Equity Conference | March 2014

Living ResumesUsing ePortfolios as Narratives for Students of Color

Alejandro Baldwin, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives Dr. Christine Gouveia, Cornell University; VP of Educational Services at

Seelio

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Campus Scholars 2013

Cohort of 58 students that consists of incoming freshmen who are Detroit Compact/Wade McCree scholarship recipients

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The Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives is student-focused and administers a variety of educational multicultural programs for the University of Michigan.

Seelio is an educational services and technology company that partners with universities to help students build online portfolios that collect and showcase their best work.

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The Partnership

Developed a collaboration between OAMI and Seelio to help students of color create “living resumes” (ePortfolios) that would:

• Capture their college experience• Preserve and enhance their “stories”• Showcase their works to funders

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Competencies

• Ability to work with others• Ability to cross cultures• Ability to access resources on campus• Ability to connect with external community• Ability to grow professionally/personally• Ability to help others

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Portfolios as a Tool for Learning

• Platform to capture student learning and identity

• ePortfolio is built through workshops – Focus on developing digital identity and building

campus presence – Students brainstorm and reflect on experiences– Students share and receive peer feedback

• Students are expected to create a portfolio that includes: profile and cover photo, resume, biography, 2 works of specific learning experiences

• “Best” eportfolios are shown at a Campus Scholar Dinner

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Role of Reflection for Identity Development

• Promotes self-definition as students gather, reflect, and assess their own work

• Students learn how to synthesize the perspectives and approaches of others

• Supports students in expressing their identities while making connections across the curriculum

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Campus Scholars Showcase

Campus Scholars Showcase

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Student Portfolio Example: Myshira Jones

https://seelio.com/myshiraj

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Four Year Projection: Year 1

Freshmen Year: Introduction• Beginning to build ePortfolios • Connecting cohort to campus programs

that will support them• Building campus presence

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Four Year Projection: Year 2

Sophomore Year: Campus Involvement• Showcasing campus program

involvement (leadership, internships, and volunteering)

• Introduction to external community involvement (volunteerism)

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Four Year Projection: Year 3

Junior Year: Career Focus• Creating marketable eportfolios

(collaborations with career services)• Connecting their passions and works to

careers

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Four Year Projection: Year 4

Senior Year: Capstone/Showcase• Highlighting student’s college career

and the path they choose• Showcasing their stories to funders

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Evaluating Impact of Student Portfolios

Rubric criteria (scale of 1-4)• Profile completeness• Completeness of works• Organization• Audience/Purpose• Grammar• Written communication

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Lessons Learned from Portfolios

• Eportfolios should be required for students to increase participation

• Reflection is critical for students of color in their first year

• Showcasing work is critical for articulating passion and accomplishments

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Next Steps

• Proposed summer institute for next wave of incoming freshmen

• ePortfolios will be a requirement for students on scholarships

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Discussion

How can this project help to address the following issues:• Equity? • Institutional racism?• Marginalization? • Retention?