UGA’s Center for Teaching and Learning hosted the Southeast regional conference of the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning in early November. The conference theme centered on “Conceptions, Misconceptions and Best Practices: The Whys and Hows of ePortfolios.”
Organized by CTL director Eddie Watson, the conference included participants from Auburn University, Virginia Tech, Clemson University, UNC Asheville, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, the University of West Georgia and Texas Christian University as well attendees from UGA and other colleges across the state.
The conference, now in its fifth year and previously hosted at Virginia Tech and Clemson, was designed for faculty to learn more about engaging students with innovative learning technologies and deep learning pedagogies.
Electronic portfolios, or ePortfolios, are tools that enable students to create an online portfolio containing projects, papers, designs, media, résumés and other artifacts of learning. This process enables students to make connections between assignments and courses while also allowing them to share their academic and professional accomplishments with advisers, professors, peers and potential employers.
“Several programs in UGA’s College of Education and the English department in the Franklin College are currently using ePortfolios for student learning and assessment,” said Watson, who is also the executive editor of the International Journal of ePortfolio.
“The process of developing an ePortfolio, reflecting on work and getting input from others is invaluable to the student,” Watson said. “These tools are also an exceptional way for students to capture learning experiences that take place beyond the classroom through service-learning, study abroad and other opportunities.
“The ePortfolio reflection process is beneficial to them, and the resulting product can enable institutions to assess learning outcomes associated with those co-curricular experiences,” he also said.
UGA will host the sixth annual conference again next fall.