The March Portfolio CoP meeting provided a great opportunity to share information and experiences developing and implementing learning ePortfolios. During the meeting Karen Gardner presented an engaging session describing her experience developing and implementing learning ePortfolios as an assessment and interactive learning tool in the Faculty of Dentistry.

Dr Gardner, described the development of Diastemas.net, a web platform designed for dental students that provides a space where they can participate in online learning communities and peer review with international colleagues. Dr. Gardner emphasized aspects of this project including the value of reflection and peer feedback in enhancing learning, the role of vertical integration in learning communities, and approaches taken to supporting the development of and interaction within these communities. I have linked the resources mentioned during the presentation below and attached the presentation slides to this email.

Presentation Resources

Palloff, R, and Pratt, K. (2007) Building Online Learning Communities. 2nd ed
Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

West, R.(2010) A student’s guide to strengthening an online community.
Tech Trends Sept/Oct 54(5) 69-75.

Garrison, D., Anderson, T., and Archer, W. (2000) Critical inquiry in a text-based
Environment: computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and
Higher Education 2(2-3) 87-105.

Hawkes, M. (2006) Linguistic discourse variables as indicators of reflective
online interaction. The American Journal of Distance Education 20(4) 231-244.

Watkins, C. (2005) Classrooms as learning communities. London Review of Education 3(1) 47-64.