SPCC ePortfolio

Q: What is an ePortfolio?

A: An ePortfolio is a collection of student work and student reflections that is centered around a set of standards or learning outcomes. At SPCC, the ePortfolio is centered around the College’s General Education Core Skills. Some majors require students to include a “Program Outcomes” section in the ePortfolio. See the “Programs of Study and Program Outcomes” [PAGE 8] page on the ePortfolio section of the SPCC website to learn about your program requirements. In addition to submitting electronic copies of work in each area, students write reflections about their abilities.

 

Q: Is the ePortfolio a requirement?

A: The ePortfolio is a requirement for students enrolled in Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Fine Arts degree programs who started SPCC in 2014 or later and graduate in May 2016 or later.

 

Q: How will the ePortfolio benefit me?

A: ePortfolios provide enriched learning opportunities, serve as excellent marketing tools for both transfer and non-transfer students, highlight the relationships among General Education courses and program outcomes, and encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. Please see the “ePortfolio Benefits” [PAGE 2] page for more information.

 

Q: What information should I include in my ePortfolio?

A: At minimum, your ePortfolio should include the following sections:

• Welcome

• Personal introduction

• Goals

• General education showcase artifacts and reflections

• Program outcome showcase artifacts and reflections (not required for all programs)

• Additional educational experiences

• Resume

You may include any information you feel is relevant to showcase your learning accomplishments and goals.

 

Q: How do I set up an ePortfolio?

A: Information for setting up your ePortfolio is presented in the ACA 122 class.  Guidance is also available from ePortoflio assistants in the Monroe and Polkton Academic Support Centers.  Additionally periodic ePortoflio workshops offer opportunities for learning during fall and spring semesters. 

 

Q: What types of files can I include in my ePortfolio?

A: You may use a variety of file types, including text, images, audio, video, and links. Text files should be converted to pdf. files, because they tend to be smaller files and they open quickly. Your ePortfolio will be made up of “showcase artifacts.” This term refers to assignments you’ve completed that highlight your best work to date in a particular area. Some instructors will tell you which assignments are appropriate to use as artifacts to demonstrate particular skills or learning outcomes; however, you may use any work that you create to demonstrate a skill, so long as the work is appropriate for the particular skill.

 

Q: What is the difference between Taskstream and my ePortfolio?

A: SPCC uses Taskstream to assess student learning in both the General Education Core Skills and in Program Education Outcomes. In certain classes, you will be required to submit work to Taskstream to demonstrate ability in a particular area. In this regard, what you submit to Taskstream and what you submit to your ePortfolio both highlight your performance in an area. However, the artifacts you submit to Taskstream are attached to particular courses and they may or may not be your best work. For example, in COM 231, you will submit the video of a presentation to Taskstream to highlight your level of competence in delivering a speech.  However, this speech may not be your best speech. In another class, you may give a presentation that is a stronger representation of your speaking ability. You might choose the later presentation as your “showcase artifact” for your ePortfolio. Further, Taskstream does not require reflection, which is a key component of the ePortfolio. Finally, the ePortfolio is designed as a learning tool.  Taskstream is designed as an assessment tool.

 

Q: How much personal information should I include in my ePortfolio?

A: Only include as much personal information as you feel comfortable. The ePortfolio is a public presentation of your learning; however, you do not need to include information that can identify you personally in any way. You are not required to include photos of yourself, your full name, your address, your contact information, or any other personal information you do not want to share. You’ll need to balance your privacy concerns with the use of your ePortfolio to showcase your learning accomplishments and goals to your instructors, your family, potential employers, scholarship committees, etc. Depending on which platform you choose, you may be able to hide your page from search engines.

 

Q: What are the “reflections” that I have to include?

A: Reflections are important learning instruments because they allow you to place your performance on a particular assignment in an academic or personal context. You might consider the following questions when reflecting upon an assignment:

• How does my performance on this assignment demonstrate my competence level for the particular core skill or program outcome?

• How does this assignment relate to or connect to skills I have learned in other courses?

• How does this assignment connect with the real world?

• How did this assignment impact my understanding of something about the world around me? Did it challenge any of my assumptions?

• What challenges did I have to overcome to complete this assignment? What steps did I take to overcome them, and what did I learn about myself as a result?

• What makes this a good assignment to use as an artifact in my ePortfolio?

• How does this assignment reflect change, growth, or progression toward goals I’ve had for this area?

When you reflect on your assignments, consider the General Education Core Skill or the Program Outcome statement and the criteria on the rubrics used to evaluate the assignment.

You should expect to write a minimum of 3 paragraphs of reflection for each artifact you place in your ePortfolio. While this may seem like a lot, reflection helps you learn and synthesize your experiences more than most other activities.

Remember: Reflection is not a place to evaluate your assignment, the course, or the instructor. SPCC has mechanisms through which assignments, courses, and instructors are evaluated. Reflection is a reflexive process through which you think critically about your learning and conduct meaningful self-investigations.

 

Q: What are "General Education" and "Core Skills?"

