ePortfolio Decisions and Dilemas

Abstract

This chapter combines existing ideas and metaphors from recent portfolio literature into a new framework for thinking about the decisions and dilemmas of ePortfolios. It argues that since the definition of “ePortfolio” covers a spectrum of approaches to the challenge of documenting and assessing student knowledge and skills, the wide array of differing audiences and purposes of assessment leads to many decisions about a portfolio system’s mix of content and message ownership, review and validation processes, and expectations about media. In addition, the unique role of technology in the mediation of action and learning adds to the dilemmas inherent in decision making about the system’s artifacts. It is hoped that the framework offers a new analytical perspective and a set of questions to guide people in building more effective ePortfolio systems.