E-Portfolios for Learning

The latest system (#15) I tried in my “online portfolio adventure” was FolioTek by Lanit Consulting of Missouri. Editing this version of my portfolio has been challenging, since it required Internet Explorer 5.5+ to get access to the editing tools, to be able to insert images and hyperlinks into the pages. Since that version only exists on the Windows platform, I had problems on my Windows laptop. It took the most recent version of Virtual PC on my Mac to be able to edit this portfolio.

I was able to upload my images and other files to be able to use in the portfolio. The system has a Files menu, that shows all of the files that have been uploaded, which can be organized into folders. I found the process of uploading files to require a lot more mouse clicks than other programs. There does not appear to be a way to publically publish the portfolio. On the version I used, I could only share the portfolio with specific individuals, who are sent an e-mail with the code to access the portfolio as a guest. It did not appear that I could export my presentation portfolio, which I created from scratch, using the information I had used in other systems.

Once I was able to make the editing work in Explorer 5.5, I found the process to be pretty easy. The built-in editor automatically converted URLs into links. I was also able to insert images and drag them around. However, the preview function used a Pop-Up window, which most browsers are set to block.

The system was developed by Lanit Consulting for a PT3 grant in Missouri, and the examples I saw were focused on the MO-STEP standards. I could tell that the system was designed as a standards-based assessment system to meet credential requirement. This makes it a very useful program in Missouri. The developers usually customize the program for each installation. I know I saw a generic version.

The major problem with this system is its Explorer 5.5 requirement, which makes it very Mac un-friendly, unless using Virtual PC. The requirement to publish the Presentation Portfolio with a passcode is nice for privacy, but inconvenient. The program does send an e-mail with the access code. The inability to export a Presentation Portfolio is also a disadvantage.