Authentic, Experiential,Evidence-based Learning and ePortfolios - education in the network society

An eProtfolio project initiated at Unisa expanded into community projects and an academic publication 

The Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-based Learning (AAEEBL) and the community of e-portfolio academics that focus on leading change in Higher Education through their practice, research and dissemination of ideas are hosting the 7th annual AAEEBL conference on the campus of the Portland State University from 24 to 27 July 2017. This is the first time the conference will be held on a university campus which means it will cut costs and allow participants to focus on the conference purpose. 

The call for papers is open until 15 February. There will be three different interest groups: 1) Practices and pedagogies, 2) Research and 3) Technologies. Registration fees for non members is $340 before 1st April or $400 after 1st April. Students will pay special discounted rates. There are also special accommodation rates within a block reservation at the conference hotel. 

The inaugural issue of the AAEEBL ePortfolio Review has been published (available online) and the second edition is on its way, while the call for contributions to the third edition is open and will be published in July. The theme for this third issue is: ePortfolios as High Impact Practices. 

A few years ago we started to introduce ePortfolios as an alternative assessment method in Open Distance Education at the University of South Africa. This method of assessment replaced the traditional essay type assignments based on the content of the study guides. The ePortfolios focused on what the students learned and how they interpreted and used the content from the study guides in their daily lives and work and studies. Although some of the students (second year undergraduates) were very sceptical at first mostly due to the fact that they were unsure about how to use technology, they soon adapted with the help of scaffolding efforts by the educators and the positive impact of this type of assessment in already showing results in a very high throughput rate. The work done by students in one module resulted in small community projects under the guidance of the students who are becoming agents of change.