About the Project

The educational value of portfolios for students in education and arts has been firmly established. This project will introduce this technique to computer science, engineering and statistics students. The students will receive guidance for developing and maintaining portfolios throughout their degree programmes. Special emphasis will be given on providing annotation criteria both for the specific subject domains and for the presentation of meta-level learning skills. The following learning outcomes are anticipated:

• Improvement of analytical skills based on evaluating the portfolio material;
• Improvement of communication skills based on formulating the portfolio analysis;
• Increase awareness of the full skill-set expected of a graduate of the respective disciplines by working with the annotation criteria provided.

Methodology

• Annotation criteria will be developed for a typical computer science and statistics degree course, a selected engineering degree course, and generic meta-level learning skills;
• Standard electronic portfolio software will be used;
• Regular, ongoing assistance will be given to undergraduate computer science, statistics and engineering students to develop portfolios;
• Qualitative analysis will be conducted to evaluate the learning outcomes.

Expected outputs

The project will produce a framework for applying the portfolio technique to science and technology based disciplines. This will include knowledge of suitable annotation criteria but as well insights into the process of exposing science and technology students to a more ‘soft’ educational technique.

There will be some preliminary results on the effectiveness of portfolios on the learning of computer science, statistics and engineering students.

Software Used

OSP (Open Source Portfolio) has been developed by the Open Source Portfolio Initiative. It is a software system for “individual learners, teachers, and professionals to represent themselves by creating electronic portfolios using web-based software”. It is increasingly used by students and professionals to document and present their accomplishments.