Electronicportfoliostransformativeeffectsonassessment.docVIP

DRAFT (3/15/03) Judy Arzt Session Title: “Electronic Portfolios’ Transformative Effects on Assessment” Panel Title: Technology Transforms Writing Assessment, College Composition and Communication Conference, 2003, March 21, 200, New York City Electronic Portfolios’ Transformative Effects on Assessment Statement of Issue Two divergent trends have evolved in the linked fields of writing assessment and electronic media, both using the umbrella term electronic portfolios. One is the assessment driven and seeks to explore ways in which new technologies can support large-scale portfolio programs. The other is classroom-based and centers on students creating websites that need to be assessed. These two trends look at the terms “assessment” and “electronic media” from opposite vantage points. Perhaps the trends could be thought of as two horizontal lines intersecting at a point, and although they share some vocabulary, they have distinct characteristics. One effort seeks to use technology to fine-tune an assessment program—to make it more manageable and user-friendly—whereas the other is THE technology in need of an appropriate assessment. The short history of web authoring in the curriculum coupled with the evolving technology asks us to redefine constantly what makes a good website. Ergo, one movement aims to solve an assessment problem—storage and access to a large body of knowledge—while the other searches for a vocabulary to describe and thereby assess students’ accomplishments. One is a top-down approach, a solution to an administrative problem, and the other is grassroots, emanating from classroom needs. How these fields merge, as well as diverge, demands scrutiny as both are becoming increasingly present on our campuses. Debate over the Term E-Portfolios The distinction between the use of technology to serve assessment and the use of technology for students to create products has led to some debate, including what the very term “electronic portfolios” means