Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is experiencing a dichotomy in perceptions surrounding its general education e-portfolio program. While some students express criticism about the platform, the program has received commendations within national and international higher education circles.
Emily Thompson, director of SLCC ePortfolio, highlighted the program’s benefits, referring to it as a high-impact teaching practice. She emphasized that the e-portfolio encourages creativity and facilitates diverse learning experiences among students.
Thompson shared her insights at the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEBL) conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, in July 2023. She reported a strong positive response from educators and administrators looking for innovative teaching methods in general education.
David Hubert, associate provost for learning advancement at SLCC, was in agreement with Thompson’s sentiments. He stated that SLCC’s e-portfolio program is nationally recognized, often serving as a resource for other institutions seeking to develop or enhance their own e-portfolio initiatives.
The strengths of the e-portfolio are evident in its design, requiring students to complete at least one signature assignment and a written reflection for every general education class. These assignments combine personal experiences with academic insights, fostering deeper connections between students’ lives and their studies.
Thompson believes that helping students link their new knowledge to real-life experiences enhances engagement with learning. She pointed out that well-implemented e-portfolios encourage students to become more intentional and reflective learners. This approach helps them view general education not as a series of disconnected courses but as a cohesive foundation for future educational and personal growth.
One of the distinguishing features of SLCC is its diverse student population, the largest among colleges in the state. The e-portfolio program’s flexibility allows students to choose from a range of general education classes that align with their interests rather than adhering to a rigid course sequence.
Despite ongoing improvements to the e-portfolio platform, SLCC administration stands firm on not changing how general education is taught or accredited. According to Hubert, the relevance of the e-portfolio program persists, maintaining its value since its inception.
While the administration does recognize student concerns regarding the e-portfolio, they approach these issues with understanding. Thompson expressed empathy for students who may struggle with the platform, suggesting that some complaints arise from misinformation or technical challenges that could be resolved with proper assistance.
Additionally, she acknowledged a phenomenon dubbed ‘change exhaustion,’ as students adapt to a recent transition from the Digication platform to SharePoint. Some continuing students have chosen to remain on Digication to avoid the disruption of changing platforms before graduation.
One prevalent complaint from students is that potential employers seem uninterested in their e-portfolio work, rendering their efforts invisible beyond classroom walls. In addressing this concern, Thompson explained that e-portfolios have two distinct components: the internal ‘reflections’ meant for professors and personal learning documentation, and the outward-facing side where students can showcase their work to the world, including prospective employers.
“I suspect students might not always know how to build and utilize the outward-facing side,” Thompson said, indicating a potential gap in knowledge on how to best leverage the e-portfolio for professional visibility.
Students have the ability to grant access to their SharePoint e-portfolios to others beyond professors, although this requires viewers to create a Microsoft account and log in. Furthermore, students can use other platforms, such as Google Docs, to share select e-portfolio assignments more broadly, though it’s important to note that this may compromise the security of their work.
Hubert shared his own positive experience with e-portfolios, both personally and professionally. He maintains a personal e-portfolio where he reflects on his reading and shares annual life adventures, as well as a professional e-portfolio that he updates with his administrative and teaching accomplishments. For him, these practices not only enhance his professional relationship with his boss but also contribute to his growth as an educator and administrator.
As SLCC continues to navigate the complexities of its e-portfolio program, there’s a glimmer of hope that the unrealized potential of the e-portfolio will eventually be fulfilled, bridging creativity and connections for students in both their educational and professional journeys.
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