The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is launching a new General Education program called the University Studies Program. As part of this reform, they will implement High Impact Practices like learning communities for all first-year students. Students will also create an ePortfolio to showcase their work from across classes and make connections between courses. This presentation outlines the plans, questions, and challenges around implementing program-level ePortfolios on a large scale, such as helping faculty understand the pedagogical approach and ensuring students have support for reflection.

1. University Studies:
embedding High Impact
Practices and ePortfolios at
UW Oshkosh
R. John Robertson
UW Bothell Symposium, Sept 20, 2012

2. Abstract
“This fall the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh embarks on
an new approach to General Education. With the launch of
the University Studies Program (http://www.uwosh.
edu/usp), we are implementing High Impact Practices
programmatically for every incoming first year student; as
part of this initiative, students will create a program-level
ePortfolio, drawing on material from all their classes. This
presentation outlines about our plans, questions, and
anticipated challenges in making this program-level
ePortfolio component work.”

3. Introduction

4. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Third largest institution in
the University of
Wisconsin system.
According to
CollegePortraits last year
75% of first year students
were retained
http://www.uwosh.edu/home/about-uw-oshkosh/about-uw-oshkosh/fast-facts
http://www.collegeportraits.org/side_by_side/633

5. The former structure
of General Education
UW Oshkosh had ~800 General Education
courses listed
Students had a lot of flexibility
Students had the perception that general
education was ‘a waste of time and money'
Last HLC accreditation had concerns about
lack of structure in General Education program

6. UW Oshkosh Reform process
•Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
•Inclusive Excellence
•Center for Excellence in Teaching
and Learning (CETL)
•Provost’s Teaching and Learning
Summit
•2007 LEAP and LERT
•Essential Learning Outcomes
(ELOs)
•Reform Framework
•Summer Teams (2011): HIPs
• Campus-Wide Dialogue 2011-12
• Faculty Senate Approval March ‘12
• Implementation Begins
Overview
(by Dr. Carrell)

7. Reform process: going further
“A pride of place and commitment to change”
Checklist for Change: Making American Higher
Education a Sustainable Enterprise (Robert
Zemsky, 2013)
Ensuring Quality & Taking High Impact
Practices to Scale (George D. Kuh and Ken
O'Donnell With Case Studies by Sally Reed,
AACU 2013)

8. Shape of the
University Studies Program
41 credits
Explore (Nature, Culture, Society)
Explore: Quest I
Explore: Quest II
Explore: Quest III
Quest Writing (WBIS)
Quest Speaking(Comm 111)
Connect: Advanced Composition

9. Shape of the
University Studies Program
All courses:
● connection to Essential Learning Outcomes
● connection to Signature Questions
● Early Alert
Quest courses (Embedded FYE focus)
● learning communities
● co-curricular activities
● peer mentors
● Map Works

10. ePortfolios in this process

11. ePortfolio starting point
Prior use in General Education was minimal.
Used by Career Services, Education, Business,
and a few specific courses
USP intent is a learning portfolio for the
program to help students reflect and make
connections between courses and the program.

12. Each course
a designated assignment
a reflection (in or on the assignment)

13. The Program as a Whole
Connect course draws this all together
Produces capstone ePortfolio for USP but also
feeds content into other arenas (some majors
and career services)

14. Challenges and responses

15. Challenge: the unknown
Technology and Pedagogy
Even though the reform process and adoption
of ePortfolios is part of a faculty driven initiative,
eportfolios are new to many.
Question: How do we help faculty see the
pedagogical shift when their concern is the
technology?

16. Response to the unknown
Technology
Online guides, handouts,
drop-in labs, training,
overview videos
Pedagogy
Professional
development
opportunities, resources,
and examples

17. Response to the unknown
For students, support:
● online guides and
support
● drop-in labs for
students
● training peer mentors
and encouragement:
● advocacy
● student ambassadors
and the peer mentors

18. Challenges: reflection
Reflection is:
● new for many courses
● new for most first-year students
Questions:
What can we realistically expect of students?
How do we help disciplines reflect if it’s not
‘normal’?

19. Responses: reflection
Professional development,
discussion, and examples:
● reviewing why we are
doing this
● asking instructors to
make explicit their
underlying course design
to students
● tie to disciplinary
knowledge (Pace and
Middendorf)

20. Challenges: Connect
The Connect course is capstone-like but also
an advanced writing course.
● ePortfolio development a small part of
course
● fit with assessment needs?
Question: How do we create space for students
to draw their University Studies experience
together?

21. Responses: Connect
In progress…
Faculty shaping and reviewing syllabi - part
common, part individual.
Ongoing professional development and training
Focusing lab support alongside start of these
course offerings

22. Challenges: assessment
Assessment
● a focus and a distraction
● technological and procedural challenges for
process
Question: How do assessment processes fit
with all of this?
What are the technical or procedural issues?

23. Responses: assessment
A number of approaches are being used to
evaluate the program and reform effort, but
from an eportfolio point of view:
● the role of Connect
● appropriate (re-?)evaluation
● copies of work - what, when, how
● access considerations

24. Other opportunities: Quest III
Quest III
Experiential learning courses in
development
● potential for richer use of ePortfolios
● equipping instructors and students
● sensitivity to those we’re working with
● legal and ethical considerations

25. Questions
R John Robertson
robertrj@uwosh.edu
@kavubob

26. Resources
Overview videos
http://www.uwosh.edu/usp/eportfolio
Reflection resources:
http://www.uwosh.edu/usp/usp-teaching-
resources/eportfolio/reflection-resources
http://www.uwosh.edu/usp/usp-teaching-
resources/eportfolio/reflection-resources-1
Program information
http://www.uwosh.edu/usp