| Abstract [eng] |
There are many definitions about e-portfolio. To my mind, L. Dawley (2007) defines it in the most appropriate way. Electronic portfolio is “A digital file based on internet technologies which is able to show person’s learning competences in a public, fast and easy way.” Electronic portfolio has appeared due to: Rapid invasion of internet into different spheres of our life: education, manufactory, business, etc. Data records on internet generated the opportunity to create, use and manage electronic documents without any effort; The alternation of teaching/learning paradigms: there was a transition from learning once in a life time to for a long life learning; For e- portfolio to become so popular and widely used, Wiki and Blog appearance had a great influence. At the moment there are more than one ten of e- portfolio systems. They differ in functionality, approachability, etc. Some work independently, while others are integrated into already existing systems. Most of the systems are commercial and made for the specific enterprise and its needs. Because there are a lot of e- portfolio technologies with no charge I chose only some of them for deeper analysis. They are Mahara, Mofolio and Exabi E-Portfolio. Mahara is totally independent and stand-alone system where user himself has to put his achievements. Mofolio technology also acts as stand-alone system though it belongs to Moodle system. Exabi is integrated into VMA Moodle system. Exabi E-Portfolio technology fitted for Šiauliai University was also used in this paper. The advantage of this system comparing with the others is that the system is integrated into VMA Moodle environment and there is a possibility to import from user’s registered courses the works that were sent for evaluation and which can make a content of E-Portfolio achievements. This system was localized (translated into Lithuanian) because users of different level could use it and orient there easier. An additional function was installed that allow users themselves to insert recommended categories which facilitate creation of E-Portfolio, screening of competences and accumulation of other information. The categories can be created by the user himself. Recommended categories are suggested by scientist and Board of Education of Lithuanian Republic. One more additional function was created to attach automatically all related information to an active category, i.e. external links, files and notes. The attachments can be edited, supplemented, deleted or moved into another category. A new solution was installed in E-Portfolio Moodle system, which automatically collects data about the user’s courses, evaluation and time he attended them. This information in the future might be used for data extraction research. The system works and is implemented into the system of Šiauliai University cenre of distant studies. |
