THE E-PORTFOLIO – KEY TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF MASTER STUDENTS MSc Programme “ Management for Organisational Excellence” Prof. Y. Alkalay, G. Jadkov New Bulgarian University – School of Management International Conference “E-Portfolio for Your Future” Sofia, 22 September, 2009

Agenda The Environment – Master Programme MOE Competence approach The new leaders’ competence profile Needs for revolutionary changes in MD Curriculum redesign – the role of the e-portfolio Function Structure Process Environment Summary

MSc Programme Mission To develop managers / leaders, inspired and capable to apply the concepts of TQM and OE in their management practice; To research, develop and promote approaches, methods and culture for TQM and OE, creating value for students and organisations, independently of their scale.

Dealing with change management Visionary, strategic and systemic thinking Knowing himself and helping others to know themselves Communication and interpersonal skills Innovator's and entrepreneur's skills and attitude Ability for continuous professional and personal development Analytical, synthetic and problem solving skills Work in virtual and international teams Designing and managing processes, process thinking, etc. New Leaders’ Competence Profile

Competence Organisational culture Personal values Knowlege ExperienceCompetencies Competence Attitude

Assessment of Student’s Competence IT and virtual communication skills Managing self and personal skills Providing direction Facilitating change Working with people Using resources Achieving results Competence standards, e-portfolio evidences

How to Develop the New Leader? “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” Albert Einstein “If you got a new contribution, you’ve got a whole new preparation” Stephen Covey

Content and Structure Learning skills Personal development Mindset Systems thinking Org. architecture, HRM, QMS, MIS, CSR CRM, BPM, KM, OM, IM, RM knowledge & skills knowledge & skills International summer school Leadership, strategy, FM “Managerial initiative” Practical skills Practical skills CPD plan Master thesis Academic research MSc “MOE”

Learning Methodology (“Directed Self-Development”) Students – playing the role of “Process Owners”; Personal profile; Personal development plan. Habits for CPD; Transformative learning (Mezirov); E-portfolio – reflection, evidences’ collection; Learning process intensified– Web 2.0 Work based assignments; “Managerial initiative” development Coaching, mentoring

The new students’ role Student Master thesis Exams, tutor marked assignments Professional standards Self-evaluation and e-portfolio Virtual studying environment Colleagues (university, work place) Module case studies Books Learning and personal development skills Alumni (community of practice) Multicultural dimension Managerial initiative Personal plan for continuous professional development Library Academics, advisors, couches Seminars

We are looking to achieve:  Management of own learning outcomes & processes;  Recognition and development of competences;  Enhanced learning experience: personalisation of provision; ownership of process; continuity of support;  Use of reflection, review, self-evaluation and assessment to improve the learning process; Enhanced assessment experience through: selection of own evidence; rapid feedback; improved objectivity;

Monitoring of progress & appropriate feedback;  Opportunities for planning, review and guidance. Improved planning of individual and group learning; Recognition for value-added aspects of teaching and learning (capacity to record learning outcomes in relation to competence, motivation and engagement, self-awareness and progression) We are looking to achieve:

E-portfolio roles Provides an environment where students can: collect their work in a digital archive; select specific pieces of work (hyperlink to artifacts) to highlight specific achievements; reflect on the learning demonstrated in the portfolio, in either text or multimedia form; set goals for future learning to improve; present achievement through sharing this work with an assessor (peers), whether real or virtual.

Other roles of the portfolio The portfolio might be useful for other reasons than the course/program requirement. Family, friends, potential employers were ideas of other audiences for their work. As the idea of audience expanded, other ideas for extending the portfolio beyond the boundary of requirements grew.

What is Reflective Thinking? “…the process of creating and clarifying the meaning of experience (past or present) in terms of self (self in relation to self and self in relation to the world.)” Boyd & Fales. Reflective Learning: Key to Learning from Experience. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1983 Reflective thinking is a part of the critical thinking process referring specifically to the processes of analyzing, evaluating, and making judgments about what has happened.

Reflective Thinking Dimensions Identify the reasons and the evidence Identify the author's conclusion Identify vague and ambiguous language Identify value assumptions and value conflicts Identify descriptive assumptions Evaluate sampling and measurements Identify omitted information Gathers available information of reliable sources Evaluate logical reasoning Synthesizes the information and opinions from all perspectives Makes appropriate judgements Articulate one's own values in thoughtful, fair-minded way

How to become a Reflective Thinker? Good reflective thinking is a process where an individual: determines what information is needed for understanding the issue at hand accesses and gathers the available information gathers the opinions of reliable sources in related fields synthesizes the information and opinions considers the synthesis from all perspectives of reference creates some plausible temporary meaning that may be reconsidered and modified as one learns (Cynthia Mazow: Learning, Design, and Technology Stamford University)

Questions, Ideas, Suggestions!!! Thanks for your attention! Discussion