Leveling the playing field...

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Leveling the playing field...

• Getting to know the Minnesota efolio effort
• June 10, 2002

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Some definitions first.

• Portfolio Information an individual maintains
  about themselves to support a particular goal.
• Electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) A portfolio
  that is stored in an electronic format (floppy,
  CD-ROM, LAN)
• Web-based e-portfolio An e-portfolio that uses
  the web to store and display information. What
  we call in Minnesota an efolio.

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Honoring the past (and present)

• Why Minnesota doesnt have a patent on
  portfolios

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Portfolios - a strong legacy

• Portfolios have been used for years as part of
  the teaching and learning experience.
• Their value to an individual and an organization
  has been well documented.
• Examples..

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Research...
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More research from Dr. Barrett
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A University of MN effort
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CMA is part of the portfolio legacy

• CMA - Career Management Account was an effort
  sponsored by the Department of Labor as part of
  the Americas Career Kit effort.
• The CMA was an Internet-based safety deposit box
  where individuals can collect store, organize and
  manage all of their lifelong learning and career
  development information including third party
  validated documents such as transcripts,
  assessments, certificates and licenses.

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Looking at the CMA...
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CMA - Caught in the transition
November 27, 2001 E- Mail message to the CMA
Team As you all know, on October 22nd, the
NetBoard approved funding to continue the CMA
pilot for 18 months. Last week, however, the
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training
decided to discontinue the project. This
is obviously very disappointing news, especially
for our partners and those of us who have worked
so hard and believe so strongly in this project
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Getting back to Minnesotas effort

• Why you are here!

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WWW.EFOLIOMN.COM - Short History

• Project was part of a grant received by the
  Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system
  (MnSCU) through the federal Department of
  Education.
• Work efforts kicked-off in the Summer of 2001.
• Three work groups (plus a design team) were
  involved in the specifications - student, worker,
  and educator
• Check out www.portfoliopilot.govoffice.com for
  more information

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Key project assumptions

• Technology literacy
• Need to accommodate users of various skill sets -
  from basic word processing skills up to HTML
  coding
• Customizable
• One size can not fit all
• Types of information
• Text and multi-media documents

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Assumptions continue

• Security
• Three levels of security - public, restricted and
  private. Need to address under 18 issue.
• Web-based
• Nothing but net. Access through IE or
  Netscape.
• Administrative tools
• Limiting site size, turning off sites, etc.

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What makes Minnesotas effort unique

• Scope
• Minnesota residents and students (enrolled at
  Minnesota institutions) are eligible
• Deployment
• Effort is completely web-based
• Flexibility
• Customizable to meet the needs of workers,
  students and educators

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Uniqueness - continue

• Availability/cost
• Free for a lifetime (target)
• Pedagogical independence
• OWNED by the individual

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Building the team...

• Managing - Wasko and Langer
• First base - MDES Service Center
• Second, shortstop, and third base - Work groups
• Pitching - Avenet, LLC
• Catching - Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc
• Outfield - MnSCU IT staff and beta testers
• Utility - Ken Niemi, Jeralyn Jargo

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Team information

• Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES)
  Service Center
• Chaired worker committee
• Beta testing the tool
• Support for Minnesota users

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Team information - continue

• Avenet, LLC
• Survived the request for proposal (RFP) process
  for software development.
• Owns the engine that MnSCU is licensing (MnSCU
  went with a buy decision versus build).

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Team information - continue

• Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc.
• Survived an RFP process to identifying at
  organization to assist with/develop communication
  strategies along with identifying funding
  opportunities (both for Minnesota and other
  organizations).

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Team Information - continue

• Work groups
• Included content experts from various areas
• Beta testers
• Are using the tool - today.
• MnSCU IT staff
• Hosting infrastructure (pilot work will be hosted
  by Avenet)

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How does it work - simple as 1, 2, 3

• Step 1 - Get to www.efoliomn.com
• Step 2 - Go through the sign-up process
• Overview of the tool
• Provide your name, age (under 18 issue)
• Agree to code of conduct/terms of use
  (accountability placed on owner of site)
• Step 3 - Sign-in to your site
• Receive an email notification with your site URL
  (www.paulwasko.efoliomn.com) along with your
  password and userid

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Questions

• Note to self - Paul take a breath

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Current project status

• The clock is ticking

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Four key areas

• Minnesota project
• National pilot project
• Funding/grant opportunities
• MnSCU/Avenet - public-private agreement

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Minnesota project

• Completed beta testing. Results were positive
  and identified some enhancement areas.
• Pilot testing begins the week of June 10th.
• Full operations are slotted to begin August 1,
  2002. (Right now on target).

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National pilot project

• MnSCU amended its contract with Avenet to provide
  efolio sites for up to 5,000 users. Some limited
  additional funding is available for enhancements
  (some ideas from beta testers).
• Runs through June 30, 2003

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Finding funding/grant opportunities

• MRP is working on a communication strategy/plan
• MRP has already started looking for grant and
  funding opportunities
• Chance to partner with other states/ organizations

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MnSCU/Avenet - public-private agreement

• MnSCU and Avenet have executed an agreement that
  allows Avenet to market efolio to other states
  and orgnaizations.
• Possible now for other entities to engage in a
  licensing agreement with Avenet.
• Also looking at business-to-business (B-to-B)
  opportunities.

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Questions?

• Time to start showing off...