Here's the latest e-portfolios news.

• E-portfolio draft privacy guidelines released (March 2010)

E-portfolios are becoming increasingly popular as a tool to collate and demonstrate evidence of skills, however, by their very nature, e-portfolios contain a significant amount of personal information, which may be quite sensitive if not managed well.  To support this, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework has released draft Privacy Guidelines.  >>To read more click here.

• 2009 E-portfolio implementation trials: Case studies released (February 2010)

Case studies documenting the 2009 E-portfolio implementation trials, including information and resources for training providers, practitioners and assessors seeking to implement an e-portfolio system, as well as support strategies for helping learners to create their own e-portfolio and negotiate common issues.  >>To read more click here.

• Save the date! e-Portfolios Australia Conference 2010 (February 2010)

Block out your diaries for the ePortfolios Australia Conference 2010, one of the first cross sectoral e-portfolio events in Australia, bringing together delegates from vocational education and training (VET), higher education (HE) and adult and community education (ACE) - >>To read more click here.

• $25,000 funding for 2010 E-portfolios Implementation Trials

Registered training organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of $25,000 in funding and support to investigate and identify the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of an e-portfolio system which supports learner transitions.  >>To read more click here.

• 2009 E-portfolio Implementation Trial funding awarded

Three registered training organisations have been awarded up to $10,000 each to develop and implement an e-portfolio system which enables learners to move quickly and efficiently between education and training, employment and industry areas.  >>To read more click here.
 

• New resources for embedding e-portfolios

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) has developed a suite of five brochures, each designed to answer the detailed questions from specific user groups within the vocational education and training (VET) system.  >>To read more click here.
  

• The Knowledge Tree – e-assessment, recognition of prior learning and e-portfolios

Edition 18 of The Knowledge Tree has a focus on e-assessment, recognition of prior learning (RPL) and e-portfolios, including the lead article – ‘Recognising existing skills using e-portfolios’, and a short article on ‘Dis-integrating e-portfolios’ by Stephen Downes.  >>More details are available here.

• Recognising existing skills using e-portfolios e-Gems Session

As we move further into the digital age, e-portfolios are beginning to play a key role in the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process.  Allison Miller will lead this online session on Monday 10 August at 12.30 pm (AEST).  >>More details are available here.

• VET E-portfolio Roadmap released 

  The VET E-portfolio Roadmap, a national strategic plan designed to support the diverse requirements for e-portfolios in vocational education and training (VET), was released today by the national training system's e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).  >>To read more click here.

• Supporting e-portfolios - the inside track to managing learner information 

  Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are the talk of the "VET town".  As a relatively new e-learning tool they provide unprecedented opportunity for learners to produce up-to-the-minute records of their work history, training and life experiences.  As with most developing technologies, questions are being asked about how to manage e-portfolios use, to ensure they are used to their full potential and are not open to exploitation. To read more >>click here. 

• E-portfolios support COAG initiative

  This report identified e-portfolios as a key tool to support COAGs (Council of Australian Governments) RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) initative, which aims to build RPL quality and good practice for the national vocational education and training (VET) system.  >>To read more click here.

• Former Flexible Learning Advisory Group Chair supports e-portfolios

  "E-portfolios are set to revolutionise the way VET deals with RPL (recognition of prior learning) and enable smooth transitions between VET and higher education, as the Bradley Review of Higher Education stipulates" states former Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG) Chair, Jim Davidson.  >>To read more click here.

• E-portfolio implementation trials - funding available

  On Thursday 30 April 2009 the Framework will release the application details for seed funding available to registered training organisations to identify the contributing factors and resources required to support the use of an e-portfolio system to verify an individual's current competence, which will enable a learner to quickly and effectively transition between educational sectors, job roles and industry areas.  >>To read more click here.

• E-portfolio resources for everyone!

  Two other major e-portfolio reports, detailing the benefits of e-portfolios for the school, VET and higher education sectors, are now available for download:

The E-portfolios in Australian education and training report contains the key strategic directions and issues from the 2008 National Symposium on E-portfolios, including recommendations for developing, implementing and using e-portfolios in schools and VET.

The E-portfolio use by university students in Australia: Informing excellence in policy and practice report outlines the outcomes of the 2008 Australian e-Portfolio Project.  This project, funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, analysed e-portfolio use in the higher education sector and provides guidance on future development opportunities.  >>To read more click here.

• E-portfolios at inaugural AUPOV conference

  Point of view (POV) devices, such as camera glasses and video cameras, are an emerging technical innovation in the vocational education and training system.  So much so that the inaugural AUPOV conference being held in Wollongong on 19 June will focus soley on how POV devices can support education and training.

  E-portfolios allow learners to create a dynamic and engaging electronic account of their skills and work experience and will feature in the keynote address of the conference.  >>To read more click here.