Enhancing Student Learning
with eBriefcases
Dr. Newton Smith, Associate CIO
Dr. Carol Burton, Assistant VC, Undergraduate Studies
Western Carolina University
Linda James, B2B Technologies
With Contributions by Melissa Saenger, Student
What is your most
memorable and important
learning experience?
Odds are it is Not in a Class
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Figuring out something on your own
Working in a group on a major project
Failing at something and understanding why
Discovering abilities you didn’t know you had
Making creative connections between
different ideas
• Discovering how people really work
How Students Learn Is Changing
Social Media Creates New Ways to
Learn
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Information is democratic and dynamic: Wikipedia
Easy to locate: Google
Distributed: del.icio.us
Sorted and vetted: digg
Anywhere anytime: cell phones, wireless
Amateurs can play: YouTube, Flickr
Fun to learn with friends or others: Blogger
Here is What WCU is Doing:
Our QEP eBriefcase
Western Carolina University’s
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
WCU’s QEP- Synthesis: A Pathway to
Intentional Learning
• Develop undergraduates with a clearer purpose at the
university—students who are motivated, self-directed,
and active participants in their own learning.
• Provide the learner with ample opportunities to
synthesize the university experience, to integrate
curricular and co-curricular experiences as the student
discovers and strengthens his or her sense of purpose.
• Assist students, staff and faculty to form a conceptual
whole that will integrate academics, residential-life,
service and leadership, and personal and work-related
goals and activities.
Focus on Student Learning
• Intentional: students encouraged to form lifetime and career
goals and act on them
• Integrated: students prompted to integrate their academic
and extracurricular experiences
• Continuous: students develop and retain learning objects
throughout entire college career
• Engaged: students are expected work in the community and
region and apply what they know
• Public: students select from their learning object to create
career portfolios and targeted portfolios
Institutional Outcomes
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Problem solving skills - Complex
Effective communication
Civic engagement
Clarification of values and purpose
Integration of knowledge
How to Assess
A Briefcase Concept
• A repository of learning
objects
• A place for projects
• A place to collaborate
with others
• A place for social and
personal records
• A place to prepare and
extract formal portfolios
Students’ ebriefcase
First View is a Template They Can Customize:
The Educational eBriefcase
• Students in charge
• Includes blogs and wikis
• Advisors prompts encourage synthesis and goal
setting
• A place for career portfolio and other targeted
portfolios
• Flexible and easy to use
• Built on world ware technology—SharePoint
Student Tasks
Advisors can assign students assignments/tasks through
the e-briefcase that will appear in the Student Task block.
Calendar
• Students have a
Calendar setting to use
at Student’s discretion
• Students simply
click:
“add new event”
•Fill out time and
dates.
Lectures, Seminars
Concerts, Exhibits
Items are fed in from the Western Carolina Website and
displayed on the e-Briefcase to keep students informed.
Document Library
In the Document Library students can up-load documents of
any kind into one location for use throughout their career.
Advisor Notes & Discussions
A place where advisors can send their advisees a
note or have a discussion.
Team Site
Students can use this function for any type of group
project with other students or faculty
Other Settings
Links
Career
Assessment
Contacts
Portfolios
• Students have the ability to develop different
types of portfolios and give permissions to view.
– Career portfolio
– Targeted portfolios
• After adding photos, documents, and other
material the portfolio can be published and then
viewed by others-much like a detailed electronic
resume.
– Employers
Introduction
Portfolios
About
Me
Documents
Learning
Experience
Built in Links
• E-briefcase is very
similar to other portals
that are offered by WCU
with similar features.
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MyCat
WebCat
Catamount Connections
Student Handbook
But they can add more
Positives from Melissa’s Perspective
• Electronic resume
– Publish
– Employer view
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Access from any computer
Communicate with Advisor
Connections
Build overtime
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Community Service
Work Experience
Clubs/Organization
Travel
Demo of Student’s Template
Lisa James’ eBriefcase
Demo of Advisor’s View
Peter Gibbons—Advisor
Questions?