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Growing up with Mahara
Sam TaylorLearning Technologist
@samwisefox
Southampton Solent University
● ‘Modern’ University
● South Coast of UK
● Key aims:
o Employability
o Social Justice
o Business Engagement
● 18,000 students
Research 2008 - 2009
Led by Dr Barbara Lee, supported by academics,
support staff, career advisors and learning
technology experts:
How are SSU supporting Personal Development?
(Course audits)
How do learners record their progress?
(Questionnaires)
Could an ePortfolio support and encourage more
learners to focus on their development?
(Focus groups with staff and students)
Choosing a system
Elgg
My Stuff
Pebblepad
Mahara
Wordpress
Moodle
Why Mahara?
o Demo site to play with
o Open Source
o Moodle
o Amazing community!
The first steps…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Flickr_-_law_keven_-_Not_such_an_ugly_duckling..-O))).jpg
Mahara animation:
https://youtu.be/Y32NoAgN9Ik
Pilot study 2009-2010
Mahara trialled with a handful of
units/modules
Usability-tested help resources
Gained feedback from staff and
students
‘Customised’ Mahara Theme
Language
Help
Outcomes 2010:
Students liked it, but not until
they ‘got it’
Language needs to change to
reflect UK terminology
Lecturers were keen to not get
involved
Having help resources were
useful
Conclusion:
Dedicated help site to be produced to support
all staff
Dedicated guides for Personal
Development advice to be made
available
Careers experts to write help
text for Resumé Builder (CV)
Full-scale Mahara adoption to
commence September 2010
“But please, can we use it for assessments?”
Teething problems
Assessment regulations
Academic misconduct
Submission process defined
File size issues
‘Can you teach my students?’
Early Adopters:
● BA (Hons) PR & Communicationo Preparation for work placement
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=yxpgnbW7fsK5GkcEZzjH
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=Z5rY8yOvtqlD7CsaW0eh
● MSc Shipping Operationso PD Activities & group work
● BSc (Hons) Geography with Environmental Studieso Research portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=JmquFQW4w5G93ITbvAZ1
Gaining momentum:
● PGCert Teaching & Learning in Higher Educationo Reflective Practice Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=5v9piVPdS8hBLEDxJsbo
● Business Foundation Yearo Market Research Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=8VF0Pf4DHZxSvjKhUBwc
http://www.slideshare.net/BradleyGavin/mahara-presentation-current
● BSc (Hons) Architectural Technologyo Professional Practice Portfolio
http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=HjklXu1Z8e5oaOEtKrnD
New approach needed:
1• Lecturer speaks to Sam
2• Sam & lecturer explore Mahara tools
3• Sam creates ‘mock-up’ portfolio
4• Lecturer writes Assessment/Activity brief
5• Sam puts support in place via VLE
…continued
Technology Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Advertising
BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing Management
BA (Hons) Business Marketing
BA (Hons) Leisure & Tourism Management
Integrated help & support:
Integrated help & support:
Help site for all users:
http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/help
Themes:
• Reflective commentsBlog/Journal
• Developmental journeyPD Portfolio
• Showcasing skills and attributesShop Window
• File storage (virtual ring binder)Document Manager
• Mapping elements/evidenceCompetency
Portfolio
2015 pilots:
BA (Hons) Social Work
BA (Hons) Health & Social Care
Exciting!
o Adults
o Work-based learning
o Improved feedback
o Transforming practice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100155095@N03/14509941883/
Pilar Garrido-Sanz:
“As a visual medium, students can personalise and
individualise it. Students can also structure and arrange
information on their pages in different ways which
allows for a multi-dimensional approach, as opposed to
linear means like word documents.
Students in general appreciate the freedom that the
ePortfolio gives them. Students are the proprietors of
their ePortfolio and hence can use it as a valuable tool
to show to potential employers.”
Colin Bright:
“Social work placements are based in a wide variety
of settings with diverse geographical locations – the
adoption of E portfolio approaches is enabling design
that we hope will enhance and support the
communication exchange between practice and the
university staff team.
This in turn is intended to enhance the evidential
potential of our students’ work and support their
learning.”
Case studies:
http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/casestudies
Advice & thoughts:
Showcase ‘best in show’ to inspire next year’s
cohort
Share inspiring stories, such as Prof Sugata Mitra’s
‘Hole in the Wall’ projects.
Create ‘mock-up’ portfolios
Student peer leaders?
Templates are not always the answer…
More info…
Roger Emery, Associate Professor
Learning Technologies Development Manager
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/rogeremery
As I’m no longer a member of staff at
SSU, please contact Roger for any
information regarding Solent’s
Mahara:
Thank you!
Sam TaylorLearning Technologisthttp://about.me/SamTaylorUK
Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Previously of Southampton Solent University