A:  General Education at SPCC refers to a series of classes at SPCC that are designed to provide a foundation of learning for all students. General education introduces students to fundamental ideas and intellectual activities of a college and fosters “core skills” that help students succeed in their personal, academic, professional, and civic lives. The General Education program at SPCC includes courses in Writing and Composition, Communication, Humanities/Fine Arts, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. Depending on a students’ program of study, General Education may include 30-45 credits.

Core Skills at SPCC refers to the five skills areas cultivated through the General Education program. SPCC recognizes these six skills as essential for everyone, regardless of their major or intended career. In fact, competence in the core skill areas is essential for students to have productive personal and civic lives. At SPCC, the following core skills are fostered through the General Education program:

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Critical Thinking

Cultural Literacy

Technology

 

Q: What are Program Outcomes?

A: In addition to completing General Education at SPCC, students complete an academic program. You most likely call this your “major.” Each major, or program, establishes “learning outcomes,” or knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes that are expected of program graduates. Not all programs require students to submit showcase artifacts related to their program outcomes. To find out whether your major has a program outcome ePortfolio requirement, see the Program Ed Outcomes page.

 

Q: Why do I have to structure my ePortfolio a certain way?

A: SPCC allows students as much freedom and flexibility as possible when creating their ePortfolios. You may choose which software platform with which to build your ePortfolio, you may choose all design elements for your ePortfolio, and you may choose the extent to which you personalize your ePortfolio. However, SPCC does require students to follow a common organizational scheme to ensure that instructions are clear, that all students know the minimum amount of information they need to include, and so members of SPCC staff (class instructors, support staff in the Academic Support Center, and faculty advisors) may easily navigate the ePortfolios and provide efficient assistance to students.

 

Q: How much flexibility do I have in designing my ePortfolio?

A: All ePortfolios should follow the common organizational scheme. Therefore, you must include the following categories: Welcome, Personal Introduction, Goals, General Education, Program Education, Additional Educational Experiences, and Resume. Please refer to the Components page for an overview of what should be included on each page. While your portfolio must include the identified pages/content, feel free to re-name the pages something more creative, if you so desire. The important thing is that the pages and content are present. Beyond that, you are free to design the ePortfolio as you wish. In fact, personalization is highly encouraged. Feel free to express yourself! Beyond labels for pages, you may choose a color scheme, pictures, sound, video, etc.

 

Q: Can I put material that is not my own in the ePortfolio?

A: No. You may only include content and reflections that you create in your ePortfolio. Of course, your artifacts may include citations from sources you’ve used. Since the ePortfolio is a collection of you and your reflections to enhance learning, all associated work must be of your creation. Including work that is not yours constitutes academic dishonesty, and would be handled accordingly. For design and aesthetic purposes only, should you include images, audio, or video that you did not create, be sure to appropriately cite such materials.

 

Q: Can I include pictures or videos in my ePortfolio?

A: Yes. You are encouraged to include a variety of media—images, videos, sounds, etc. that reflect your learning or that help to personalize your ePortfolio. In certain cases, such as the Oral Communication Core Skill, you will have to submit a video (of a presentation).

 

Q: How much more work will this require for students?

A: Completion of the ePortfolio requires additional. Students in ACA 122 will build the initial template for their ePortfolios. Once the template is built, it is used in your subsequent courses. For each of the General Education Core Skills and for each of the Program Outcomes, you will at least one showcase artifact and a minimum of 3 paragraphs of reflection. The artifacts you submit are the assignments from your classes. Your instructors may or may not require written reflection for your classes.  However, reflection is required for your ePortfolio. While the ePortfolio will take some additional time, the key is to maintain the ePortfolio as you go.

 

Q: Do I have to purchase upgraded platforms to construct my ePortfolio?

A: No. While you may choose to use any software platform that leads to a web-based portfolio, your ACA 122 instructor, video tutorials, and workshops will discuss the platform that SPCC supports: Wix. You can build quality ePortfolios without upgrading to paid versions of any platform.

 

Q: Do I have to use a specific type of computer to create my ePortfolio? What if I don’t have a computer?

A: You can use a Windows or a Mac computer with the latest versions of an internet browser. Do not use Internet Explorer. However, you may use Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or other browsers, provided that they are the most recent versions. If you do not have a computer or internet access, you may use a computer in one of the libraries or in one of the Academic Support Centers.

 

Q: Should I have a backup of my ePortfolio and its contents?

A: Yes. You should have a backup of everything contained within your ePortfolio. Should you somehow lose material, you are responsible to have the appropriate backup.

 

Q: Why do I have to use Wix to construct my ePortfolio?

A: We recommend that you choose Wix because SPCC faculty and staff are most familiar with this platform. You may choose any software platform, as long as you end up with a web-based site that can be shared with SPCC faculty and staff. You may not choose a social networking site, including but not limited to: MySpace, Facebook, Blogger, etc.

SPCC does not endorse or take responsibility for problems you encounter with any site.

