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Jude Comfort
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Employing students to promote eportfolio use –
a win-win scenario
Jude Comfort and Hannah JagoCurtin University
Perth, Western [email protected]
ePortfolios Australia Conference, October 2011
Curtin’s iPortfolio trialled in 2009, implemented more in 2010
iPortfolio online space for students/staff to allow for self-assessment of learning achievements and professional competencies, sharing and feedback mechanisms and a showcase of achievements
2011 wider use including to several large units Notably Foundations in Professional Health Practice
(cohort 1700 in semester 1, 2011) where some assessment tasks used iPortfolio
In Health now integrated into several units and courses across all faculties and as of April 2011 there were 27,000 iPortfolio account holders
Background
Number of strategies provide support. Core has been iPortfolio Student Support
Officers Curtin students who get paid as casual
employees to provide support Have become first port of call technical
assistance and feedback to users Part of an ‘earn as you learn’ initiative Uses principles of peer team approach
Need for support
Staffing lunchtime shop front help desk 2 hours each teaching day
Respond to emails to [email protected] Provide assistance to lecturing staff in
practical aspects of using iPortfolio with a class
Deliver promotional/introductory sessions to students and staff
Running iPortfolio Elluminate sessions (virtual classroom)
IPSSO duties
IPSSO help desk in action
Busy day – assignment due next afternoon
Recruitment semester 1 from Curtin student mentors through simple EOI
Interview process Short training session run by iPortfolio
Officer Semester 2 EOI to large first year health
science class cohort On the job training by first year
‘experienced’ IPSSOs
Implementing the scheme
Use/cost of IPSSOs2011 Semester 1(13 weeks data – full semester)
2011Semester 2 (11 weeks data)
In-person consultations
159 44
Email queries 140 66
Staffing 4 commenced3 continued
3 continued2 new first year
recruited
Hours worked Generally 2 IPSSOs for 2 hours weekdays
Generally 2 IPSSOs for 2 hours weekdays
Approx cost (admin + salary)
$7,000 $6,000
Major categories reported to IPSSOs (1st semester data only)
Uploading evidence
Navigation
Introduction to iPort
Deleting items
Assessment tasks
Connection issues
Editing tasks
Other
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
percent
Benefits to University Small well qualified cohort of iPortfolio student
helpers Provide student perspective on using iPortfolio. Benefitting from many brains working on tech
solutions Provide valuable feedback to information technology
team responsible for the technical aspects of the system
Feedback on issues lecturers may need to know in setting assessment work
Student/peer led support program Provides great ‘earn as you learn’ experience Connects students with Curtin services Students become our promotion staff
‘Very helpful, didn’t make me feel stupid for not understanding iPortfolio.’
‘A very helpful experience – relaxed and not intimidating. Thanks for this service.’
‘Very helpful and able to undo and fix my computing problems.’
‘Thank goodness they are here to help as I was shown other computer things that will also make it easier for me.’
What students who used the service said
Earning opportunity with connection to uni No need to travel to work Flexibility around study commitments using
rostered approach Impressive addition to CV Students develop unique skill base of
transferable skills e.g. customer service, IT, presentation skills
Allows for fairly autonomous work environment Peer to peer learning & promoting peer led teams Positive working environment
Benefits to student officers
Advertising scheme to whole Curtin community Inconsistent workflow; busy times/quieter times
often driven by assessment demands Being able to ascertain if problem is system
wide or a specific individual portfolio Responding to wide variation in IT competency Ensuring peer training is adequate Finding the best place for them to be situated
on campus
Challenges
Need ongoing recruitment to ensure continuity as some IPSSOs will graduate end of this year
Need for ongoing training and updating (model will be to recruit new students semester 2 year 1 with hope to have them for 2.5 years)
Ongoing funding/management resource commitment required
As better trained Curtin community less demand for helpline then need to ensure other uses of IPSSOs
Sustainability issues
Continuing with use of IPSSOs Using IPSSOs for wider range of iPortfolio
promotion e.g. delivering Open Day events, running Elluminate sessions, producing instructional videos
Looking at offering more advanced user sessions
Need creative solutions to serving non Bentley based staff and students
More tailored support for staff using iPortfolio in teaching
Where next?
