An Overview of Student ePortfolio Functions

Abstract

The possible uses of student ePortfolios are varied, complex, and novel, making it difficult for scholars and professionals alike to capture an overall picture of this new technology. This chapter will address this concern by presenting a very straightforward overview of student ePortfolio functions, according to what have been identified as their five most basic functions: (1) storage, (2) information management, (3) connections, (4) communication, and (5) development. Each of these functions will be clarified with examples of practical applications, grounded in the real needs of undergraduate students at the University of California at Berkeley. Taken together, the functionality of student ePortfolios, if used to its full potential, could transform higher education by placing students at the center of their learning, better prepared to draw connections across subject matters and across the many realms of student life.