1. Developing and Piloting an ePortfolio for Lifelong Learning: - the role of Web Services Peter Rees Jones CETIS ePortfolio feasibility study & Centre for International ePortfolio Development

2. Overview: The distance Travelled From gathering requirements to create an overview of a process flow, through a view of the flow of Domain Services a learner experiences, to the machine to machine Web Services orchestrated by a Domain Service. We now begin to see repeating patterns, which permit the adaptation and re-use of ePortfolio Web Services, lowering the complexity and hence the cost of implementing ePortfolios for Lifelong Learning.

3. The distance travelled: from requirements to patterns We began by gathering requirements But patterns became indispensable Every pattern we define must be formulated in the form of a rule which establishes a relationship between a context, a system of forces which arises in that context, and a configuration, which allows these forces to resolve themselves in that context. The Timeless Way of Building (C. Alexander, 1979) Why did we have to go beyond requirements?

4. Where Nottingham began By 2002 the Nottingham Local Education Authority had developed a learner owned passport for schools Colleges wished to use it also The University had an eProgress File The University bid for JISC funds to migrate these initiatives to Lifelong ePortfolio Information from one episode of learning would pass to the next. School Passport College Passport University ePortfolio Lifelong ePortfolio

5. At the end of each episode the learner reflects on what to do next and receives advice This draws on and creates entries in the ePortfolio This process is termed PDP in the UK Relevant information is transferred from one ePortfolio in one episode to the ePortfolio in the next episode Age 19 Year 1 Univ. Age 20 Year 2 Univ Age 17 College Age 18 College School Passport College Passport University ePortfolio Lifelong ePortfolio Age 16 School results PDP Where Nottingham began

6. Age 19 Year 1 Univ. Enrols Applies Univ. PDP results Age 20 Year 2 Univ Age 17 College PDP Age 18 College Registers @ Univ. & enrols School Passport results College Passport University ePortfolio Lifelong ePortfolio Age 16 School A repeated pattern? But how can we get inside the Black Box to identify repeating patterns?

7. The distance travelled: Pilots Exchanges of information between ePortfolios in different episodes of learning were piloted IMS LIP worked but was monolithic and over complex LIP needs significant simplification if it is to offer an implementable solution How can we reduce the problem to simpler terms in which it becomes capable of easier resolution? Perhaps by using Web Services

8. The distance travelled: Whats inside the black box? Web Services break the PDP Black Box into discrete modules The eFramework offers a very promising means of achieving this Suggesting where the ICT supporting PDP in one episode be adapted and re- used in another PDP

9. Looking Inside the Black Box In 2005 Nottingham was funded by JISC to create a Reference Model of ePortfolio for Lifelong Learning This first looked at PDP services as the learner experienced them The next set of slides looks at a flow choreographing the domain services making up PDP. I will then look at the machine to machine Web Services within a domain service. Each Domain Service may orchestrate several Web Services

10. Trigger 1.An assessment result Mark+comments from formative assessment; This requires an interface (the hatpin) ePortfolio: Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) The 2nd P of PDP stands for Planning How is a plan created?

11. 2.I call this information into an ePortfolio enabled Personal Development Service. (The 1 st P of PD stands for Personal Development) ePortfolio: ILP

12. 3. I review the results against my goals... ePortfolio: ILP

13. 3. I review the results against my goals... 4. …in the context of past reflections… (saving my current reflections as I go) ePortfolio: ILP

14. 5. …taking account of pathway information about the grades I need to meet my goals. 3. I review the results against my goals... 4. …in the context of past reflections… (saving my current reflections as I go) ePortfolio: ILP

15. 6. I make available some of my reflections to my advisor in an Information Advice Guidance Planning Service ePortfolio: ILP

16. 6. I make available some of my reflections to my advisor in an Information Advice Guidance Planning Service 7. Formal Pathway Info is called (mainly by the advisor; I now have loads of formal & informal stuff.) ePortfolio: ILP

17. 8. My dialogue with my advisor is recorded (I may may well be accessing other advice from other sources, like a google group) ePortfolio: ILP

18. 8. My dialogue with my advisor is recorded (but what about the other informal conversations?) 9. I negotiate a formal learning plan with my advisor ePortfolio: ILP

19. 8. My dialogue with my advisor is recorded 9. I negotiate a formal learning plan with my advisor 10. The first action is to enrol on a new set of classes ePortfolio: ILP

20. Some ePortfolio systems contain some of these services. It is to the advantage of the learner if any type of any service can be plugged into any ePortfolio. A modular approach aids implementation because it permits prioritisation a thin, web based ePortfolio drawing on rapidly developing webservices. ePortfolio: ILP Comment:

21. Is ePortfolio for Lifelong Learning feasible? A thin ePortfolio drawing on Webservices looks a promising Approach: - This offers an easy entry point for developers and vendors A market offering wide choice to learners Which with careful govt management can deliver personalised learning But what do the Web Services within a domain service look like?

22. Web Services for Personal Development Each Web Service could be used in other domains The same orchestration could be used for PD in different contexts The lower the level of the attainment the the greater the granularity

23. Where we are now Every pattern …must be formulated in the form of a rule which establishes a relationship between a context, a system of forces which arises in that context, and a configuration, which allows these forces to resolve themselves … A particular configuration enables particular behaviours The present task is to establish rules between systems of forces in contexts which will allow teachers to configure these forces so that the learner can develop his capacity to resolve them

24. Where we go next Review the implications for specifications and standards Propose lightweight profiles of specs/standards That can demonstrate their capacity to deliver key govt policies within 3 years Present work has concentrated upon the lifelong dimension for ePortfolio But ePortfolios must be capable of supporting learners within the emerging single employment market within Europe And globally