Keynote at AAEEBL Western Regional Conference

AAEEBL SLC Feb11

View more presentations from Helen Barrett

Here are the slides for my presentation on Monday, February 28, at the AAEEBL Western Regional Conference, held at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. I really liked their theme: A Life of Learning: EPortfolios for Education and Beyond. Of course, I captured some of the #11waaeebl tweets (these are less than half of the tweets... a prolific group of tweeters!):

• #eportfolios How can we use the tools students have in their pockets to capture the moment? - Helen Barrett
• Barrett capture and storing evidence: mobile phones to capture
• Barrett Balancing two faces diagram is here: http://bit.ly/hZYuo4
• Barrett video on mobile technology http://youtu.be/6mCkbrYKQyI
• Barrett suggests Pink's "Drive" to identify intrinsic motivations for reflective learning in ePortfolios. http://is.gd/XBMux3
• Barrett advantage of mobile is ability to capture the moment with technology-blog, mobile phone, etc.
• Barrett create environment that allows people to find their voice, explore their purpose through choice
• Barrett Pink's studies on intrinsic motivation choice and voice makes difference on dev. his website: http://bit.ly/R5gzD
• Barrett-eportfolios should be less about talking; should be more about conversation rather than presentation
• Digital Dossier project [video] illustrates centrality to our identity. http://is.gd/0jURHD
• Barrett "we don't learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience." quote of Dewey
• #eportfolios -- Helen Barrett says that it is reflection that makes all the difference -- A dialog about learning is key!
• portfolios are tied closely to the ideas of Kolb's experiential learning model (expanded by other theorists).
• Barrett referred to JISC model http://bit.ly/BJYKz
• Barrett social networking is a significant part of upcoming generations' lives
• #eportfolios Listening to Helen Barrett talk about "Is there a portfolio in your pocket?" Great conference!
• Barrett Social networking: connect (friending), listen (reading), respond, commenting) share (linking)
• digital dossier video http://www.teach42.com/2009/02/19/your-digital-dossier/ (here it is with comments from @teach42)
• Digital Dossier -for more go to harvard center that compiles a lot of information http://bit.ly/gdsE9f
• RT @idaj: Barrett's reference to 5 reasons your online life has replaced your resume is at http://bit.ly/gQq3Gh
• Digital Dossier: photos of kids which are uploaded to flickr, FB, email, multimedia messages, with info
• Barrett noted that there's a high school in Canada ? who are developing their Digital Dossier
• Barrett says a signficant number of toddlers already have a presence on the internet--wow!
• Barret's reference to 5 reasons article-the article is at http://bit.ly/gQq3Gh
• Barrett article from Forbes: 5 reasons why your online presence will replace your resume in 10 years
• Barrett quotes drucker: success in knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves-"
• Barrett: in sum, eportfolios as a way for all to get better sense of who they are
• Slides for Helen Barrett's keynote, "Is the future of ePortfolios in your pocket"? http://is.gd/DSYarL
• Barrett-summarizing b. Cambridge ePortf: support deep learning, reflection development, integrative, self directive and lifelong
• 4 pilars-- portfolio as mirror (self-awareness) portfolio as map (self-direction), meta cognition, and self-monitoring.
• Barrett self-monitoring-responsibility to construct meaning; be reflective and think critically, reflective journals in eport.
• #11waaeebl Barrett- meta learning-awareness of learning and different approach, deep vs. surface learning; help learners recognize success
• Barrett-self-management as goal of eportfolio provide a map, e.g. set goals for future learning
• Barrett self-awareness focuses on understanding prior knowledge; eportfolio can be a mirror
• portfolios can provide a sense of ownership, but also support reflection for lifelong learning
• Barrett discussed diagram of lifelong learning with 4 pillars, self awareness, self monitoring, self management, meta learning
• Barrett because ownership engenders feelings of pride & sense of accomplishment
• Barrett-purpose for portfolios: overarching purpose is to create a sense of personal ownership over one's accomplishments...
• Barrett-eportfolio support many diff processes; celebrate learning, personal planning, transition to courses, emplym, assessment
• Barrett social networking (e.g.FB & Twitter), used to collaborate, facilitate employment, etc.
• Barrett ePortfolios have been used almost 2 decades now for variety of purposes
• Barrett: portfolio: concept, philosophy, process, etc. DiVinci was one of the first keepers of a portfolio
• Barrett said the DaVinci was the first keep of the portfolio historically
• Barrett- when we use the word portfolio, be sure to use an adjective in front, e.g. learning portfolio
• Barrett prtfolio has differnet meanings-some as concept, philosophy, process, pedagogy, product, tool
• Barrett today's theme, among other things, is mobile technology and some social networks

I was impressed with the breakout sessions that I attended during the day. I found out that Salt Lake Community College provided support for students to create their portfolios in one of three different online tools: weebly.com, wordpress.com, yola.com.  They created tutorials for students in each of the sites: Weebly, WordPress, Yola. Very impressive! I also heard from University of Washington Bothell Campus who are using Google Sites.

In a panel on Transitions from K-12 to Higher Education:Eportfolios and Admissions, one of the college admissions director mentioned that an electronic portfolio could show that a student could perform the 3 C's: Create, Collaborate, Communicate.

In the panel on Transitions from Higher Education to Work: Eportfolios and Employment, there are employers present who had interesting comments about using eportfolios in job applications and hiring:

• the differences between academic portfolios and showcase/career portfolios... and differences between disciplines; 
• the importance of professional/career portfolios; 
• involve career services in convincing students of the value of building a portfolio; 
• helping students learn how to present themselves; 
• helping students make the connection between academics and careers; 
• smart kids bringing iPads into interviews to showcase specific achievements!

This was a very interactive conference (especially the panels and table discussions on the second day). Westminster College did a great job of putting together this conference.