--- Forwarded Message from 15.5 ---

From: Kelly Davidson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:02:53 -0500
Subject: Re: #9556 Electronic portfolios
To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum	<[log in to unmask]>

At Clemson we have developed a Languages ePortfolio that expands on the University  
requirements for a general education ePortfolio.  This not only provides a more  
personalized portfolio-type assessment of a student's work over  their college  
career, it also gives them the functional skills needed to develop a basic website  
that they can then build on in the future.  Broad concepts are covered as well  
as more detailed considerations.  For example, while students are encouraged to  
put together a summary of their course work and identify elements that are relevant  
to their future goals, they are also guided through the process of creating and  
editing a cover letter and resume/CV in English and the target language.  With  
the combined guidance of advisors, the Language Lab, and the Career Center, students  
can identify important focus areas for these types of documents, including even  
a country specific component if they are so inclined.  We also encourage them  
to include relevant samples of their work in different areas; this seems to work  
well as the Modern Languages Spanish major might have a different goal and different  
set of course work than the Language and International Trade Spanish major.  In  
this way, we try to walk the fine line between providing a strong framework for  
the development of such a resource and also allowing students the academic and  
creative freedom to meet their personal goals.
The course that we offer as guidance is a 2-credit, pass/fail course.  It combines  
structured class time sessions with myself (as Languages ePortfolio Advisor and  
Language Lab Director), representatives from the University ePortfolio Center,  
the Career Center, and the IT Department, and other guest speakers that share  
personalized insights on technological, academic, and professional resources.  
  Students are also required to meet individually with their advisors and me.   
We decided to structure the course this way (a combination of class meetings and  
individual meetings) to give students both a solid foundation and a personalized  
approach.
At this point, while the Languages ePortfolio is required of almost all graduating  
seniors, it is not the official assessment of senior student work within our Department;  
we have been exploring the idea of how to make it a major part of their finishing  
work as seniors.  We use Google Sites to develop the ePortfolios as that is the  
University directive, but students are encouraged to incorporate other resources  
if they would like to do so.  Although many students are apprehensive when starting  
their work, as soon as they work with the site for a few hours they become much  
more comfortable and enthusiastic and recognize the value of the project.

Kelly F. Davidson, Ph.D.
Language Lab Director
Lecturer in French
Coordinator of First Year French
Department of Languages ePortfolio Advisor
Director, Clemson French Immersion: Belgium

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Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634
Tel: (864) 656.3458
Fax: (864) 656.0258

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