This post follows on from an initial post about an investigation carried out in 2010 into the way e-portfolio service providers are managing their storage requirements.  This initial posting covered the background research and related literature of this investigation.  This post discusses the methodology and key findings of this investigation together with the recommendations for future work into effectively managing storage requirements of user e-portfolio content.

Research method:
The investigation methodology involved undertaking a desktop research together with utilising other and other Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) reports and web resources (Framework, 2009; Bevan, Hendrick & Leeson, 2009; Macnamara & Nicholas, 2011).  Consultations with a range of key stakeholders involved interviews (n=22) and an online survey (n=36).  Those interviewed were identified as they had a professional interest in e-portfolios and/or e-portfolio standards. The E-portfolios Reference Group (ERG) as national consultative group were drawn upon to endorse and review the investigation.

Findings, discussion and conclusions:
This investigation found the following points were important in relation to the storage of e-portfolio content, and offers some conclusions which need to happen in this area:

Portability of e-portfolio content is very important, including being able to export individual artefact and whole e-portfolios using compatible formats (PDF, HTML, Leap2A or IMS e-portfolio).  It was identified that:

• availability of portability guidelines and examples of best practice were lacking and need developed
• e-portfolio service providers should ensure their system allows e-portfolio content portability in more than one format (eg Leap2A, PDF, HTML)

E-portfolio users should utilise common file formats, such as those endorsed by the Framework’s E-standards for Training’s Standards to ensure the longevity and re-useability of their e-portfolio content.  Just as using file formats which save as smaller files sizes (eg .JPG file formats save as smaller files than .RAW for digital images) can help in the storage capacity requirements of an e-portfolio system.

E-portfolio service providers are looking more and more to Web 2.0 services & cloud storage as proxy storage, using sites such as YouTube and Flickr etc for video and digital images.  However, respondents expressed their concerns over longevity, privacy, security and ownership of these sites, and so it is recommended that organisational policy, service level agreements, ICT infrastructure policy as well as web accessibility be reviewed when implementing/maintaining an e-portfolio system.

Storage capacity and quotas are best determined by the purpose of the e-portfolio.  Pedagogy and course design which is user centred (eg helps the user manage their own information) will ensure effective use of the e-portfolio system.  A lack of digital literacy skills and a lack of understanding what is ‘appropriate evidence/artefacts’ can impact on the way information is collected, stored and managed.  Therefore, user inductions and just in time help/resources is required, together with training/induction for those supporting e-portfolio users (eg educators/employers/mentors etc).

More information about this topic can be found in the “Supporting the storage requirements of learner e-portfolio content” (Miller & Leeson) paper written for the ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011 (EAC2011) and can be found in the EAC2011 eBook (pgs 87-98) at http://eportfoliosaustralia.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/eac2011_ebook_v1_201110031.pdf.  Slides from their EAC2011 presentation can be found here: http://www.slideshare.net/eportfoliosaustralia/supporting-the-storage-requirements-of-learner-eportfolio-content.

The authors would like to acknowledge Helen Galatis, formerly of Education Services Australia, in recognition for her major contribution to this work through the analysis and interpretation of the desktop content and consultation data collected for this research and as a major contributor to findings of this work.
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Reference:

Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), (2009), 2009 E-portfolios Implementation Trials’ final reports and key themes/findings: http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/content/2009EIT

Bevan, A., Hendrick, G. & Leeson, J., (2009), Managing learner information: Key considerations for implementing e-portfolios in VET, Australian Flexible Learning Framework, http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/files/Managing_Learner-Information_FINAL.pdf

Macnamara, D. & Nicholas, N., (2011): Accessing VET Learner Attainment Data: An investigation to enable learner-facilitating electronic access to their VET learner attainment data – 2011 Positioning Paper, Australian Flexible Learning, http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/files/2011_Accessing_VET_Learner_Attainment_Data_Paper_Final.pdf

Australian education/training organisations and professional associations are becoming increasingly interested in using e-portfolios within their organisation, with many at the stage of selecting and implementing an e-portfolio system to suit their organisational and user needs.

It has been identified (JISC, 2006) that people are more likely to make better use of their e-portfolio if they know they can access and use it beyond their connection with the organisation providing the e-portfolio service.   This has raised interest into file formats, storage capacities and localities which allow users long term access to their e-portfolio content or the ability to migrate their e-portfolio content to another e-portfolio system. ‘Cloud storage’ options are also being considered and used to increase the capacity of e-portfolio systems, however, a balance between the needs of the user and those of the e-portfolio service provider is important (Miller & Leeson, 2011).

