Using E Portfolios For Program Assessment: Some Observations

In the Internet age, electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are growing in popularity in colleges and universities across the nation. E-portfolios have been incorporated in higher education to facilitate many aspects of education such as student learning, student achievement, and program assessment. This paper provides a direct insight into the value of e-portfolios in the overall higher educational process including program assessment. What is an e-portfolio, and how does it differ from the more traditional paper-based portfolio? E-portfolios go far beyond collection of artifacts, and are seen as a dynamic tool for constructive learning and future planning such as career goals. Development of the e-portfolios starts early during the educational process and may require evaluation at different stages of the E-portfolio preparation, such as the initial review during the sophomore year, mid-level review during the junior year, and the final review during the senior year. This paper describes the design considerations in the creation of good eportfolio in the context of reflection and assessment of the effectiveness of a course or an educational program, and the design considerations that go into the creation of a good portfolio. The framework of e-portfolios depends on the end user of the portfolio.