Professor Rob Whelan (Dean)

Professor John Morrison & Ms Marina McGlinn

School of Earth & Environmental Sciences

ePortfolio & Graduate Qualities:the Science experience

Graduate Qualities - a history

‘Graduate attributes’ for AUQA

Not a good scorecard

5 ‘Graduate Qualities’ to replace them

University-wide… to be expanded for specific faculties or courses

How?

Faculty of Science process

FEC

AdvisoryCommitteeforum

AdvisoryCommitteeworking group

FECworking

group

FEC

Course-specific

GQs

Mappingproject

ePortfolioproject

Faculty Advisory Committee

Faculty Advisory Committee

Forum – October 2006Robin Batterham, Steve Morton, Ron EkersTraining & education needs for Uni Science graduates in 21st Century

Working group – June 2007Committee & FEC & Advanced Science students

Graduate Qualities

InformedSound knowledge, apply it, understand development

Independent learnersNew ideas & critical analysis, research & reflection, source

and acknowledge information Problem solvers

Logical, critical & creative thinking, decision-making, innovation & flexibility

Effective communicatorsRange of media, collaboration & negotiation, awareness of

cultural differences Responsible

Respect other points of view, make ethical choices, respect diversity, act with integrity

Pilot

Bachelor of Environmental ScienceENVI391/491 (spring 2007)Capstone subject - integrating across

disciplines

“Prepare a personal ePortfolio and submit a report on how the evidence collected and reflected on demonstrates your progress towards the work-related skills or 'goals' necessary for a Science graduate.”

5%

Some outcomes…

Generally poor response - didn’t find it easy to:Define & interpret ‘goals’ in the

toolAssign evidence to graduate

qualities and science-specific skills

Reflect on attainmentUse the ePortfolio tool

Some other outcomes…

Students added examples from outside Uni work

Reported that it highlighted career-relevant skills

Used published ads to identify skills needed

March 2008 survey

Increased self-awareness of acquisition of GQs

Revealed different ways of displaying skills

Wanted ePortfolio archived

Made available to potential employer - got summer job

Need it at start of degree - add to it progressively

Where to next?

FEC

AdvisoryCommitteeforum

AdvisoryCommitteeworking group

FECworking

group

FEC

Course-specific

GQs

Mappingproject

ePortfolioproject