To help organisations determine the storage capacity and format requirements for housing user e-portfolio content, an investigation into the way e-portfolio service providers are managing their storage requirements was undertaken in the first half of 2010.

This post is part 1 of 2 posts about this investigation, covering the background research and related literature for this investigation.  Part 2 will discuss the methodology and key findings of this investigation together with the recommendations for future work into effectively managing storage requirements of user e-portfolio content.

Background research and related literature
‘Guidelines on Storage, Access and Related Issues for ePortfolios’ (Guidelines) produced by JISC (2006) in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton identifies a number of key considerations when implementing e-portfolio systems around:

• developing organisational policy related to the e-portfolio system at the start of the implementation
• deciding upon the long term availability and portability options for users to access their content
• ensuring there is a well defined purpose for the e-portfolio which is clearly understood by the users
• considering and reviewing storage capacity benchmarks and quotas
• determining the file type and upload limits allowed within the e-portfolio systesm
• setting up back-up/recovery procedures
• allowing for third party access to the e-portfolio system

E-portfolio implementations trials (Framework, 2009a) undertaken by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework have identified an increased use of mobile devices such as smart pens, audio/mp3 recorders, digital/video cameras and point of view (POV) devices to capture ‘live’ information (e.g. recording a haircut or the completion of a manual handling exercise).  However, this type of learner-generated content is heavily reliant on storage, bandwidth and the use of common digital formats that enable easy storage and retrieval.  Key findings from these trials identified the need to:

• support the continued development of digital literacy skills for both users and support people (eg educators, mentors etc)
• ensure users understand what constitutes “appropriate evidence” by providing them with examples, exemplars and/or templates
• allow users to use mobile devices that they are familiar with, such as their own mobile phone, rather than ones offered by the organisation
• provide an “induction” to, and then on-going just in time support, for the e-portfolio system

To assist in the development of a national standards-based framework to support interoperable e-portfolio systems in the VET sector, the Framework (2009b) has produced a national strategic document called the VET E-portfolio Roadmap (Roadmap).  The Roadmap contains nine goals, one of which covers “Storage”, aims to establish a shared understanding of storage issues and requirements for e-portfolio systems which “takes into account that some e-portfolio content will be stored in the e-portfolio system, whilst some content will be stored in other systems or on the internet” (Framework, 2009b, pg 7).  The Roadmap, through its eFramework model (pg 5) describing the e-portfolio system and possible related services, acknowledges the use of “thin e-portfolios”, where not all of the learner’s content needs to be stored in the e-portfolio system and can be stored on other third party and cloud storage spaces.

The “Supporting the storage requirements of learner e-portfolio content” (Miller & Leeson) paper written for the ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011 (EAC2011) provides more detail about this investigation and can be found in the EAC2011 eBook (pgs 87-98) at http://eportfoliosaustralia.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/eac2011_ebook_v1_201110031.pdf. Slides from their EAC2011 presentation can be found here: http://www.slideshare.net/eportfoliosaustralia/supporting-the-storage-requirements-of-learner-eportfolio-content

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References:
Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), (2009), 2009 E-portfolios Implementation Trials’ final reports and key themes/findings: http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/content/2009EIT

Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), (2009b), The VET E-portfolio Roadmap: a strategic roadmap for e-portfolios to support lifelong learning, http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/files/VETePortfolioRoadmap_web.pdf

JISC, (2006), ePISTLE Guidelines 4: Storage, access and related issues for e-portfolios: Guidelines, University of Wolverhampton, http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/case-studies/e-portfolios/wolverhampton/epistleguide4.pdf

Miller, A & Leeson, J, (2011), Supporting the storage requirements of learner e-portfolio content, ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011 eBook, pg 87-98, Perth, Western Australia, http://eportfoliosaustralia.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/eac2011_ebook_v1_201110031.pdf

Following on from the very successful series of webinar’s from E-portfolios Community of Practice Massive Open Online Course (EpCop MOOC), EpCop presents the final free webinar for 2011 on ‘Implementing E-portfolios‘.

