This task is very relevant to me because at work I am trying, together with 2 other members of the IT-team, to implement an electronical learning environment in which e-portfolio plays an important role.
Target: European School Karlsruhe Secondary School department
System review: Google Apps and My Stuff (Moodle Based)
Recommendation: Google Apps
In today’s day and age there are many e-portfolio systems. Our team has chosen to take a closer look at Google Apps and Moodle. We have done this for several reasons, but the main ones are:
· Our school is currently using Google Mail as a mail client server, therefore Google Apps seems to be a logical step for using this for e-portfolio purposes.
· In the past we have looked at Moodle because it can be modified to suit specific needs. My Stuff is a good example of how this e-portfolio system has been molded to suit the needs of the Open University.
· We have set up some criteria to compare the two e-portfolio systems. This information is attached to this document as appendix 1.
Usage in Education
Google Apps exists of Google Docs, Google Talk, Google Calender, Google Mail, Google Groups and Google Reader.
Moodle is a Open Source software product which can be modified to match our own needs (it requires specific knowledge).
Currently, neither Google Apps nor Moodle are being used in the other European Schools. So we would be the first ones using either application.
Schools in Germany tend to use a system which is set up by a local cooperation. In Karlsruhe the LMZ (Landes Media Zentrum) is very active in setting up various LMS systems with e-portfolio possibilities. Their system is too rigid to use in our school system.
Functionality
Google Apps contains various applications which one can use for e-portfolio purposes. In general Google Apps is not set up as an e-portfolio system like My Stuff. My Stuff provides more e-portfolio character than Google Apps does. For example, in My Stuff there is a transcript of achievement and CV’s (My Stuffbites) which gives students and tutors the possibility to upload their personal achievements. These can then be shared with a specific community. In Google Apps such documents must be made by the students themselves. They can then be shared in the Google Groups Community.
Google also provides various ways of accessing the Google Apps. For example, there is a Google for Educators portal which gives access to various Google Apps or one can access the Apps through iGoogle.
At this stage it has become apparent that My Stuff is not an option for our school because we do not have the specific knowledge required to implement it and our budget is too tight to buy this knowledge. The question remains as to whether Google apps can meet our needs.
Students’ use
In Google Apps students are able to share their documents, create their own profile for PDP and have ownership of data (because they have their own Google Account). They would have access to their profile through either the schools website or iGoogle (or Google for Educators). We would prefer to organise the LMS system in such a way that only one log in is required for the students.
Teacher’s use
Teachers can create learner groups by using Google Groups and students then can add files, notes, PowerPoint presentations in their files. Teachers have control over these learner groups they can interact online and have if necessary access to the shared documents. At the moment it would be difficult for me to describe how to assess all of this.
Integration into the European School Karlsruhe
Google Apps will not be hosted from the schools’ sever. Google provides server hosting outside of our school and has its own servers. From a cost point of view this will save us some money.
Google Apps is interoperable with other platforms and allows data migration in two directions(use of Google docs is compatible with Office and Open Office).
Google Apps has an OpenAPI system which interconnects other providers’ websites within the system. This would be very useful as it would enable us to integrate our school website and WebUntis into Google Apps.
Parental Access through Webuntis which can be integrated in Google Apps as it is Open API.
Conclusion
This team recommends Google Apps as a use for e-portfolio. The main reason for this is that Google Apps is part of an integrated learning system (Google for Educators or iGoogle) which can be modified and administrated by its user. We suggest setting up a trial group in our school and seeing whether this projects has the ability to succeed or not.
