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

In this article Love et all (2004) propose that there are levels of maturation in the development of e-Portfolios. They propose that e-Portfolios can be categorized into different levels of maturation depending on their functions and there capabilities. According to this taxonomy e-Portfolios can range from being mere scrapbooks of unconnected evidence to Webfolios that are interconnected and collaborative (Love et all. 2004). I found their analysis particularly useful at the early stage of the project. Through considering the taxonomy that they developed I was able to understand the definition of e-Portfolios and some of their potential as interactive learning tools.

In workshops I facilitated on e-Portfolio development, one of the common misunderstandings was the that e-Portfolios are simply scrapbooks. This taxonomy articulates that e-Portfolios are interactive and dynamic documents that have multiple viewers—and in this way differ from paper based folios. However I also found this analysis far too rigid in exploring the concepts of e-portfolios. In the pursuit of more empirical and linear system of categorization the authors may have neglected to mention the multiple purposes for e-Portfolios. Rather than approach e-Portfolios from developmental perspective, I agree with Barett (2007) when she notes that different types of e-Portfolios should be employed for different purposes. Thus a higher “stage of maturation” may not necessaryily reflect progression but rather different program needs. Thus, the framework offered by the authors risks limiting analysis if it is not applied with an eye for multiplicity.

References
Barett H. (2007) Researching electronic portfolios and learner engagement: The REFLECT Initiative. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Vol. 50, No. 6
Love D.& McKean G & Gathercoal P. (2004) Portfolios to Webfolios and Beyond: Levels of Maturation. Educase Quarterly. Vol. 27, No 2. Retrieved November 15 from http//:connect.educase.edu/lirbrary/abstract/PortfoliostoWebfolio/39864