Research@Honors Workshops & Seminars

Learners e-Portfolio

What Importance Does the Learners e-Portfolio Has?

It might seem to a learner that the e-Portfolio is yet another document to submit while it
has more pedagogical value than it appears to have. In fact, the e-Portfolio is one of the most
valuable projects a learner could work on.

In the e-Portfolio, learners pull together their thinking and writing in a coherent
demonstration of the content, scope, and quality of their work along with their substantive
reflections on what they have learned, how they have learned, why they have learned, and what
value their learning has added to their intellectual and personal growth. The e-Portfolio consists of
evidence of learners writing accomplishments and the important reflective component that is
where deep and lasting learning really occurs. When a learner simply acquire information or
knowledge, he have activated only a part of his learning potential. Going beyond knowledge to
comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and creativity engages learners in
a richer, fuller, deeper, more lasting learning experience, and that is what learners will have done
in their essays and online writing during their study. When learners reflect on their learning, they
enhance the meaning of what they have learned and its relevance to their intellectual, social,
personal, and ethical development. In other words, their learning becomes authentic.

What Should My Reflective Narrative(s) Look Like? How Would I Write Them?

A reflective narrative is a written, reflective analysis of your learning. Your reflections can
be a single narrative or various pieces interspersed throughout your e-Portfolio. The reflective
component is the heart of your e-Portfolio, the most valuable and challenging core of the e-
Portfolio in which you tap the power of reflection in deepening and extending your learning.

For instance, you may start by going to the discussions you have had online, in the
discussion board on the Blackboard, with your professor and colleagues. You can formulate a

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narrative of the discussion of your voice, where you add your thoughts and comments to it. You
may think about different ways to respond to those discussion questions, or think about what other
paths or segues the discussion could follow. If you think adding others' responses, questions, or
opinions enriches the discussion or helps to clarify or enhance your reflection about an individual
entry, then feel free to do so, but keep in mind to give credit to those whom you have included
their opinions. As you revisit your online writing, look for patterns of learning and growth as a
writer and student. Focus not only on what you have learned about the course content, but also on
what have discovered about yourself as a learner.

Other written artifacts that could be used in your reflective narrative(s) are:

1- Copies of your essay drafts especially with evidence of feedback from instructor or peers
and how you improved writing, and final versions of formal papers. Evidence of research
for formal papers, especially the longer research paper: written notes, copies of articles
with your marginal notations, email exchanges on your topics, web inquiries.
2- Copies of your class notes, revealing your thoughts, insights, questions throughout the
course. If you have any work you've achieved toward completion of your final, creative,
group project, include it also.
3- Evidence of your work on the various individual or collaborative oral presentations based
on your research outside the class to supplement our study of various stories. Include any
notes, copies of material, bibliographical lists, etc. Any written reflections on the meaning
and application of your self-directed research and presentation would be particularly
valuable.

In reflecting on your learning throughout a class and in your various writings, ask yourself
questions such as these in composing your reflective narrative(s):

1. What have I learned or not learned from my work in the class, from my formal and online
writing?
2. How have I learned or not learned best in class?

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3. Why did I learn or not learn from the king of work we did in the class and in the online
discussion forum?
4. What have I learned about myself as a learner from our written and oral work in this
class?
5. How has my writing in this class connected to my learning in other classes? To my personal
life?
6. In what ways has my writing and learning in this class contributed to my practical learning
and career goals?
7. Did I have fun writing and learning in this class? What do I mean by fun?
8. What about the content of the course and my engagement in the course surprised me?
9. If I were to do the class all over again, what would I do differently to enhance my learning
and improve my writing?

How Long Should I Make My Reflective Narrative(s)?

You may wish to write a few pages as a single reflection, or you may wish to write shorter
reflective statements scattered throughout the compilation of written work, addressing a particular
piece or group of pieces and the meaning and value of the work. Either way, the thoughtful,
analytical, metacognitive writing in your reflections will be a useful, coherent way of organizing,
understanding, and evaluating your own learning. A good reflective narrative should end up with
at least 500 words, either as a single piece or as interspersed pieces.

How Should I Organize My e-Portfolio?

It is a good practice to design sections of the e-Portfolio that will collect the different types
of writing and other learning activities. For instance, you may have a section on the discussions
that went on the Blackboard, a section on formal essays; the ones you have submitted to your
professor as final drafts to be graded, a section on research, a section on notes, and such.

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What is more important than which particular way you organize the portfolio is that you
collect, select, reflect, and connect in a way that is meaningful and coherent for you! Ultimately,
the e-Portfolio is your record of learning throughout your study, and you should organize it to help
you understand your learning best.

When Is (Are) My e-Portfolio Reflective Narrative(s) Due?

In each course throughout your study as an Honors student, your will be asked to, or you
may voluntarily, submit a reflective narrative or more than one to your e-Portfolio. It is your duty
to keep this document alive.

In HON1000, you will be asked to submit the outline of your e-Portfolio around the middle
of the semester (TBD), then you will be asked to add to your e-Portfolio several reflective
narratives throughout the semester about your learning and events that you will be attending. In
this course, you will have the chance to experience what it really means to reflect continuously
about your different ways of learning.

In PS1010, you will be asked to add to your e-Portfolio more reflective narratives, one
would be about the group project your will be submitting by the end of the semester. Another
reflective narrative may be about the whole academic year including the two Honors courses you
have taken; PS1010 and HON1000.

A mindful, honest, thorough Learners e-Portfolio demonstrates honors at its best. It goes
without saying that you as an Honors student are encouraged to keep up the good work!

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