Research shows that students are better able to critically assess and comprehend materials when our assignments and assessments include an element of reflection. Using ePortfolios in the class is one method to help instructors incorporate reflection in the classroom.
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| Jackson Jennings, Assistant Director of STEAM Student Success and Clinical Assistant Professor. | Shelly Walters, Associate Director of Instructional Design & Support Services. |
Jackson Jennings, Assistant Director of STEAM Student Success and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences department, and Shelly Walters, Associate Director of Instructional Design & Support Services, gave a presentation on ePortfolios called Eportfolios: The Why and How at the April TIPS for Teaching with Technology
Jackson Jennings discussed the ePortfolio system he used in his class this semester and Shelly Walters discussed strategies and assignments designed to increase critical reflection in your course.
ePortfolios are the resume of the modern day. They are a collection of artifacts. Anything that the student experienced, created or has done. They are all the things that can demonstrate to an employer that the student has what they’re looking for.
- Pictures
- Lab reports
- Stories
- Essays
We have a system for organizing the artifacts here at the university that utilizes the Optimal Resume system. It can be used to pick out the best artifacts for a given situation.
Professor Jennings recommends using another way to present the information than Optimal Resume, however, because there aren’t as many opportunities for formatting there. His favorite choice for this was Wix.
Reflections of course work can make excellent assignments that students can add to their ePortfolios. It’s important to note that you’ll often get students who are just reporting back what they did in their reflections. You want to encourage them to slow down and really think about what they’re learning and how that knowledge relates to what they previously learned. Have them do these reflections throughout the semester. It will help them to see how their reflections have changed and developed throughout the semester.
These reflections can be completed through video with Kaltura or simply as assignments in Blackboard.
Suggested Prompts
- What surprised you the most about…?
- What do you wish you would have known? What would you do differently?
- How are you going to implement this?
- Describe the process/concept as a metaphor.
- How has what you have done/learned this semester changed/challenged/or expanded your thinking about…?
If you would like more information on how to incorporate technology into your courses, reach out to us at tips@uark.edu.
This content was developed from a presentation by Jackson Jennings and Shelly Walters 
which was sponsored by the TIPS Team and The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center (TFSC) at the University of Arkansas.
The presentation can be downloaded and viewed as a PDF.