Contact:

Paul Wasko – paul.wasko@so.mnscu.edu

What purpose does your assessment tool serve? 

eFolio Minnesota is a statewide electronic portfolio infrastructure for students, educators and professionals.  This infrastructure is based on individual ownership of their own “electronic showcase”.  That showcase can be used to support education, career, and personal development goals.

Please indicate which category best describes your tool:

a.        _____ Tools that allow users to ask questions of data (tools for collecting and disaggregating data, including surveys, self-reported data and standardized data)

b.       ____ Tools for observation (including teacher observation and observation of student behavior or performance)

c.        _X__ Tools for reviewing student products (including electronic or digital portfolios)

Who is the audience for this assessment tool?

Potential audience would include: teachers/instructors (K-20), etc. 

The eligible users for this effort is any Minnesota resident, student, or non-resident who is an employee of a political subdivision.

What technology is used?

Internet from a PC (or Mac) running Internet Explorer 5.0 (or above) or Netscape 6.0 (or above).  Note that Internet Explorer is preferred.

Approximately how many people are currently using this system?

As of 3/28/03 we had 1948 students, 1032 educators, and 748 workers/professionals -individuals will self identify when completing the application process.  Currently we are experiencing double-digit monthly growth in the number of registered users.

What professional development (for students or assessors) is required to use the tool?

eFolio Minnesota has been constructed on the assumption that a limited level of technology literacy is required (the target audience were individuals who were versed in using word processing tools).  The tool has also been constructed to accommodate different faculty/student styles as a way to complement instruction as opposed to forcing a particular methodology.

To use the tool effectively, what else should the school have in place?

To use the technology/tool at a school level as opposed to an individual level, there needs to be an understanding and commitment to the pedagogy of portfolios.  As to technology, eFolio Minnesota is administered solely through the use of browsers and an Internet connection.

If you haven't already addressed it, how does your tool help students or teachers demonstrate that they are meeting standards?

Students, educators (or any user for that matter) has the ability to store, maintain and display any text or multi-media file on their site.  Users have the ability to create sections that could be structured to address particular standards along with placing various artifacts in those sections that demonstrate competencies.

What questions would you like participants to address?

·         What do you see in the value of an eFolio Minnesota approach whereby the intent of the tool is focused on the individual as opposed to the institution?

·         What suggestions do you have for additional functionality?

·         Is there additional material that we should provide to help educate interested parties about what eFolio Minnesota is?