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Rethinking ePortfolio Assignments for Engaged Learning in Math Courses

In this presentation, Joshua Coon, Ph.D., outlines innovative strategies to enhance student engagement with ePortfolio assignments in Math courses at Salt Lake Community College. Many students perceive these assignments as burdensome, seeing no career value and finding them unprofessional. By reimagining the structure and relevance of ePortfolio tasks, students can create visually appealing and professional work that demonstrates real-world applications. This paper discusses common complaints, presents improved assignment formats, and highlights the importance of creativity and presentation in fostering a positive learning experience.

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Rethinking ePortfolio Assignments for Engaged Learning in Math Courses

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Re-imagining ePortfolios Assignments Joshua Coon, Ph.D. April 19, 2013

  2. Background • I teach Math 1050 and 1090 at Salt Lake Community College • Part of the course curriculum is for students to do a “signature assignment” for their ePortfolio • Most students see this as a burden rather than opportunity

  3. Common Complaints • “Never going to use this later” • No value for career • “Won’t show to my boss” • Not professional • “Distracts from curriculum” • Need to pass the final • “Pointless”

  4. Reinventing ePortfolio Assignments • Never going to use this later” • Make valuable for career • “Won’t show to my boss” • Professional looking work • “Distracts from curriculum” • Relevant to course materials

  5. Standard Format • Math 1050: Example • Math 1090: Example

  6. Standard ePortfolio Approach • The decent: Example • The average: Example • The bad: Example

  7. Problems? • Too rigid to allow creativity • Reflective writing only potential outlet • Lack of clear presentation • Scans or pictures of assignments • Not sufficiently professional • Students preparing for business world

  8. Solution • More creativity • Move away from short answer format • Visually pleasing structure • Paper format • Connection to outside world • Chance to discuss applications/connections

  9. Assignment Structure • Please make sure to rewrite this into a paper format, as instructed in class. • The format for the paper should be roughly as follows: • -2-3 pages, single spaced • -Summarize the problem and different solution approaches • -Show your arithmetic • -Business or scientific format • -Correct grammar and spelling • -Individual final reports • -No plagarism

  10. Improved ePortfolio Assignments • The good: Example • The better: Example • The very good: Example

  11. Improvements • Paper format • Greater student freedom • Nicer presentation • Something presentable during job interview • Similar to business assignments • Boss may ask student to write report

  12. Group Discussion • Refer to handouts • Three problems with current ePortfolio assignments • Three possible improvements

  13. Future ePortfolio Improvements • Give students examples of professional work • Something for students to aim for • Continue to improve my Eportfolio • Lead by example • Multi-part assignments over the course of the semester • Large project in small parts

  14. Conclusions • ePortfolios can be significantly improved • Starting point is the assignments • Rethinking traditional approach is essential

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