Drawing on the experience of two organisational implementation processes from Sunshine Coast TAFE (Qld) and Box Hill Institute (Vic), this webinar will showcase the challenges and opportunities when undertaking the:

• selection process for deciding on an organisation wide e-portfolio system by Kathryn Rodney, Sunshine Coast TAFE
• strategtic roll out of an e-portfolio system to support individual learning plans by Pauline Farrell, Box Hill Institute

The free webinar will take place on Tuesday 8 November at 11 am Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (Time Converter here) using the Australia e-Series Blackboard Collaborate: http://tinyurl.com/29tyznz

If you are considering implementing and/or undertaking a strategic roll out of the use of e-portfolios in your organisation, consider the different types of funding currently available under the new National VET E-learning Strategy (applications close Thursday 10 November).

Share your implementation/strategic roll out experiences here.

There is less than three weeks until ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011 (EAC2011), the major national tertiary education e-portfolio event, on 17-18 October 2011 at the Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.

This two-day event features an impressive line-up of national and international speakers, facilitated conversations, master classes and more than 50 breakout sessions showcasing the way current e-portfolio practice is making a difference in vocational education and training (VET), higher education (HE) and adult and community education (ACE).

Themed: Making a difference – showing the difference, keynote speakers and presenters will demonstrate the ways e-portfolios supports learning. View the full EAC2011 program.

Keynote and plenary speakers will be streamed live over the web over both days, including:

• Monday 17 October 2011 - 9.30 am AWST - Kathleen Blake Yancey, Florida State University - Kathleen will discuss the ways e-portfolios are helping to make learning visible and making a difference to learning.

• Monday 17 October 2011 - 10.20 am AWST - Mary Ryan, Queensland University of Technology - Mary will share a transferable and customisable model for teaching and assessing reflective thinking.

• Tuesday 18 October 2011 - 9.40 am AWST - Ruth Wallace, Charles Darwin University - Ruth will discuss the implications of learner identity on improving the use of e-portfolios.

• Tuesday 18 October 2011 - 10.20 am AWST - Terrel L Rhodes, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) - Terrel will share how e-portfolios give learners a voice and agency in their own learning through integrated and interdependent learning experiences.

Access the speakers’ presentations online* from: http://eportfoliosaustralia.wordpress.com/conference-eac2011/eac2011-program/

The EAC2011 Vendor networking session to be held between 4:30 pm-6:00 pm AWST on Monday 17 October will allow conference participants to meet and speak with the conference vendors, including: Concord/SciPoint, Desire2Learn, Mahara/Netspot, PebblePad and VUMI.

Conference participants can register to attend as part of their conference registration. If you are interested in attending the networking session, but not the conference, please contact Allison Miller (details below).

Follow the conference via the ePortfolios Australia Twitter and Facebook pages. Conference delegates can share their experiences by using the conference tag: #EAC2011.

This conference is supported by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), Curtin University, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC) and AAEEBL.

More information:     Allison Miller, email: allison.miller@flexiblelearning.net.au or 0400 732 270 or http://eportfoliosaustralia.wordpress.com/conference-eac2011/

*No registration is required for the online sessions, however you must have access to headphones and have installed and configured the web conferencing software before connecting to the online sessions. Download Blackboard Collaborate and configure your computer.

The use of e-portfolios in teaching and learning is moving beyond being merely a showcase of learning or an online repository of information to be effective and engaging personal learning environments.  To ensure that learning drives the technology and to help share and build effective e-portfolio pedagogy, a couple of books based on PebblePad and Mahara e-portfolio systems are worth checking out.

PebblePad, a personal online space which allows you to create an e-portfolio, has released “Pebblegogy“. Written by Shane Sutherland, Jane Brotchie and Sarah Chesney, Pebblegogy which contains “ideas and activities to inspire and engage learners”.

Pebblegogy is a book of two halves, with the first part of the book describing the ideas behind PebblePad as a personal learning space. The second part of the book contains 38 learning activities based around 12 learning themes which have been developed from the practices of the PebblePad Commmunity.  Each activity provides information about: the challenges the activity aims to address, the learning design, tutor (educator) actions, instructions for the learner, information about where the activity originated from and additonal ‘practitioner tips’.

Although the learning themes are designed to be used with PebblePad, they are all effective learning activities which could be contextualised for any e-portfolio system/situation and Pebblegogy can be previewed/purchased here.

