Artifact: Annotated Article
Date: October. 2007
Course: Practicum ADHE
Competency: Knowledge of learning approaches and principles

In this article, Argerback (2007) examines the use of e-Portfolios for assessing the learning and achievement of multimedia students at the Odense Technical College in Denmark. Students at this institution embed examples of their work and reflection on the learning process in their e-Portfolios to display generic and innovative competencies. Additionally, through designing their e-Portfolios they demonstrate their ability to present content using digital media, which is relevant to their focus on multimedia development. As Argerback (2007) explains, the e-Portfolio process adopted by the college is highly structured in order to supposedly allow a more valid assessments of the quality of their reflections. For example, although the students can creatively develop parts of the e-Portfolios themselves they are required to enter most of the content through structured style sheets (Argerback 2007). Yet, as Agerback (2007) notes, even with structured formatting, it remains difficult to determine the quality of the reflection.This program approach largely contrasts with the e-Portfolio assessment approach taken by the University of British Columbia. In the UBC TEO, there is a generally held belief among the project heads I have spoken with that the teacher candidates need to construct their own e-Portfolios and they need to have creative control over the entire design of their sites.There are strengths in both the positions. While facilitating e-coaching workshops I have noticed that a number of the e-coaches seem overwhelmed by the scope of the e-Portfolio project and the range of options available with digital media. As an instructor, however, I see the value in a more constructivist approach. If the goals of the Teacher Education Program are to help engender independent and creative practitioners it is important that they learn in a way that enhances rather than detracts from these competencies.

References

Agerbaek, L, Hansen, T, Luplau S (2007). EPortfolio as a vehicle of change in higher education in Denmark. Retrieved Nov 21, 207 from http://www.eife-l.org/publications/eportfolio/proceedings/ep2004/presentations/agerbaek/view