Keynote: Growing up with Mahara

Growing up with Mahara

Sam TaylorLearning Technologist

@samwisefox

Southampton Solent University

● ‘Modern’ University

● South Coast of UK

● Key aims:

o Employability

o Social Justice

o Business Engagement

● 18,000 students

Research 2008 - 2009

Led by Dr Barbara Lee, supported by academics,

support staff, career advisors and learning

technology experts:

How are SSU supporting Personal Development?

(Course audits)

How do learners record their progress?

(Questionnaires)

Could an ePortfolio support and encourage more

learners to focus on their development?

(Focus groups with staff and students)

Choosing a system

Elgg

My Stuff

Pebblepad

Mahara

Wordpress

Moodle

Why Mahara?

o Demo site to play with

o Open Source

o Moodle

o Amazing community!

The first steps…

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Flickr_-_law_keven_-_Not_such_an_ugly_duckling..-O))).jpg

Mahara animation:

https://youtu.be/Y32NoAgN9Ik

Pilot study 2009-2010

Mahara trialled with a handful of

units/modules

Usability-tested help resources

Gained feedback from staff and

students

‘Customised’ Mahara Theme

Language

Help

Outcomes 2010:

Students liked it, but not until

they ‘got it’

Language needs to change to

reflect UK terminology

Lecturers were keen to not get

involved

Having help resources were

useful

Conclusion:

Dedicated help site to be produced to support

all staff

Dedicated guides for Personal

Development advice to be made

available

Careers experts to write help

text for Resumé Builder (CV)

Full-scale Mahara adoption to

commence September 2010

“But please, can we use it for assessments?”

Teething problems

Assessment regulations

Academic misconduct

Submission process defined

File size issues

‘Can you teach my students?’

Early Adopters:

● BA (Hons) PR & Communicationo Preparation for work placement

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=yxpgnbW7fsK5GkcEZzjH

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=Z5rY8yOvtqlD7CsaW0eh

● MSc Shipping Operationso PD Activities & group work

● BSc (Hons) Geography with Environmental Studieso Research portfolio

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=JmquFQW4w5G93ITbvAZ1

Gaining momentum:

● PGCert Teaching & Learning in Higher Educationo Reflective Practice Portfolio

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=5v9piVPdS8hBLEDxJsbo

● Business Foundation Yearo Market Research Portfolio

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=8VF0Pf4DHZxSvjKhUBwc

http://www.slideshare.net/BradleyGavin/mahara-presentation-current

● BSc (Hons) Architectural Technologyo Professional Practice Portfolio

http://mahara.solent.ac.uk/view/view.php?t=HjklXu1Z8e5oaOEtKrnD

New approach needed:

1• Lecturer speaks to Sam

2• Sam & lecturer explore Mahara tools

3• Sam creates ‘mock-up’ portfolio

4• Lecturer writes Assessment/Activity brief

5• Sam puts support in place via VLE

…continued

Technology Foundation Year

BA (Hons) Advertising

BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing Management

BA (Hons) Business Marketing

BA (Hons) Leisure & Tourism Management

Integrated help & support:

Integrated help & support:

Help site for all users:

http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/help

Themes:

• Reflective commentsBlog/Journal

• Developmental journeyPD Portfolio

• Showcasing skills and attributesShop Window

• File storage (virtual ring binder)Document Manager

• Mapping elements/evidenceCompetency

Portfolio

2015 pilots:

BA (Hons) Social Work

BA (Hons) Health & Social Care

Exciting!

o Adults

o Work-based learning

o Improved feedback

o Transforming practice

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100155095@N03/14509941883/

Pilar Garrido-Sanz:

“As a visual medium, students can personalise and

individualise it. Students can also structure and arrange

information on their pages in different ways which

allows for a multi-dimensional approach, as opposed to

linear means like word documents.

Students in general appreciate the freedom that the

ePortfolio gives them. Students are the proprietors of

their ePortfolio and hence can use it as a valuable tool

to show to potential employers.”

Colin Bright:

“Social work placements are based in a wide variety

of settings with diverse geographical locations – the

adoption of E portfolio approaches is enabling design

that we hope will enhance and support the

communication exchange between practice and the

university staff team.

This in turn is intended to enhance the evidential

potential of our students’ work and support their

learning.”

Case studies:

http://myportfolio.solent.ac.uk/casestudies

Advice & thoughts:

Showcase ‘best in show’ to inspire next year’s

cohort

Share inspiring stories, such as Prof Sugata Mitra’s

‘Hole in the Wall’ projects.

Create ‘mock-up’ portfolios

Student peer leaders?

Templates are not always the answer…

More info…

Roger Emery, Associate Professor

Learning Technologies Development Manager

[email protected]

http://portal.solent.ac.uk/rogeremery

As I’m no longer a member of staff at

SSU, please contact Roger for any

information regarding Solent’s

Mahara:

Thank you!

Sam TaylorLearning Technologisthttp://about.me/SamTaylorUK

Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Previously of Southampton Solent University