The Blackboard Portfolio Tool:Features, uses, and campus-wide implementation process

Presenters

Jason RhodeDirector Faculty Development and Instructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

jrhode@niu.edu@JasonRhode

Stephanie RichterAssistant Director Faculty Development and Instructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

srichter@niu.edu@slrichter

Agenda

• Background information• Blackboard Portfolios: Features and examples• Campus-wide implementation process• Portfolio usage across campus • Considerations

Background Information

Northern Illinois University Overview

• Main campus in DeKalb, ILlocated 65 miles West of Chicago

• Total enrollment: 20,130• 1,174 Instructional faculty• Student to instructor/faculty

ratio: 15:1• Online programs: 8 undergrad,

7 graduate, 7 certificates

Why the Institutional Emphasis on Portfolios?

• NIU PLUS Taskforce• High Impact Practices

(HIP’s)• Focus on student

retention and success

Features and Examples

Who has created a Portfolio in Blackboard?

Building Portfolios

• Add artifacts from files or from prior Blackboard Assignment submissions

• Embed media directly in the page• Customize and preview features• Manage multiple portfolios for different purposes• Use templates for standardized portfolios

Grading Portfolios

• Faculty can create an Assignment with Portfolio Submission enabled

• If Portfolio Submission is enabled, students can only submit a Portfolio

• Faculty can grade and provide feedback as usual in the Grade Center

Sharing Portfolios

• Share snapshots internally with institution users• Share snapshots externally with people outside the

institution• Download entire portfolio as zip file for future use

and portability

Image

Image

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Campus-wide Implementation Process

Campus-wide Implementation Process

Identify Key Stakeholders

Raise Awareness

Test Portfolio Tool

Upgrade to April 2014

Develop Support Resources for Users

Train Users

Identify Key Stakeholders

• Provost’s Office• NIU PLUS Taskforce• Office of Assessment Services• Division of Information Technology• Faculty Development and Instructional Design

Center• First and Second Year Experience Program• First Year Composition Program

Raise Awareness

• ePortfolio Symposium: Regional College Readiness Partnerships – September 2014

• Teaching Effectiveness Institute – January 2015• Demonstration of Bb Portfolio tool to stakeholders –

January 2015• Teaching with Technology Institute – June 2015

Test Portfolio Tool

• Part of annual upgrade testing• Tested:• Creation• Sharing• Grading• Templates

• Built sample portfolios for further promotion

Upgrade to April 2014

• Memorial Day weekend 2015• Featured the updated portfolios as part of the

upgrade

facdev.niu.edu/bbupgrade2015

Develop Support Resources for Users

• Developed throughout summer 2015• Documentation, quick guides, sample portfolios, and

tutorials• Materials for both students and faculty

go.niu.edu/portfolios

Train Users

• Offered 8 hands-on workshops for faculty and staff

• Nearly 150 faculty and staff trained

• Special audiences:• UNIV 101 Instructors• First-Year Composition Instructors

• Met with additional faculty 1-on-1 for template creation

Portfolio Usage Across Campus

Usage

In 1 year, we have…

9Templates created

6,332Portfolios created

41Courses with

templates

3,447Portfolio users

Training and Documentation

In 1 year, we have…

8Hands-on workshops

5,587Website pageviews

137Participants

639Tutorial views

Considerations

Staffing

• Campus partners• Blackboard testers• Trainers• Resource developers

Implementation Time – 1 year

• Test Blackboard• Upgrade Blackboard

(if necessary)• Develop student &

faculty support resources• Train faculty users

• Learning about portfolios• Raise awareness on

campus• Demonstrate Blackboard

Portfolios to key stakeholders

Support Resources

• Focus on student support needs• Work with stakeholders to determine what they

want to see in a portfolio• Create multiple formats (e.g., text, video, printable)• Create sample portfolios, export and share on

website

Establish Policies

• Who gets a template?• What do you name templates?• Who approves template format (or at least provides

guidance for template structure)?• How long are student accounts active (and thus

portfolios are accessible)?

Summary

Summary

• Implementing Portfolios is a campus-wide process involving multiple stakeholders

• Consider how Portfolios will be used for teaching and assessment as you plan your implementation

• Students will need the most support, but faculty need to be comfortable that students can be successful

go.niu.edu/portfolios

Join Bb Users Community Group

j.mp/bbportfoliousers

Questions?

Jason RhodeDirector Faculty Development and Instructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

jrhode@niu.edu@JasonRhode

Stephanie RichterAssistant Director Faculty Development and Instructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

srichter@niu.edu@slrichter

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