Stay tuned for the release of Ellen Marie Murphy’s “Mahara 1.4 Cookbook” which is due to be released this month.  This book will help you “discover the flexibility of the Mahara system” as an open source e-portfolio system.  Like Pebblegogy, the Mahara 1.4 Cookbook consists of a series of learning activities where “each recipe is a carefully organised sequence of instructions to complete the task as efficiently as possible”.

Share any other information/resources for “e-portfolio recipes for learning success” where pedagogy meets technology or your thoughts/views about the new Pebblegogy book or forthcoming Mahara 1.4 Cookbook here.

As interest and practice in the use of e-portfolio in adult education in Australia grows, ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011 (EAC2011) offers an opportunity to hear from international and national e-portfolio key note speakers, choose from over 50 break-out sessions showcasing e-portfolio practice from Australia and abroad, as well as participate in facilitated conversations/master classes with key e-portfolio leaders.  EAC2011 will be held on 17-18 October 2011 at Curtin University, Perth and the full program can  be viewed here.

Registrations start from $190 and with only 7 weeks to go don’t leave it too late to make your decision to attend as EAC2010 was a sell out.  Accommodation is also a premium in Perth at this time so book early!

There will also be opportunities to network as well as speak with e-portfolio vendors about their products on Monday evening.

For more information:
- go to: http://eportfoliosaustralia.wordpress.com/conference-eac2011/
- email or speak with: Allison Miller: Allison.Miller ‘at’ flexiblelearning.net.au (replace ‘at’ with @) or 0400 732 270

Hallam, Harper, Hauville., Creagh, & McAllister (2009, pg 2) through the Australian ePortfolio Project – Stage 2 (AeP2) identified that “there is strong support for a CoP to support ePortfolio practice”, in particular, “the concept of a hybrid forum that blends the benefits of an online community with opportunities for face-to-face meetings”.  Hallam et al (2009, pg 2) found that an e-portfolio CoP “was seen to be an important initiative that would help consolidate current levels of interest and foster and strengthen the networking and relationships that are already emerging amongst those involved in ePortfolio learning”.

In light of this, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework engaged a facilitator in 2010 to investigate and implement activities that would bring together experienced and new e-portfolio users to share common and best e-portfolio practices, now know as the VET E-portfolios Community of Practice (EpCop).  The EpCop facilitator, Carole McCulloch, was charged with managing a range of activities to foster a community of sharing and collaboration in the use of e-portfolio practice.

These activities have resulted in an active community website for sharing, collaborating and developing e-portfolio practice together with a collection of e-portfolio resources which demonstrate effective pedagogy, technical/software support/solutions and e-portfolio implementation.  The EpCoP community website is accompanied by an active discussion forum attracting e-portfolio practitioners from around the world into the conversations on a regular basis.  Collaborative activities and dissemination of information has also been enabled through partnerships with other CoPs in Australia, North America and Europe such as:

Australia:

• Australian PebblePad Users’ Group (APPUG):
  - website: https://www.pebblepad.com.au/australia/viewasset.aspx?oid=16412&type=webfolio&pageoid=17688
  -  discussion forum: http://groups.google.com/group/PebblePad
• Assuring Graduate Capabilities E-portfolios Interest Group (you will need to register with the Asuring Graduate Capabilities website before being able to access this group: http://boliver.ning.com/group/eportfoliosinterestgroup
• VET E-portfolios Community of Practice (EpCop):
  -  website: http://epcop.net.au
  -  discussion forum: http://conversations.epcop.net.au/

North America:

• AAEEBL (Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence Based  Learning): http://aaeebl.org/
• EPAC (Electronic Portfolio Action and Communication) CoP: http://epac.pbworks.com/
• ePortfolio California CoP: http://eportfolioca.org/
• REAL ePortfolio Academy (Reflection Engagement Assessment for Learning for K-12): http://electronicportfolios.com/academy/
• ‘Out of Practice’ E-portfolio Group: https://sites.google.com/site/outofpracticeportfolios/home

Europe:

• EIfEL: http://www.eife-l.org/
  
• SURF NL CoP: http://www.surfspace.nl/en/themas/Portfolio/start/pages/overzicht.aspx
• UK EpCop: http://www.wlv.ac.uk/Default.aspx?page=24875

International:

• Unified ePortfolio Calendar: http://www.epforum.org/

To help build capability in the use of e-portfolios through communities of practice, please share any other EpCops you may be aware of here or your thoughts about how EpCops can support the use of e-portfolios.

