Using and Integrating e-Learning Tools: VLEs, e-Portfolios and Shared Workspaces
The integration of e-learning tools, such as Virtual Learning Environments, e-portfolios and shared workspaces, are opening up new opportunities to create better integrated virtual learning spaces. These systems aim to provide a focus for student learning activities and their management and facilitation, along with the provision of content (Conole, 2004).
e-Portfolios can either be personal digital records containing information such as personal profiles and collection of achievements or a combination of mixed media (EIfEL). e-Portfolios can support a range of functions, from providing records of achievement to supporting student reflection and assessment. The figure below shows an example of an e-Portfolio used to help students reflect upon their learning. This example is from a Masters course in Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The course tutors noticed that when students were asked to collaborate within groups, there were often problems in terms of time management and around the effectiveness of assigning roles to each of the students. The e-portfolio was used as a means by which all students and tutors could review the information and resources pertaining to the group project. The students designed the structure, with advice from the tutors.
The figure below shows the students' reflections midway through their project.
To encourage students to think about their current and future progress, they were required to provide a progress report on a weekly basis through a project log, to reflect upon this and to draw up a plan of action for the coming week. Mid-way through their project, the students are aware that the tutor is concerned about their progress. They draw up a plan of action and improve the overall effectiveness of their work plan. Without the e-portfolio, the tutors would not have had sufficient information on project progress to offer level of feedback and help students get their project back on track.
There are other systems that support student collaboration - including shared workspaces. A 'shared workspace' is a software system that can support a number of functions including document upload, event notification, group management and so on. Shared workspaces are useful to students working on collaborative group projects. Although they provide a good environment for informal archiving, they are not useful as communication tools. An example of an open source shared workspace system is Tiki-Wiki shown below.
This figure illustrates a file gallery where students can store and share learning materials.
Integration of learning tools is important in order to allow students to manage and share their own work-in-progress documents and learning resources, for example using shared workspaces and e-portfolios. Effective interoperability of systems depends on the implementation of underpinning learning technology standards.
In December 2005 we launched a more substantial resource on e-portfolios.
