A Web-Based Learning Portfolio System

Lee, Myung-Ah, Hare, Molly K., JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

Portfolios have been used in teacher education programs to demonstrate teacher candidates' growth and help them to meet certification and graduation requirements. The current trend is for teacher education institutions to adopt electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) in a digital format, instead of the traditional paper version, to meet this requirement (Finkenberg, 2005; Horton, 2004). Because e-portfolios are a popular trend and are rapidly replacing paper portfolios, teacher educators need to update their knowledge of this form of technology.

This article introduces the "Web-based Learning Portfolio" (WBLP) system, which is a new kind of e-portfolio that is being used by many teacher education programs. This article will highlight the unique features and benefits of using WBLP, will discuss the disadvantages, and will share strategies and tips for successfully implementing WBLP in a teacher education program.

Unique Features

One of the most recent versions of a portfolio system, WBLP, uses a combination of information and communication technology (ICT) and portfolio processes (Ahn, 2004). A WBLP can include commercial-based systems such as Chalk & Wire, LiveText, Professional Portfolio, Task Stream, or university-initiated systems such as Johns Hopkins' Portfolio System. The operating systems of all WBLP versions are similar. The main purpose of using a WBLP is not very different from that of the traditional portfolios, but a WBLP has several advantages because of its unique features.

Identification (ID) Verification. A WBLP sits in an electronic database system that requires a user ID verification system to access the database. Once students or teachers are logged into the system, they are able to access specific areas within the WBLP, such as "portfolio creation," "portfolio guide," "portfolio browse," and "system management." In other words, the WBLP system provides a personalized online account whereby students and teachers can access the portfolio system and control and update the documents in the database system.

Students …

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Publication information: Article title: A Web-Based Learning Portfolio System. Contributors: Lee, Myung-Ah - Author, Hare, Molly K. - Author. Journal title: JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. Volume: 78. Issue: 9 Publication date: November-December 2007. Page number: 45+. © 2009 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group.

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