CENTRE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

ePortfolios

Welcome to the ePortfolio Hub!

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Booking an ePortfolio Workshop

Visit this link to book a workshop for your class or a one-on-one consultation with our team about how ePortfolios might fit into your teaching and learning.

Creating and Editing Your ePortfoliio

We support most online web building platforms but most students at Capilano U. use Google Sites or our classic WordPress site to set up and build their portfolios.

Why ePortfolios?

An ePortfolio is a living and changing collection of records in an electronic format that showcases student accomplishments, skills, experiences, and attributes. It showcases evidence of learning; documents their learning journey; and features samples of their work, along with life experiences, values and achievements.

What is an ePortfolio?

ePortfolios are personal websites for students to collect, reflect, and share work done in classrooms and other teaching and learning settings. They are recognized as one of the HIP or “high impact practices” that generate student engagement, deep learning, and learning retention (link, CTE, University of Waterloo).

COLLECTING Gathering and curating assignments and projects, showcasing best work
REFLECTING Every artifact on a student ePortfolio should include reflection on what learning occurred
CONNECTING Sharing with faculty and students or with external communities for work or school applications

ePortfolios contribute to integrated learning across the curriculum. They encourage students to make connections among courses within a particular area or program progression as well as among their classes in general. The reflective pedagogy in ePortfolios allows for a personalized and engaging response to course materials. Finally the digital environments of ePortfolios allow students to develop familiarity with digital spaces and platforms and also to consider the public, ethical, and practical implications of a digital identity.

ePortfolios have been in use at Capilano U since 2014.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions About ePortfolios

What is an ePortfolio?

ePortfolios are personal websites created and controlled by students. At Capilano U. students create their ePortfolios in their first year during ENGL 100 (University Writing Strategies) and the portfolio stays with them throughout their learning journey and time at Cap U. Throughout their time here students upload artifacts — images, assignments, links — that are evidence of their learning. When students finish their time at Cap. U. their ePortfolios can then transition to a showcase for the work they have done while here. This can be shared with potential employers, grad school application committees, transfer institutions, non-profits, or others as a way to share concrete evidence of their learning experiences.

ePortfolios can showcase not just “best work” but also the process that led to their final submission. In this way they are akin in some ways to fine arts portfolios. In class, students would collect draft ideas, sketches and other materials that led to the final piece. Then, after finishing a program of study, the fine arts portfolio could also become a physical archive of ‘best work’ to share with galleries, potential sponsors or employers, or other creators.

What platform do we use for ePortfolios?

We support a variety of platforms at Capilano U. but most students build their portfolio in Google Sites. We also have a dedicated launch page for faculty/students that wish to use WordPress as alternative.

What are “artifacts” and what kinds of artifacts can be included in an ePortfolio?

“Artifacts” are any visual, written, or aural evidence of learning or learning outcomes. Examples might include: research projects, written essays, lab reports, class presentations, group projects, technology projects, student-created digital projects (videos, simulations, multimedia projects), or capstone projects.

FOLIO THINKING | Scholarship and External Resources

Journals

International Journal of ePortfolio (American Association of Colleges and Universities)

External Sites + Resources

ePortfolios Explained: Theory and Practice (Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo)

ePortfolios: A Best Practices Guide for Faculty (University of Victoria)

Principles and Practices in Electronic Portfolios (CCCC)

Articles + Publications

Bolliger, D., & Shepherd, C. (2010). Student perceptions of ePortfolio integration in online courses. Distance Education, 31(3), 295-314. doi:10.1080/01587919.2010.513955.

Winsor, P. J. T. (2004). Valuing Reflection Through Portfolios, Alberta Voices, Reflections and Insights, 3,(1), pp. 16.

Wuetherick B., (2010). Why ePortfolios: Student perceptions of ePortfolio use, Teaching and Learning with the Power of Technology (TLT) Conference, Saskatoon, SK, April 2010.

Sample ePortfolios from Current and Recent Capilano University Students

Capilano University is named after Chief Joe Capilano, an important leader of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) Nation of the Coast Salish people. We respectfully acknowledge that our campuses are located on the unceded sovereign Indigenous Nations of Lil’wat, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm(Musqueam), Shíshálh (Sechelt), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh(Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh).