U.S. patent application number 13/768222 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-20 for systems and methods for providing social electronic learning.
This patent application is currently assigned to DESIRE2LEARN INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is DESIRE2LEARN INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Jeremy Jason Auger, John Allan Baker, Brian John Cepuran, Kenneth James Chapman.
Application Number | 20130159335 13/768222 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42731530 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130159335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baker; John Allan ; et
al. |
June 20, 2013 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL ELECTRONIC LEARNING
Abstract
A social electronic learning system, including a plurality of
computing devices for communicating with a plurality of users in an
educational community, and at least one server in communication
with each of the plurality of computing devices, each server in
communication with at least one data storage device configured to
host a plurality of electronic portfolios, each electronic
portfolio associated with one or more users of the plurality of
users in the educational community, wherein each server is
configured such that one or more users may associate one or more
digital items with each electronic portfolio, and the plurality of
users may take actions on the digital items in each electronic
portfolio depending on authorization criteria.
Inventors: |
Baker; John Allan;
(Waterloo, CA) ; Chapman; Kenneth James;
(Kitchener, CA) ; Cepuran; Brian John; (Kitchener,
CA) ; Auger; Jeremy Jason; (Breslau, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DESIRE2LEARN INCORPORATED; |
Kitchener |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
DESIRE2LEARN INCORPORATED
Kitchener
CA
|
Family ID: |
42731530 |
Appl. No.: |
13/768222 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12402872 |
Mar 12, 2009 |
8402055 |
|
|
13768222 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/758 ;
707/781 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/107 20130101;
G06F 16/245 20190101; G09B 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/758 ;
707/781 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A social electronic learning system, comprising: a) a plurality
of computing devices for communicating with a plurality of users in
an educational community; b) at least one server in communication
with each of the plurality of computing devices, each server in
communication with at least one data storage device configured to
host a plurality of electronic portfolios, each electronic
portfolio associated with one or more users of the plurality of
users in the educational community; and c) wherein each server is
configured such that one or more users may associate one or more
digital items with each electronic portfolio, and the plurality of
users may take actions on the digital items in each electronic
portfolio depending on authorization criteria.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization criteria
includes at least one permission profile associated with at least
one of the digital items.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization criteria
include at least one global configuration profile associated with
the plurality of electronic portfolios.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of users includes
at least one user authorized to set at least one global
configuration profile.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization criteria
includes at least one security profile associated with at least one
role, each role including at least one of the plurality of
users.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital items include at
least one of artifacts, reflections, collections and
presentations.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the actions that may be taken
include commenting on at least one of the digital items.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the actions that may be taken
include assessing at least one of the digital items.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the actions that may be taken
include at least one of reading, modifying, sharing, and creating
at least one of the digital items.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization criteria
include at least one permission-specific criterion.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the permission-specific
criteria include enrollment data for the plurality of users.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein each server is configured so
that one or more users may have different levels of control over
their associated electronic portfolios.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein each server is configured so
that the plurality of users may tag digital items using at least
one keyword.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein each server is configured such
that each user may perform searches across the plurality of
electronic portfolios.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein results of each search return
digital items based on the keywords associated therewith.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the results of each search
return digital items about which that particular user was
previously unaware.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least some of the keywords
are dynamically defined by each user.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least some of the keywords
are predefined.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the digital
items is an assignment item prepared by a first user and presented
to a second user for assessment.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the assessment of the
assignment item by the second user is performed using at least one
rubric.
21.-71. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/402,872, filed Mar. 12, 2009, the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
FIELD
[0002] The embodiments described herein relate to electronic
learning, and more particularly to systems and methods for
providing social electronic learning to one or more users in an
educational community.
INTRODUCTION
[0003] Electronic learning (also called e-Learning or eLearning)
generally refers to education or learning where users engage in
education related activities using computers and other computer
devices. For examples, users may enroll or participate in a course
or program of study offered by an educational institution (e.g. a
college, university or grade school) through a web interface that
is accessible over the Internet. Similarly, users may receive
assignments electronically, participate in group work and projects
by collaborating online, and be graded based on assignments and
examinations that are submitted using an electronic dropbox.
[0004] Electronic learning is not limited to use by educational
institutions, however, and may also be used in governments or in
corporate environments. For example, employees at a regional branch
office of a particular company may use electronic learning to
participate in a training course offered by their company's head
office without ever physically leaving the branch office.
[0005] Electronic learning can also be an individual activity with
no institution driving the learning. For example, individuals may
participate in self-directed study (e.g. studying an electronic
textbook or watching a recorded or live webcast of a lecture) that
is not associated with a particular institution or
organization.
[0006] Electronic learning often occurs without any face-to-face
interaction between the users in the educational community.
Accordingly, electronic learning overcomes some of the geographic
limitations associated with more traditional learning methods, and
may eliminate or greatly reduce travel and relocation requirements
imposed on users of educational services.
[0007] Furthermore, because course materials can be offered and
consumed electronically, there are fewer physical restrictions on
learning. For example, the number of students that can be enrolled
in a particular course may be practically limitless, as there may
be no requirement for physical facilities to house the students
during lectures. Furthermore, learning materials (e.g. handouts,
textbooks, etc.) may be provided in electronic formats so that they
can be reproduced for a virtually unlimited number of students.
Finally, lectures may be recorded and accessed at varying times
(e.g. at different times that are convenient for different users),
thus accommodating users with varying schedules, and allowing users
to be enrolled in multiple courses that might have a scheduling
conflict when offered using traditional techniques.
[0008] However, some users of electronic learning systems may feel
isolated when compared to traditional consumers of educational
services due to the reduced face-to-face contact. In particular,
there may be fewer opportunities to form social bonds between users
and to participate in meaningful feedback and sharing between
users.
[0009] Accordingly, there is a need for improved electronic
learning systems and methods that address at least some of these
concerns.
SUMMARY
[0010] According to one embodiment, there is provided a social
electronic learning system, comprising: a plurality of computing
devices for communicating with a plurality of users in an
educational community; at least one server in communication with
each of the plurality of computing devices, each server in
communication with at least one data storage device configured to
host a plurality of electronic portfolios, each electronic
portfolio associated with one or more users of the plurality of
users in the educational community; wherein each server is
configured such that one or more users may associate one or more
digital items with each electronic portfolio, and the plurality of
users may take actions on the digital items in each electronic
portfolio depending on authorization criteria.
[0011] The authorization criteria may include at least one
permission profile associated with at least one of the digital
items. The authorization criteria may include at least one global
configuration profile associated with the plurality of electronic
portfolios. The plurality of users may include at least one user
authorized to set at least one configuration profile. The
authorization criteria may include at least one security profile
associated with at least one role, each role including at least one
of the plurality of users.
[0012] The digital items may include at least one of artifacts,
reflections, collections and presentations.
[0013] The actions that may be taken may include commenting on at
least one of the digital items. The actions that may be taken may
include assessing at least one of the digital items. The actions
that may be taken may include at least one of reading, modifying,
sharing, and creating at least one of the digital items.
[0014] The authorization criteria may include at least one
permission-specific criterion. The permission-specific criteria may
include enrollment data for the plurality of users.
[0015] Each server may be configured so that one or more users may
have different levels of control over their associated electronic
portfolios.
[0016] Each server may be configured so that the plurality of users
may tag digital items using at least one keyword. Each server may
be configured such that each user may perform keyword searches
across the plurality of electronic portfolios. Results of each
search may return digital items based on the tags associated
therewith. The results of each search may return digital items
about which that particular user was previously unaware.
[0017] At least some of the keywords may be dynamically defined by
each user. At least some of the keywords may be predefined.
[0018] At least one of the digital items may be an assignment item
prepared by a first user and presented to a second user for
assessment. The assessment of the assignment item by the second
user may be performed using at least one rubric.
[0019] After each assignment item is submitted for assessment, that
assignment item may be locked against subsequent changes.
[0020] The assignment item may be a response to an examination and
include answers to at least one question presented to the first
user in association with the examination. The assessment of the
assignment item may be returned to the first user only with data
that the second user has determined should be returned. The
assessment of the assignment item may be returned to the first user
without the plurality of questions.
[0021] At least one digital item may include at least one
collection, each collection including a plurality of digital items.
The plurality of digital items in each collection may include local
digital items associated with a particular electronic portfolio and
remote digital items not associated with that particular electronic
portfolio. At least one of the remote digital items may be
associated with a different electronic portfolio. At least one of
the remote digital items may be a linked item external to the
social electronic learning system.
[0022] At least one of the plurality of digital items in each
collection may be associated therewith based on a manual selection
of at least one digital item. At least one of the plurality of
digital items in each collection may be associated therewith based
on dynamic associations formed using at least one keyword
associated with at least one digital item.
[0023] Each user may have a personal profile, and the personal
profile may be displayed to other users of the plurality of users
differently depending on at least one context.
[0024] At least one of the electronic portfolios may include at
least one presentation. Each presentation may include at least one
digital item and have at least one theme associated therewith. At
least a portion of each theme may be controlled by at least one
global theme variable. Each presentation may be shared with other
users based on a permissions profile set by the user creating the
presentation.
[0025] According to another embodiment, there is provided a method
of providing a social electronic learning system, comprising:
identifying a plurality of users in an educational community;
providing a plurality of computing devices for communicating with
the plurality of users in the educational community; providing at
least one server in communication with each of the plurality of
computing devices, each server having at least one data storage
device coupled thereto and configured to host a plurality of
electronic portfolios, each electronic portfolio associated with
one or more users of the plurality of users in the educational
community; and wherein each server is configured such that one or
more users may associate one or more digital items with each
electronic portfolio, and the plurality of users may take actions
on the digital items in each electronic portfolio depending on
authorization criteria.
[0026] According to yet another embodiment, there is provided a
physical computer readable medium including computer executable
instructions which, when executed on a computing device, cause the
computing device to: identify a plurality of users in an
educational community; identify a plurality of computing devices
for communicating with the plurality of users in the educational
community; communicate with each of the plurality of computing
devices; communicate with at least one data storage device
configured to host a plurality of electronic portfolios, each
electronic portfolio associated with one or more users of the
plurality of users in the educational community; and allow one or
more users to associate one or more digital items with each
electronic portfolio, and the plurality of users to take actions on
the digital items in each electronic portfolio depending on
authorization criteria.
[0027] Further aspects and advantages of the embodiments described
herein will appear from the following description taken together
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] For a better understanding of the embodiments described
herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into
effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the
accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment,
and in which:
[0029] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a system for
providing social electronic learning according to one
embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an exemplary interaction
between users of the system of FIG. 1A and an organizational
structure;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a home page for the system of FIG.
1A;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a dashboard page for the system of
FIG. 1A;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a search page for the system of
FIG. 1A;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a screenshot of an invites page for the system of
FIG. 1A;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a screenshot of a profile editing page for the
system of FIG. 1A;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a screenshot of a settings page for the system of
FIG. 1A;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a screenshot of an artifacts management page for
the system of FIG. 1A;
[0038] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the artifacts management page
shown in FIG. 7 showing information about an artifact;
[0039] FIG. 10 is a screenshot of an add artifacts page for the
system of FIG. 1A;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a screenshot of a file upload page for the system
of FIG. 1A;
[0041] FIG. 12 is a screenshot of the details of an added
artifact;
[0042] FIG. 13 is a screenshot of an add rubrics page for the
system of FIG. 1A;
[0043] FIG. 14 is a screenshot of the details of an artifact
showing a reflection, a comment, and an assessment;
[0044] FIG. 15 is a screenshot of an add reflection page for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0045] FIG. 16 is a screenshot of an add comment page for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0046] FIG. 17 is a screenshot of an add assessment page for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0047] FIG. 18 is a screenshot of a permissions profiles page for
the artifact shown in FIG. 14 for setting a general availability of
the artifact;
[0048] FIG. 19 is a screenshot of a permissions profiles page for
the artifact shown in FIG. 14 for setting a specific user
availability for the artifact;
[0049] FIG. 20 is a screenshot of an add profiles page for setting
the permissions profiles for the artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0050] FIG. 21 is a screenshot of an invitation page for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14 for sending an invitation to other
users;
[0051] FIG. 22 is a screenshot of a course selection page for
selecting users being added to the permissions profile for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0052] FIG. 23 is a screenshot of a user selection page for
selecting users being added to the permissions profile for the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0053] FIG. 24 is a screenshot of a permissions selection page for
adjusting the actions the users selected in FIG. 23 can take on the
artifact shown in FIG. 14;
[0054] FIG. 25 is screenshot of a search page for searching for
artifacts;
[0055] FIG. 26 is a screenshot of a collections management page for
the system of FIG. 1A;
[0056] FIG. 27 is a screenshot of the collections management page
of FIG. 26 showing a new collection being added;
[0057] FIG. 28 is a screenshot of the collections management page
of FIG. 26 showing items added to the collection of FIG. 27;
[0058] FIG. 29 is a screenshot of an add items page for adding
items to the collection of FIG. 27;
[0059] FIG. 30 is a screenshot of another add items page for adding
specific items to the collection of FIG. 27;
[0060] FIG. 31 is a screenshot of another add items page for adding
items to the collection of FIG. 27 based on tags associated with
those items;
[0061] FIG. 32 is a screenshot of a view collection page for
viewing the collection of FIG. 27;
[0062] FIG. 33 is a screenshot of a permissions profiles page for
setting permissions profiles for the collection of FIG. 27;
[0063] FIG. 34 is a screenshot of a presentations management page
for the system of FIG. 1A;
[0064] FIG. 35 is a screenshot of a presentations page for
configuring the properties of a presentation;
[0065] FIG. 36 is a screenshot of a presentations page for
configuring the content/layout of a presentation;
[0066] FIG. 37 is a screenshot of a presentations page for
configuring the banner of a presentation;
[0067] FIG. 38 is a screenshot of a presentations page for
configuring the theme of a presentation;
[0068] FIG. 39 is a screenshot of a themes management page for the
system of FIG. 1A;
[0069] FIG. 40 is a screenshot of a reflections management page for
the system of FIG. 1A;
[0070] FIG. 41 is a screenshot of a shared items management page
for the system of FIG. 1A;
[0071] FIG. 42 is a screenshot of an exploring management page for
the system of FIG. 1A;
[0072] FIG. 43 is a screenshot of a permissions profile management
page for the system of FIG. 1A;
[0073] FIG. 44 is a screenshot of a forms page for the system of
FIG. 1A;
[0074] FIG. 45 is a screenshot of a new forms page for creating
forms;
[0075] FIG. 46 is a screenshot of an edit forms page for editing
forms; and
[0076] FIG. 47 is a screenshot of a preview page for previewing a
created form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0077] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered
appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures
to indicate corresponding or analogous elements or steps. In
addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments
described herein. However, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may
be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
well-known methods, procedures and components have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments generally
described herein.
[0078] Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as
limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way,
but rather as merely describing the implementation of various
embodiments as described.
[0079] The embodiments of the systems and methods described herein
may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of
both. For example, some embodiments may be implemented in computer
systems and computer programs, which may be stored on a physical
computer readable medium, executable on programmable computers each
comprising at least one processor, a data storage system (including
volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least
one input device (e.g. a keyboard or mouse), and at least one
output device (e.g. a display screen, a network, or a remote
server). For example and without limitation, the programmable
computers may include personal computers, laptops, netbook
computers, personal data assistants (PDA), cell phones, smart
phones, gaming devices, and other mobile devices.
[0080] In some embodiments, program code can be applied to input
data to perform the functions described herein and to generate
output information. The output information can then be supplied to
one or more output devices for outputting to one or more users.
[0081] Turning now to FIG. 1A, illustrated therein is a system 10
for providing social electronic learning according to one
embodiment. Using the system 10, one or more users 12, 14 may
communicate with an educational service provider 30 to participate
in and consume educational services. The educational service
provider 30 may be part of or associated with a conventional
educational institution (e.g. a high school, university or
college), may be generally associated with any other entity that
provides educational services (e.g. a company offering training
courses), or may be an independent service provider (e.g. for
individual electronic learning).
[0082] In some embodiments, an educational community can be defined
that includes one or more users in the system. For example, as
shown in FIG. 1A, an educational community 16 has been defined to
include the users 12, 14. The educational community 16 may include
some users 12, 14 that are interested in learning, other users that
may lecture or teach courses to the users 12, 14, other users that
assess assignments prepared by the users 12, 14, and generally any
other persons who may be interested in social educational learning
using the system 10. In some examples, one or more of the users 12,
14 may be associated with more than one educational community (e.g.
user 12 may belong to two educational communities).
[0083] In some examples, a number of users (e.g. the users 14) may
be associated with one or more logical groups 18 that can be
defined in various ways. For example, one logical group 18 could
include users 14 that are enrolled in a particular course (e.g.
advanced calculus, introduction to biology, basic woodworking,
etc.) or are part of a group within each course (e.g. a lab group).
Other example logical groups 18 could include users 14 that share
common interests (e.g. interests in a particular sport), that
participate in common activities (e.g. users that are members of a
choir or a club), and/or have similar attributes (e.g. users that
are male, users under twenty-one years of age, etc.).
[0084] The communication between the users 12, 14 and the
educational service provider 30 can occur either directly or
indirectly using any suitable computing device. For example, the
first user 12 may use a computing device 20 such as a desktop
computer that has at least one input device (e.g. a keyboard and a
mouse) and at least one output device (e.g. a display screen and
speakers).
[0085] The computing device 20 may be connected to the service
provider 30 via any suitable communications channel. For example,
the computing device 20 may be communicate to the educational
service provider 30 over a local area network (LAN) or intranet, or
may communicate with the educational service provider 30 using an
external network (e.g. by using a browser on the computing device
20 to browse to one or more web pages presented over the Internet
28).
[0086] In some examples, one or more of the users 12, 14 may be
required to authenticate their identities in order to communicate
with the educational service provider 30. For example, a first user
12 may be required to input their login name and/or a password
associated with their particular user account to gain access to the
system 10.
[0087] The computing device 20 can generally be any other suitable
device for facilitating communication between the users 12, 14 and
the educational service provider 30. For example, the computing
device 20 could be a laptop 20a that may be wirelessly coupled to
an access point 22 (e.g. a wireless router or a cellular
communications tower), a wirelessly enabled personal data assistant
(PDA) 20b, or a smart phone 20c.
[0088] In some embodiments, the wireless access points 22 may
connect to the educational service provider 30 through a data
connection established over the LAN or intranet. Alternatively, the
wireless access points 22 may be in communication with the
educational service provider 30 via the Internet 28 or another
external data communications network. For example, the user 14 may
use the smart phone 20c to browse to a webpage that displays
elements of a social electronic learning system.
[0089] In some examples, the webpage may be configured to be
displayed on a smaller screen and to accommodate other limitations
of the smart phone 20c.
[0090] The educational service provider 30 generally includes a
number of functional components for facilitating the provision of
social electronic learning services. For example, the educational
service provider 30 generally includes one or more servers 32, each
having one or more processors. The servers 32 are configured to
send information (e.g. HTML) to be displayed on one or more
computing devices 20 in association with the social electronic
learning system 10. The servers 32 are also generally configured to
associate the users 12, 14 with a plurality of electronic
portfolios as will be described in greater detail below.
[0091] The educational service provider 30 also generally includes
one or more data storage devices 34 that are in communication with
the servers 32, and could include a relational database (such as a
SQL database), or any other suitable data storage device. The data
storage devices 34 are configured to host data 35 (including the
plurality of electronic portfolios), as will be described in
further detail below.
[0092] In particular, the data 35 in the data storage devices 34
may include one or more digital items that are associated with one
or more electronic portfolios. For example, the data 35 may include
different artifacts, collections, presentations, comments,
assessments and/or reflections in association with one or more
electronic portfolios, as will be described in greater detail
below.
[0093] The data storage devices 34 may also store authorization
criteria that define what actions may be taken by the users 12, 14
on the digital items that are associated with the electronic
portfolios.
[0094] The authorization criteria may include at least one
permission profile associated with at least one of the digital
items. Each permission profile may be set by one of the users 12,
14 who associates a particular digital item with a particular
electronic portfolio.
[0095] The authorization criteria may also include at least one
global configuration profile associated with the plurality of
electronic portfolios. The global configuration profile could be a
system wide variable or setting that sets limits on or controls
what actions can be taken by the users 12, 14 (e.g. whether certain
elements or modules of the system 10 are visible).
[0096] The authorization criteria may also include at least one
security profile associated with at least one role. For example,
one role could be defined for users who are primarily responsible
for teaching or assessing work product from other users. Users with
such a role may have a security profile that allows them to post
assignments to the electronic portfolios associated with users that
are enrolled in a particular course.
[0097] In some embodiments, one particular authorization criterion
may override another authorization criterion. For example, even
though a particular permissions profile for a particular digital
item (e.g. an artifact or collection) may not allow other users to
comment on that particular digital item, users that belong to
certain roles may have security settings that allow them to
override the permissions profile and comment on that digital
item.
[0098] In some embodiments, some of the authorization criteria may
be defined by specific users 40 who may or may not be part of the
educational community 16. For example, users 40 may be permitted to
define global configuration profiles for the system 10, define
roles within the system 10, set security profiles associated with
the roles, and assign the roles to particular users 12, 14 in the
system 10. The users 40 may use another computing device 42 (e.g. a
desktop computer) to accomplish these tasks.
[0099] The data storage devices 34 may also be configured to store
other information, such as personal information about the users 12,
14 of the system 10, information about which courses the users 12,
14 are enrolled in, roles to which the users 12, 14 are assigned,
particular interests of the users 12, 14 and so on.
[0100] The servers 32 and data storage devices 34 may also be
configured to provide other electronic learning capabilities (e.g.
allowing users to enroll in courses), and/or may be in
communication with one or more other service providers that provide
such other electronic learning capabilities.
[0101] In some embodiments, the system 10 may also have one or more
backup servers 31 that may duplicate some or all of the data 35
stored on the data storage devices 34. The backup servers 31 may be
desirable to prevent data loss in the event of an accident such as
a fire, flooding, or theft.
[0102] In some embodiments, the backup servers 31 may be directly
connected to the educational service provider 30 but located within
the system 10 at a different physical location. For example, the
backup servers 31 could be located at a remote storage location at
a distance from the service provider 30, and the service provider
30 could connect to the backup server 31 using a secure
communications protocol to ensure that the confidentiality of the
data 35 is maintained.
[0103] In some embodiments, one or more public users 50 may be
provided with access to specific digital items associated with
particular electronic portfolios. For example, the public users 50
may or may not be part of the educational community 16, but may be
interested in viewing and taking other actions on the digital items
in the system 10. For example, the public users 50 may be parents
or family of the first user 12, and may be interested in viewing a
particular presentation the first user 12 has prepared.
[0104] In some examples, the public users 50 may not be required to
authenticate themselves to the educational service provider 30
(e.g. by entering login information and/or a password) to gain
access to the system 10. In other cases, the public users 50 may be
required to authenticate themselves (e.g. by providing login
information).
[0105] As introduced above, the system 10 may provide a social
electronic learning environment for the users 12, 14 by hosting a
plurality of electronic portfolios. Each electronic portfolio may
be associated with one or more users 12, 14 in the system 10. For
example, in some embodiments each individual user 12, 14 may have
their own personal electronic portfolio. In other embodiments,
multiple users 12, 14 may share a common electronic portfolio (e.g.
the members of a lab group in a biology course may have a common
electronic portfolio for the work performed as part of their lab
group).
[0106] Each user 12, 14 who is associated with a particular
electronic portfolio can generally associate one or more digital
items with that electronic portfolio. Digital items might include
artifacts (e.g. documents, text files, images, media files,
homework assignments, reports, etc.), collections of artifacts,
presentations prepared using collections and artifacts, as well as
assessments, comments and personal reflections on artifacts,
collections, and presentations, etc.
[0107] The electronic portfolios may generally integrate with
various other components of an electronic learning system. In
particular the electronic portfolios may be affected by elements
such as what courses users 12, 14 are enrolled in, what assignments
or deadlines users 12, 14 currently have, and/or what assignments
and/or learning goals have been defined within the educational
community 16.
[0108] Generally, the electronic portfolios may help users 12, 14
organize and contextualize their personal learning experiences, and
coordinate users 12, 14 with any formal learning they may be
involved with at a particular institution.
[0109] Turning now to FIG. 1B, as shown, users 12, 14 and 40 may
define another educational community 16a. As will be described in
greater detail below, the users 12, 14, 40 may define different
authorization criteria within one or more organizations 62 (e.g.
one or more educational institutions), within one or more
departments 64 within a particular organization 62 (e.g. within the
math, science and biology faculties of a particular university), or
within one or more courses 66 (e.g. math, biology, etc.) offered by
the organization 62.
[0110] For example, user 40 may be permitted to define global
configuration profiles across the entire organization 62, define
roles within the particular department 64 (e.g. members of the math
faculty), set security profiles associated with those roles, and
assign roles to other users (e.g. users 12, 14) in the educational
community 16a.
[0111] Another user 14 may determined whether particular digital
items are available for viewing in association based on factors
such as whether those users enrolled in a particular course 66, or
based on a "friends" list for that user 14.
[0112] In some examples, the users 12, 14, 40 may also define
authorization criteria for other users 70 in other systems 74 (e.g.
external systems, where the users 70 may be public users 50 that
belong to another group 72, or other systems for providing social
electronic learning).
[0113] Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is a home page
102 for an electronic portfolio 100 that may be provided using the
system of FIG. 1A.
[0114] The electronic portfolio 100 may generally be presented
using any suitable techniques, such as via a series of web pages
that may be accessed using a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer,
Firefox, Safari, Chrome, etc.). For example, as shown, the
electronic portfolio 100 is presented as a webpage 103 that
includes a plurality of display areas (e.g. one or more
frames).
[0115] In FIG. 2, the webpage includes a navigation area 104
provided on a left side of the webpage 103, and a content area 109
provided on a right side of the webpage 103. It will be understood,
however, that the particular position and size of the areas on the
webpage may be generally varied.
[0116] The navigation area 104 of each electronic portfolio 100 may
include a plurality of links (which may be embodied as buttons, as
shown) that link to various pages associated with the electronic
portfolio 100.
[0117] The navigation area 104 may also serve as a menu that
provides a consistent user interface to allow users to more easily
navigate through the electronic portfolio 100. For example the
navigation area 104 may include a dashboard button 116 associated
with a dashboard page 118 (as generally shown in FIG. 3) so that
when the dashboard button 116 is selected (e.g. using a cursor, a
touch screen, a keyboard, etc.), the dashboard page 118 is
displayed. The dashboard page 118 may be a main screen for each
electronic portfolio 100, and may provide users with various search
and browsing options for accessing other pages and various digital
items within each electronic portfolio 100.
[0118] The navigation area 104 may also include an artifact button
120 associated with an artifact management page 122 (as generally
shown in FIG. 8) and configured so that when the artifact button
120 is selected, the artifact management page 122 is displayed. The
artifact management page 122 may allow users to manage the
artifacts in their electronic portfolios 100 as will be described
in further detail below. For example, the users may associate
digital items with the electronic portfolio 100 by uploading or
importing files, filling out forms, etc.
[0119] The navigation area 104 may also include a collections
button 124 associated with a collections management page 126 (as
generally shown in FIG. 26). The collections management page 126
may allow each user to collect and group digital items together,
including, for example, artifacts, comments, reflections and
presentations, both from their own electronic portfolio 100 and
from the electronic portfolios of other users.
[0120] The navigation area 104 may also include a presentations
button 128 associated with a presentations page 130 (as generally
shown in FIG. 34). The presentations page 130 may allow each user
12 to present digital items (e.g. artifacts, reflections, comments,
etc.) to a defined set of users using presentations that include
the digital items as page elements. The presentations page 130 may
also allow presentations to be customized and personalized (e.g. by
changing layouts, selecting different backgrounds, etc.)
[0121] The navigation area 104 may also include a themes button 132
associated with a themes page 134 (as generally shown in FIG. 39).
The themes page 134 may allow the user 12 to modify themes for use
in the presentations, such as by changing page layouts, color
schemes, etc.
[0122] The navigation area 104 may also include a reflections
button 136 associated with a reflections page 138 (as generally
shown in FIG. 40). The reflections page 138 may allow each user to
reflect on their own digital items, for example, and/or list
personal thoughts and/or information about their goals. In some
examples, one or more reflections may be associated with one or
more digital items.
[0123] The navigation area 104 may also include a shared items
button 140 that is associated with a shared items page 142 (as
generally shown in FIG. 41). The shared items page 142 may allow
users to see the items within their electronic portfolio that they
are currently sharing with other users, and may also allow each
user to see with whom (i.e. which other users) they are sharing
items.
[0124] The navigation area 104 may also include an explore button
144 associated with an explore page 146 (as generally shown in FIG.
42). The explore page 146 may allow each user to see what items
from other users are currently being shared with them, as well as
identify who among the other users are sharing items.
[0125] The navigation area 104 may also include a permissions
button 148 associated with a permissions profiles page 150 (as
generally shown in FIG. 43). The permissions profiles page 150 may
allow each user 12 to see what permissions portfolios have been
defined (either by them or by other users 14), as well as allow
users 12, 14 to define new permission profiles and add or delete
particular users from a permissions profile.
[0126] The navigation area 104 may also include a forms button (not
shown in FIG. 2) that links to a forms page 260 (as shown in FIG.
44). The forms page may allow users to create customized forms that
can be filled out by users and associated with one or more
electronic portfolios 100 as digital items.
[0127] In some embodiments, the navigation area 104 generally
remains in the same place and with the same content (e.g. buttons)
as users navigate through the electronic portfolio 100, thus
tending to provide a consistent user interface so that users can
more easily navigate through the electronic portfolio 100. However,
the content in the content area 109 is generally updated as the
users move from page to page, and within sub-elements of each
page.
[0128] For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the home page 102 is
displayed, the content area 109 can include a list of common tasks
that a user may wish to perform. Generally, the home page 102 will
be the first screen that a user sees when accessing the electronic
portfolio 100. Accordingly, by presenting common tasks on the home
page 102, users may be more quickly able to perform a desired
action.
[0129] As also shown in FIG. 2, the home page 102 may include a
welcome or introductory message (e.g. "Welcome to the ePortfolio"
and the accompanying text, generally above the content area 109).
In some examples, this welcome message may be static. In other
examples, the welcome screen may be customized for each particular
user, and/or may be updated to notify the user of various things
(e.g. upcoming events, deadlines, reminders about tasks to
complete, etc.)
[0130] Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is the dashboard
page 118 as will be described in more detail. The dashboard page
118 tends to be a main source of information within the electronic
portfolio 100, and includes a number of page elements, including
additional areas that may not be present on the home page 102.
[0131] In particular, the dashboard page 118 may include the
navigation area 104 and the content area 109, but may also include
a profile area 106, and a toolbar area 108.
[0132] The profile area 106 may display a brief profile about the
user or users that are associated with the particular electronic
portfolio 100. For example, the profile area may include a profile
picture, list the first and last name of a user associated with
that electronic profile, display an email address for that user,
and include a link that can be selected to display a more detailed
profile. In embodiments where multiple users are associated with
one electronic portfolio, the profile area 106 may display other
information, such as a list of the users associated with the
electronic portfolio (e.g. the members of a particular lab group,
etc.).
[0133] The toolbar area 108 generally includes a plurality of links
(which may be embodied as buttons) that are associated with various
"sub-pages" or alternative pages associated with each particular
page. Selecting the links or buttons from within the toolbar area
108 may change the particular content displayed in the content area
109.
[0134] For example, as shown, when the dashboard page 118 is active
the toolbar area 108 includes a dashboard button 152 (and which
when selected may load the dashboard page 118 shown in FIG. 3), a
search button 154, an invites button 156, a "My Profile" button
158, and a settings button 160.
[0135] The search button 154 can load a search page 155 into the
content area 109 (as generally shown in FIG. 4). The search page
155 has a search field 155a which can allow users to enter keywords
therein to search for various digital items (e.g. artifacts,
collections and other objects), and may also have a results field
155b that can display results from the search.
[0136] The invites button 156 may display a search invites page 157
(as shown in FIG. 5). The search invites page 157 has a search
field 157a that allows user to search for any invites that they may
have received, and which may show the resulting invites in a
results field 157b. In some cases, the invites may be invitations
to view and/or provide comments or assessments on digital items
that other users have prepared.
[0137] The "My Profile" button 158 may load a profile page 159 (as
generally shown in FIG. 6). The profile page 159 may allow users to
configure their profiles, such as general information 159a about
the user (e.g. a profile picture, a nickname, birthday, hometown,
and homepage), contact information 159b (e.g. email, phone numbers,
address information, etc.), education and work information 159c
(e.g. employer, schools attended, etc.), and other personal
information 159d (e.g. interests and hobbies, favorite music,
books, etc.). The profile page 159 may also display system
information 159e (e.g. account name, organizational identification
number, etc.) that generally cannot be configured by the user
associated with that electronic portfolio 100 (but which, in some
embodiments, may be configured by another user, such as the user
40).
[0138] In some examples, some of the information in the profile
page 159 may be shown or displayed in the profile area 106 or in a
full profile (not shown). In some examples, the user may also have
the option of determining whether certain data may or may not be
visible to other users (e.g. the user may not want to share
birthday information, phone numbers, or address information).
[0139] In some embodiments, the personal profile for a particular
user may be displayed to other users differently depending on at
least one context. For example, if the other users are members of a
particular logical group 18 (e.g. a lab group), then the users
within that group may be more willing to share personal
information. Similarly, certain users may be identified as having
one or more levels of friendship, and the type and amount of
information may be adjusted accordingly (e.g. close friends may be
able to see personal information such as birthday information and
contact info, while other types of friends may receive a restricted
view of the profile). Furthermore, certain users (e.g. users who
may be assessing the work of other users) may be presented with
less personal information.
[0140] The settings button 160 may load a settings page 161 (as
generally shown in FIG. 7) and which may allow each user to
customize certain aspects of their electronic portfolio 100. In
particular, the settings page 161 may allow users to change
dashboard display options 161a (e.g. what content 110, 112, 114
will be displayed in the content area 109 when the dashboard page
118 is displayed, and in what order will the content be displayed),
default settings 161b (e.g. will comments and/or assessments of
digital items be allowed by default), invitation delivery methods
161c (e.g. will invites be emailed), start page 161d (e.g. will the
home page 102 be the first page that is displayed or will another
page be displayed), and default permissions profiles 161e (e.g.
should a default permissions profile be used when digital items are
uploaded or associated with the electronic portfolio 100, and/or
should any default tags be applied, etc.).
[0141] Turning again to FIG. 3, the dashboard page 118 may display
various content elements (and as may be customized using the
default settings 161b) within the content area 109. For example, as
shown the content area 109 in this example includes recent comments
110, recent invites 112, and recently modified items.
[0142] The recent comments 110 may include comments that have
recently been associated with a particular digital item (e.g. an
artifact) in the electronic portfolio 100. For example, as shown
the recent comments include a comment on the digital item entitled
"Peter's new Artifact".
[0143] The recent invites 112 may include invites that the user has
recently received, in particular invitations to comment and/or
assess digital items associated with other users' electronic
portfolios. For example, as shown, the recent invites include at
least two invitations to check out other digital items.
[0144] The recently modified items 114 may include digital items
that the user has recently modified within their own electronic
portfolio 100, and/or may contain digital items that other users
have recently modified in other electronic portfolios. For example,
as shown the recently modified items 114 include two collections
(entitled "My Third Collection" and "new collection 2"), one
artifact (entitled "Peter's new Artifact"), and one reflection
(entitled "My thoughts on this").
[0145] In some embodiments, whether a particular comment, item or
invite is considered "recent" may depend on various factors, such
as the time elapsed since that object was created or last updated,
as well as the amount of activity in a particular electronic
portfolio (e.g. electronic portfolios with a lot of activity may
characterize objects as "recent" for a shorter time period), and/or
based on the length of time between system accesses by the user of
that electronic portfolio.
[0146] Turning now to FIG. 8, the artifacts management page 122 is
shown in further detail. For greater clarity, the navigation area
104 has been omitted from this figure, and the navigation area 104
may generally be provided to the left of the content area 109 in
the artifacts management page 122 similar to the layout of the
dashboard page 118.
[0147] As shown, on this page the toolbar area 108 may include two
buttons, a "My Artifacts" button 170 and an add artifact button
172. The "My Artifacts" button 170 generally displays the content
as shown in FIG. 8, while the add artifact button 172 may be used
to add an artifact to the electronic portfolio 100 as detailed
below.
[0148] As shown in FIG. 8, the content area 109 includes several
page elements, including a recently modified artifacts area 174, a
search field 176, and an artifact list 178.
[0149] Similar to the recently modified items 114 as described
above, the recently modified artifacts 174 may display artifacts
(as opposed to digital items more generally) that have recently
been modified. In this example, three artifacts are displayed,
entitled "TEST ARTIFACT", "Untitled2" and "interesting".
[0150] The search field 176 may allow users to search for
particular artifacts, for example using meta-data associated with
the artifacts (e.g. keywords or tags and/or other meta-data that
may be associated with the artifacts, such as who created an
artifact, or the date the artifact was created or last modified,
etc.)
[0151] Finally, the artifact list 178 may display a list of some or
all artifacts 180 associated with the electronic portfolio 100. To
accommodate a large number of artifacts, the list may be broken
into several sub pages through which users to navigate. As shown,
the artifact list 178 generally includes three artifacts, entitled
"TEST ARTIFACT", "Untitled2" and "interesting".
[0152] Generally, an artifact may be a base element in each
electronic portfolio 100, and can represent objects such as a file,
a learning environment object, and/or a form. In particular,
artifacts may include, for example, Microsoft Word documents (or
other word processing documents), PowerPoint presentations, quiz
attempts, discussion posts, dropbox folder submissions, completed
forms, media files (e.g. movies, pictures, music), links to
external files, documents, and generally any other type of digital
file.
[0153] Once associated with a particular electronic portfolio,
digital items (e.g. the artifacts or collections) can be organized
and categorized, for example by using keyword tags or by creating
collections as will be described in greater detail below.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 9, the artifact list 178 may display
details about each particular artifact 180, such as the name of the
artifact 182 ("TEST ARTIFACT"), a description 184 associated with
the artifact 180 (and which may reference a filename associated
with the artifact, for example "demo.txt"), various tags 186 or
keywords that are associated with the artifact 180, audit details
188 (e.g. the date and time that the artifact 180 was last
modified), actions 190 that can be performed on that artifact (e.g.
edit the artifact, adjust the permissions profile for that
artifact, and/or delete that artifact) and which may be activated
by selecting icons in the actions 190 region, as well as an icon
192 that is associated with that artifact 180.
[0155] The icon 192 may be configured so as to quickly convey
information about the artifact 180, such as by using different
icons 192 for different artifacts 180. For example, the icon 192
may be configured to look like a document when the artifact 180
includes a word processing document (e.g. a .txt or .doc file), the
icon 192 may look like a picture when the artifact 180 includes an
image (e.g. a .jpg or .bmp file), and/or the icon 192 could also be
a thumbnail view of the artifact 180, and/or external content
stored in another website.
[0156] Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 10, when the user selects the add
artifact button 172, an add artifact page 194 may be displayed as
shown in FIG. 10. The add artifact page 194 may list various ways
that an artifact can be added to or associated with a particular
electronic portfolio 100.
[0157] For example, an artifact may be added by uploading a file
(e.g. adding a file from the user's computer, locker or another
location), creating a file (e.g. creating a new HTML file that may
contain formatting, text, pictures, etc.), creating a link (e.g.
using a URL to reference an object in existence on a website, and
which may be remote from and external to the system 10), importing
a file (e.g. by importing results from a particular course, such as
quiz results, dropbox feedback, grades for the user, progress
indicators, etc.), and/or by filling out a form (e.g. completing a
form presented through one of the courses that the user is enrolled
in).
[0158] As shown in FIG. 10, for example, a user may choose to
associate an artifact with the electronic portfolio by uploading an
existing file using an upload file page 196 (which may be activated
by selecting the appropriate link on the add artifact page 194). As
shown in FIG. 11, the upload file page 196 may include the name
and/or path of the file 198 to be uploaded (which may be selected
using a conventional dialog box as is generally known), a display
name 200 that may be entered by the user and which will be
displayed within the electronic portfolio 100 in association with
that artifact (and which may help decipher the identity of the
artifact, particularly where the file name 198 is especially
cryptic), a description 202 of the artifact (which may be entered
by the user), and one or more tags 206 (e.g. at least one keyword)
associated with the artifact.
[0159] In some examples, at least some of the keywords or tags 206
may be predefined, and may be selected by the users (e.g. using a
drop down box or pick list). In other examples, the keywords or
tags 206 may be dynamically defined, for example by entering text
in a free format in a textbox 204.
[0160] Generally, the servers 32 in the system 10 may be configured
such that users may perform keyword searches across electronic
portfolios, and receive results (e.g. digital items identified to
the users) based on the meta-data (e.g. tags or keywords)
associated therewith. This can allow users to discover not only
digital items of which they were already aware (e.g. their own
artifacts or artifacts of their friends) but also digital items
about which that particular user was previously unaware. For
example, when digital artifacts are added to the plurality of
electronic portfolios in the system 10, keyword searching may
return digital items added by other users (in particular unknown
users) where there is similarity or a match in the tags.
[0161] Once the artifact has been associated with the electronic
profile 100, then the user may be able to configure the artifact
using a configuration page 208 (as generally shown in FIG. 12).
[0162] For example, the edit artifact page 208 may display and
allow editing of the artifact details 210 (including the name,
description and particular file in the artifact) and tags 212
associated with the artifact. The edit artifact page 208 may also
allow settings 214 for that artifact to be modified (e.g. will
comments and/or assessments of digital items be allowed), and
rubrics to be associated therewith (e.g. using the add rubrics page
220 as shown in FIG. 13). In some examples, the settings may
default according to the default settings 161b generally as
described above.
[0163] The edit artifact page 208 may also include presentation
information 216 (e.g. a reference to presentations that contain
this artifact and/or allow this artifact to be added to
presentations) and collection information 218 (e.g. a reference to
collections that contain this artifact and/or allow this artifact
to be added to collections).
[0164] As shown in FIG. 13, the add rubrics page 220 may allow
users to select rubrics 220b (while leaving other rubrics
unselected 220a) to be associated with a particular artifact (or
another digital item). Generally, rubrics may assist when assessing
digital items by providing guidance to the user performing
assessment on that digital item, and may provide a reference for
users who are submitting digital items for assessment so that they
can better understand how they will be evaluated.
[0165] In some embodiments, at least one of the digital items is an
assignment item prepared by a first user (or one or more first
users) and which is presented to a second user (or one or more
second users) for assessment. The assessment of the assignment item
may be performed using one or more rubrics. In some cases, after
each assignment item is submitted for assessment, that assignment
item may be locked against subsequent changes (e.g. the first user
can no longer make changes to that version while they are waiting
for assessment feedback).
[0166] For example, the assignment item could be prepared in
response to an examination, and may include answers to questions
presented on the examination. Accordingly, the first user may not
be able to change answers after submitting the response for
assessment (otherwise the first user may be able to cheat, and/or
the users performing the evaluation may be inconvenienced by having
the content of the assignment change during the evaluation).
[0167] In some cases, it may be beneficial if particular questions
in an examination can be reused. Accordingly, the assessment of a
particular response to an examination may be returned to the first
user without the plurality of questions attached thereto (so that
the response cannot be used as an answer key). More generally, each
assessment of an assignment item may be returned to the first user
only with data that the second user has determined is acceptable or
should be returned to the first user.
[0168] Turning now to FIG. 14, the completed artifact may be
displayed using a view artifact page 222. The view artifact page
222 may display various actions 224 that can performed on the
artifact (e.g. open artifact, edit artifact, download, delete, add
to presentation, add to collection, edit tags, and view associated
collections and/or presentations).