 

Q: Do my instructors teach me how to build my ePortfolio?

A: No. You will learn to build your site in ACA 122, which you should take your first semester. You may also find assistance in the Academic Support Centers (130 Horne Library in Polkton; 155 in Building A in Monroe).

 

Q: How much involvement will my instructors have as I construct my ePortfolio?

A: Your ACA 122 instructor will help you with the initial set-up of your ePortfolio.  Otherwise, your instructors will have limited roles as you construct your ePortfolio. Your instructors may suggest assignments for inclusion in your ePortfolios, some instructors may require the reflection as part of a course grade, and some instructors may provide further instruction. However, the ePortfolio is a reflection of your overall General Education and Program experiences. As such, an individual instructor and class will play limited roles.

 

Q: Who can I contact if I need help with my ePortfolio?

A: There are many places at SPCC you can find help regarding your ePortfolio. First, many of your questions will be answered by reading the information on the ePortfolio website. It provides information about how to set-up the portfolio, what types of assignments to include, how to write your reflections, etc. Further, if you are taking ACA 122, you should talk with your instructor for guidance through the set-up process. If you have already taken ACA 122, please schedule a time at one of the Academic Support Centers (Room 130 of the Horne Library at the Polkton Campus; Room 155 in Building A at the Monroe Campus). You can receive help in-person or virtually from the Academic Support Center.  Help is also available on the Support page.

 

Q: Who can I contact if I need help with Wix?

A: You can receive help in-person or virtually from an ePortfolio assistant inthe Academic Support Center (Room 130 of the Horne Library at the Polkton Campus; Room 155 in Building A at the Monroe Campus). In addition, you may always access Wix technical support at www.wix.com. It is recommended that you view the tutorials found by clicking on the Support link at the top of the Wix home page.

 

Q: What if I get behind on constructing my ePortfolio?

A: Of course, our recommendation is that you do not get behind on your ePortfolio. If you follow the timeframe for completing the ePortfolio, you should be in good shape. Getting too far behind on the ePortfolio will make the process more difficult for you in the end. However, sometimes life’s events make it difficult to stay on track. Therefore, if you do get behind, you should work to catch up as soon as possible. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged, which causes us to fall even more behind. Do not allow yourself to get into this situation. If you start to fall behind, you have several options. First, schedule a time with an ePortfolio assistant in one of the Academic Support Centers. They can work with you to set a realistic timetable to get back on track. The key is to maintain your ePortfolio as you go.

 

Q:  Who will have access to my ePortfolio?

A: At SPCC, your instructors, your advisors, academic support staff, and the ePortfolio Director will need access to your ePortfolio. Beyond those groups of people, you can determine who has access. Depending on which platform you choose, you can hide your ePortfolio from web searches. Wix, the platform that SPCC recommends, allows you to hide your site from search engines.

 

Q: Who will own my ePortfolio when I’m finished at SPCC?

A: At all times, you are the owner of your ePortfolio. Once you leave SPCC, you can continue to use your ePortfolio. If you transfer to a 4-year college or university, we encourage you to continue to use the ePortfolio as a way to enhance and document your learning. You could simply adapt the ePortfolio to include a new section for the courses you take at your new institution. If you leave SPCC for a career, you can transform your ePortfolio to function as an online resume.

 

Q: How do I submit my ePortfolio?

A: Actually, you should submit your ePortfolio in two stages. First, during the semester before you plan to graduate, you should schedule an appointment with one of the Academic Support Centers to have an ePortfolio Assistant review and critique your ePortfolio. Be sure to give yourself enough time to revise your ePortfolio based on recommendations from the Academic Support Center staff. At least one month prior to submitting your application for graduation to your academic advisor, you should submit your ePortfolio for review usign Taskstream. The Director of Academic Enrichment Programs will check that your ePortfolio is complete. Once approved, you can apply for graduation. Therefore, be sure to give yourself enough time to make any required changes to your ePortfolio.

 

Q: How is my ePortfolio scored/graded?

A: The ePortfolio itself is not graded; however, it is a graduation requirement. Parts of the ePortfolio will be graded in certain classes. For example, initial set-up of the ePortfolio will be graded in ACA 122 and individual assignments and reflections may be graded throughout a student’s program. As a graduation requirement, the ePortfolio is satisfactory when a completed ePortfolio is submitted via TaskStream one month prior to the student’s application for graduation. The Director of Academic will use a checklist to determine the following:

• The required components of the ePortfolio are present:  Welcome, Personal Introduction, Goals, General Education, Program Education, Additional Educational Experiences, Resume.

• There are sufficient artifacts present for each General Education Core Skill and for each Program Outcomes (at least two per skill/outcome).

• There is sufficient reflection for each of the skills/outcomes. Sufficient not only applies to length, but also to quality.

• The ePortfolio is well-designed, both functionally and aesthetically.

• The ePortfolio is free from major stylistic, grammatical, and mechanical errors in writing.

If the above criteria are not met, students will be notified of changes that are required prior being approved for graduation.

 

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