Education.

    We do not have case studies available at present, but we are working on a final report on this project to the West London LLN. The project thus far has already inspired us to increase our e-portfolio provision to all our first-year students to ease their transition into higher education.

    Regards

    Phil

    Posted by: Phil Alberts · Head of e-Learning Brunel University Aug 26, 02:04 pm

  2. Dear Phil,

    I’m very interested in the progress that Brunel has made in e-Portfolios and wonder if you have any Case Studies available? There is plenty of material from the USA but only, so far, have I seen accounts about PebblePad from Wolverhampton.

    In particular, I am interested in how owners can handle the many stages of transition ie ‘from 5-95’ as is my mantra.
    Ray T.

    Posted by: Ray Tolley · Aug 26, 11:55 am

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