EDUCAUSE Panel to Discuss the Impact of e-Portfolios in the Classroom

Business Wire, Oct 22, 2007

Educators from Brown University, RISD and Bristol Community College to Highlight How Technology Is Transforming Teaching

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A prestigious art school, a private Ivy League university and an urban, public community college are at the forefront of education by using dynamic e-Portfolios to assess student learning and showcase their work. At EDUCAUSE 2007, October 23-26 in Seattle, Washington, a panel of educators from Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University and Bristol Community College will discuss the use of e-Portfolios in their classes and how they are transforming the teaching process at all levels.

Moderated by Jeff Yang, educator and founder of Digication, a leading provider of e-Portfolios, the panel features:

* Polly Ulichny, Ed.D., Director of Elementary Education, Brown University

* John C. Chamberlin, Associate Professor, Art Design Education, Rhode Island School of Design

* Michael Vieira, Dean, Division of Business & Info Management, Bristol Community College

Today, people of all ages are empowered by the freedom to publish and share information online. From blogs and wikis to sites such as MySpace and Facebook, it has become easy to post images, audio, video and communicate with friends. These sites are now a part of almost every high school and college student's daily life for social interactions. E-Portfolios harness the collaborative power of these technologies to enhance teaching and learning, allowing educators and students to share ideas and achievements, improve communication and expand the educational experience beyond the classroom. On Thursday, October 25, the EDUCAUSE panelists will discuss:

* Creating a collaborative online learning community

        -- Why the schools wanted e-Portfolios and how they fit into
           the fabric of existing instruction technologies

* Overcoming challenges and establishing best practices

        -- Training teachers and students to use e-Portfolios
        -- Impact on teaching and learning, including motivation and
           engagement

* Looking ahead

        -- How e-Portfolios will impact lesson plans in the future
        -- Ideas for how to expand e-Portfolios' involvement in
           teaching and learning

Editor's Note: Members of the media interested in learning more about this EDUCAUSE panel, the use of e-Portfolios in education or in speaking with panelists, please contact:

Julie Goldman or Tom Parnell

Schwartz Communications

781-684-0770

digication@schwartz-pr.com