A Heuristic for the Design and Creation of Student Electronic Portfolios

(Source: Adapted from K. Yancey, “Student Digital Portfolios,” in Barbara Cambridge, Susan Kahn, Dan Tompkins, and Kathleen Blake Yancey, eds., Electronic Portfolios: Emerging Practices in Student, Faculty and Institutional Learning. Washington, D. C.: American Association of Higher Education, 2001.)

· What is/are the purpose/s of the portfolio?

· How familiar is the portfolio concept? Is the familiarity a plus or minus?

· How familiar is the use of digital technologies? Is this useful central to the program, or peripheral? Is the use included in any statement of student outcomes?

· Who wants to create an electronic portfolio, and why?

· Who wants to read an electronic portfolio, and why?

· Why electronic? What about the electronic is central to the model? And is there sufficient infrastructure (resources, knowledge, and commitment) to support the electronic portfolio?

· What processes are entailed? What resources are presumed?

· What faculty development component does the model assume or include?

· What skillset will the students need to develop?

· What curricular enhancement does the model assume or include?

· How will the portfolio be introduced?

· How will the portfolio be reviewed?

· What are the benefits? For students, the program, and the school?

· What will the WPA learn?