Policy Implications of

Research on eFolio

Minnesota

Policy Implications of

Research on eFolio

MinnesotaDarren CambridgeGoodenough College,

LondonApril 10, 2023

Darren CambridgeGoodenough College,

LondonApril 10, 2023

eFolio MinnesotaeFolio Minnesota

Organizational Context

Research Results Policy Implications

Organizational Context

Research Results Policy Implications

eFolio BackgroundeFolio Background

A project of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU)

Launched Fall 2003 Available to all residents of Minnesota

30,000 active users as of April 2005 with linear growth

Planned interoperability with Open Source Portfolio at University of Minnesota

A project of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU)

Launched Fall 2003 Available to all residents of Minnesota

30,000 active users as of April 2005 with linear growth

Planned interoperability with Open Source Portfolio at University of Minnesota

Funding and Leadership

Funding and Leadership

MnSCU leading as an entrepreneurial agency

Initial funding part of a larger grant from the Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)

MnSCU leading as an entrepreneurial agency

Initial funding part of a larger grant from the Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)

Service Model Service Model

Centralized technology support Avenet eFolio Phone technical support (rarely needed)

Distributed programmatic support Colleges, universities, workforce development centers, schools

Small grants from MnSCU

Centralized technology support Avenet eFolio Phone technical support (rarely needed)

Distributed programmatic support Colleges, universities, workforce development centers, schools

Small grants from MnSCU

Individual FocusIndividual Focus

Focus on individual use for lifelong and lifewide learning

Minimal centralized control Software and documentation encourages broad range of uses

See what works for individuals, then do more of that

Focus on individual use for lifelong and lifewide learning

Minimal centralized control Software and documentation encourages broad range of uses

See what works for individuals, then do more of that

Research ResultsResearch Results

Age not a factor High level of use across all six categories of use

Educational planning central

Frequent role shifts Little perceived impact of institutional support

Age not a factor High level of use across all six categories of use

Educational planning central

Frequent role shifts Little perceived impact of institutional support

Factors Influencing Level of Impact

Factors Influencing Level of Impact

Audience Real

Evidence of reading and response

Imagined: Clear intended audience Being “out there”

Ownership Integrity

Integration of personal and professional

Currency

Audience Real

Evidence of reading and response

Imagined: Clear intended audience Being “out there”

Ownership Integrity

Integration of personal and professional

Currency

Ways Institutional Support Matters

Ways Institutional Support Matters

Audience: Technology’s impact of findability, connectivity

Collaborative contexts of portfolio authorship

Ownership Introduction that embraces lifelong and lifewide learning

Technology that supports user adaptation

Audience: Technology’s impact of findability, connectivity

Collaborative contexts of portfolio authorship

Ownership Introduction that embraces lifelong and lifewide learning

Technology that supports user adaptation

Policy ImplicationsPolicy Implications

Minimize barriers to entry Introduce in way that addresses a wide range of uses

Provide support for collaborative development

Cultivate real audiences with real stakes

Interoperability through partnerships Bottom up from actual individual practice as well as top down through standards process

Allow sufficient space to see what people actually care about doing

Minimize barriers to entry Introduce in way that addresses a wide range of uses

Provide support for collaborative development

Cultivate real audiences with real stakes

Interoperability through partnerships Bottom up from actual individual practice as well as top down through standards process

Allow sufficient space to see what people actually care about doing