Language Learning and User-Centered Design: The Development of the Electronic European Language Portfolio

Abstract

This chapter will discuss the rationale behind the development of the electronic versionof the European Language Portfolio (ELP), its technological and pedagogical aspects,and its advantages over print-based counterparts. The electronic European LanguagePortfolio (e-ELP) has been developed following a user-centered design (UCD)framework. This framework will be discussed in detail. The e-ELP is part of a Minervaproject funded by the European Union (EU) with the main goal to adapt the paper-based ELP in an electronic format. Some ELPs have already been validated and editedin a hardcopy format. These hardcopy editions present several limitations, such asmaintenance and long-term updating. In this chapter, emphasis will be placed ondiscussing the affordances of the electronic environment in supporting languageteaching and learning and the user-centered approach in developing the prototype.