References
Hallam, G., Harper, W., Hauville, K., Creagh, T., & McAllister, L., (2009), Australian ePortfolio Project – Stage 2 - ePortfolio use by university students in Australia: Developing a sustainable community of practice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/information2/report_stage2/

To encourage the study of practices and pedagogies associated with e-portfolio in educational settings, the International Journal of ePortfolio (IJeP) has just published its inaugural issue.

IJeP is a double-blind, peer-reviewed, open access journal which is freely available online (hard copies can be purchased online).  “The journal’s focus includes the explanation, interpretation, application, and dissemination of researchers’, practitioners’, and developers’ experiences relevant to ePortfolio.  It also serves to provide a multi-faceted, single source of information for those engaging in projects and practices associated with ePortfolio.” (IJeP website, August 2011)

Volume 1, number 1 of IJeP includes:

• Instructional Articles
• Assessment Articles
• Technology, Policy, and Management Article
• Professional Development Article
• Commentary
• Book Review

IJeP employs a rolling submission process; however, authors wishing to be considered for the next issue should submit their manuscripts to IJeP by December 1, 2011.  The new call for papers can be found at http://www.theijep.com/callforpapers.html.

IJeP is a publication of the Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research (CIDER) in the Division of Undergraduate Education at Virginia Tech. and is affiliated with:

• Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL)
• Assocation of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
• Australian Flexible Learning Framwork
• 2011 ePortfolio and Identity Conference

The E-portfolio Massive Open Online Course (EpCop MOOC), which starts this week with an introductory webinar this morning at 11 am Sydney time, aims to support people’s understanding and use of e-portfolios.

Developed by a group of VET E-portfolios Community of Practice (EpCop) members, this course provides the information and activities to learn more about developing and using e-portfolios, as well as utilising a range of web 2.0 tools (eg Blogs, Virtual meeting spaces, audio tools etc) to develop artefacts for your e-portfolio.

EpCop MOOC is absolutely free and open to everyone and anyone, with over 200 people already signed up - so you can sign up to fully participate, interact as it suits you or just ‘lurk’.

All of the information about the EpCop MOOC can be found at the EpCop Learnspace - (open to all - no need to register).  Sharing and networking happens at the EpCop MOOC Ning, where you will need to register to view and participate.

Seven levels of activities will guide people through:

• what is an e-portfolio?,
• why use an e-portfolio?
• where can you create an e-portfolio?
• how might you use an e-portfolio? etc

Level One: What? (establishing your understanding of e-portfolios) starts this week.

All resources developed by the EpCop MOOC team are freely available for anyone to take and use in their own context (as long it is non-commerical) to help build and develop the knowledge and experience of e-portfolios.

The E-portfolio Massive Open Online Course (EpCop MOOC), a free e-portfolio professional development activity for those interested in learning more about e-portfolios, is due to start on 1 August and runs through to 30 September.

Designed to support the development of educators’ e-portfolio knowledge and skills through the creation of their own professional e-portfolio, EpCop MOOC will helps participants create their own e-portfolio which supports their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements by demonstrating their industry and professional teaching currency while helping them to establish a professional e-portfolio learning network.

Developed and led by members of the VET E-portfolios Community of Practice (EpCop) and using the EpCop MOOC Ning for communications and collaborations, participants will be taken through a set of challenges, missions and quests via a series of seven levels to build and master their understanding of e-portfolios.

EpCop MOOC activities and information will be made available through the EpCop MOOC Learnspace website.  Radio EpCop and MOOC SCOOP newsletter will provide regular announcements and keep everyone up to date.  The EpCop MOOC team have also been recording their implementation journey via the EpCop MOOC blog.

You can register to participate in the EpCop MOOC here.   If you are an experienced e-portfolio educator but can’t fully participate in the EpCop MOOC, there are other ways that you can contribute to the EpCop MOOC.

The course and course resources will be made available for anyone to take and use (in non-commerical settings) to develop their own staff or others’ capacity in using e-portfolios.

To learn more about the EpCop MOOC, join the live webinar on Wednesday 27 July at 8 pm Sydney time via the Australian e-Series Elluminate Live Room http://tinyurl.com/29tyznz.