Though my internship ends with the end of the fall 2021 semester, I am thrilled to be able to continue on with the ePortfolio program. I will no longer be working in the Sophomore Surge office; instead, I'll be transferring over to the DigLit team as an Adobe Coach to specifically spearhead ePortfolio efforts through ATO. With the program housed in a more technology-oriented office, it is the hope that we will be able to pair with faculty and integrate ePortfolios into course curricula.
So far, it seems the setup of workshops and how the program will be run next semester will look very similar to how the program ran this past fall semester. We are still planning on running workshops, starting by introducing ePortfolios and Adobe Spark and getting engagement from students who did not hear about the program in fall. However, we do have a cohort of students who have begun and perhaps even completed their ePortfolios. For these students, we wanted to introduce more focused workshops that include professional development, design, and enhancement elements. By including both types of workshops, we hope to both reach new students and continue to work with students who have already interacted with the program.
By joining the DigLit team, I'll have the opportunity to work hands-on with students and faculty on ePortfolios. It will also give me the chance to pitch ePortfolios to different faculty and staff members, explaining the merits of the program and why it would be a good addition to their class. While I have had plenty of opportunities to explain the program and its reasons and uses to students, I have much to learn about appealing to professors and administrators who will be able to use and support ePortfolios.
In addition to running workshops and formulating new content for the program, we will also be planning a recognition ceremony for all of the work that has gone into ePortfolios over the 2021-22 school year. This will be a great way to recognize early adopter faculty members who have used ePortfolios in their classrooms as well as the students who have completed their own portfolios. We hope that, with this added incentive, we will get even more engagement in the spring. It will also give us a chance to showcase the excellent individuals on campus who have been working hard all semester and have given the ePortfolio program traction.
Of course, there is a lot of room for the program to grow even more. Though I am planning on graduating in May 2022, I do have some ideas for the future of ePortfolios past this school year...