[0169] The view artifact page 222 may also allow the user who
uploaded that particular artifact to post reflections 226
associated with that artifact, which may be personal thoughts of
the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, reflections 226 may be
added using an add reflections page 227, which may allow a
particular reflection to have a title 227a, comments 227b (which
may include text, html, links, etc.), as well as tags 227c.
[0170] The view artifact page 222 may also allow the user and/or
other users to provide comments 228 about the artifact. For
example, as shown in FIG. 16, an add comments page 229 may allow
general comments to be made on topics such as the content or
quality of the artifact, or generally any other topic using a
comment field 229a (and which may include text, html, links,
etc.).
[0171] Finally, the view artifact page 222 may also allow users to
provide an assessment 230 of the artifact. For example, as shown in
FIG. 17, an add assessment page 231 may allow users to select one
or more rubrics 231a (which may correspond to the rubrics added
using the add rubrics page 220) and to select a particular
evaluation level 231b for that artifact based on the selected
rubric 231a.
[0172] Generally, actions that users may take on particular digital
items (e.g. artifacts, collections, etc.) may depend on various
authorization criteria. For example, authorization criteria may
include at least one global configuration profile associated with
the plurality of electronic portfolios in the system 10. One
example global configuration profile may control or limit whether
public access to the system 10 (e.g. by public users 50) is
allowed, and/or if allowed, what authentication steps may be
required. Another global configuration profile could relate to what
modules may be available to particular users (e.g. whether
particular components of the system, such as the presentation
module, have been purchased and/or installed).
[0173] In some embodiments, the authorization criteria may include
at least one security profile associated with at least one role,
each role including at least one of the plurality of users.
[0174] In some embodiments, the authorization criteria may include
at least one permission-specific criteria, such as whether users
are enrolled in particular courses.
[0175] As shown in FIG. 18, the authorization criteria may include
at least one permission profile associated with at least one
digital items. For example, using a permissions profile page 232
for a digital item (e.g. a particular artifact), a particular user
may be able to set at least one of general availability criteria
234 and user specific access criteria 236 for that artifact.
[0176] The general availability criteria 234 may include setting
visibility criteria 234a for that artifact, such as whether the
artifact is always visible to other users, is always hidden to
other users, or is visible only for a particular period of time
(e.g. during a specific date range). Whether a particular digital
item (e.g. an artifact) is visible may limit whether other users
can actually view the digital item, and/or may affect whether the
digital item can be located when the other users perform a
search.
[0177] As shown in FIG. 19, in some embodiments, the users may set
user specific access criteria 236 for each artifact, which may
include access criteria based on permissions profiles 236a and/or
based on individual users 236b.
[0178] For example, as shown in FIG. 20, one or more permissions
profiles 236a may be selected for a particular artifact, and in
some cases (as shown in FIG. 21), users within that profile may be
sent an invitation 238 to view and/or perform other actions on that
artifact.
[0179] Furthermore, permissions may be determined based on
individual users 236b. For example (as shown in FIG. 22), one or
more individual users may be added to the permissions profile using
a pick course page 240, which may allow one or more courses to be
selected (e.g. using a search field 242 or a list 244) in which
users are enrolled, and then (as shown in FIG. 23), particular
users 248 within the selected course(s) can be added using an add
users page 246.
[0180] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 24, generally the permissions
for all users that were added at the add users page 246 may be
configured using a permission page 252, which can control or limit
the actions that those users can take on that artifact. For
example, users may be provided with permission to take some or all
of the following actions: view artifact, see comments from others,
add comments, see assessments from others, add assessments, and
edit artifact.
[0181] Users can choose to allow or deny comments and/or
assessments for digital items, including whether comments and
assessments can be viewed or added for specific users as
desired.
[0182] Turning now to FIG. 25, the search field 176 as introduced
above will be described in greater detail. As mentioned above, the
search field 176 may allow users to search for particular
artifacts, for example using meta-data (e.g. keywords or tags)
associated with the digital items (e.g. artifacts, collections,
and/or other meta-data that may be associated with the digital
items, such as who created a digital item, date the digital item
was created or last modified, etc.)
[0183] As shown in FIG. 25, in addition to searching by entering
keywords 176a, the search field 176 may be expanded to include
various search options, such as limiting the general scope of
meta-data searched 176b, adding date and/or time criteria 176c, as
well as other search limitations 176d (such as searching within
specific collections, specific presentations, and/or specific
reflections, based on certain file types, and/or file sizes,
etc.).
[0184] Turning now to FIG. 26, the collections management page 126
will now be described in greater detail. A collection is another
instance of a digital item (like an artifact), and generally all
manipulations that can be performed in respect of artifacts (as
described above) can be performed on other digital items, including
collections.
[0185] Each collection allows one or more users to collect and
group one or more digital items together, including artifacts,
comments, reflections, assessments, and/or presentations. In some
cases the digital items in a collection may be local digital items
taken from their own electronic portfolio 100 and/or remote digital
items from the electronic portfolios of other users or from outside
the system 10.
[0186] As shown, the collections management page 126 may display
various elements within the content area 109, including recently
modified collections 300 (which may be generally similar to
recently modified artifacts 174 as described above), a search field
302 for searching for collections (which may be generally similar
to the search field 176 for searching artifacts as described
above), and a collection list 304 (which may be similar to the
artifact list 178 as described above).
[0187] As shown, when the collections management page 126 is
displayed, the toolbar area 108 may include a "My Collections"
button 306 (and which generally presents the collections management
page 126 as shown in FIG. 26), and a new collection button 308.
[0188] When the new collection button 308 is selected, a new
collection page 310 may be displayed (as shown in FIG. 27). Adding
a new collection is generally similar to adding a new artifact, and
may allow for a user-defined title 312, a description 314, and tags
316 to be associated with that collection.
[0189] Once created (e.g. by saving the new collection), the new
collection page 310 may expand to allow digital items to be added
to the collection 318 (and/or may list digital items that have
already been added thereto). The new collection page 310 may also
allow the collection to be customized to receive comments and/or
assessments 320 (as shown in FIG. 28).
[0190] In some embodiments (as shown in FIG. 29), at least one
digital item (e.g. a plurality of artifacts) may be added to the
collection based on a manual selection of digital items (e.g. by
selecting the link 322a on the add items page 322 to load the add
to collection page 324 as shown in FIG. 30). Using the add to
collection page 324, users may search for particular digital items
to add, and then manually select the desired items to add them to
the collection.
[0191] In some embodiments, at least one of the digital items added
to the collection may be associated therewith based on dynamic
associations formed using at least one keyword or tag associated
with the digital artifacts. For example, by clicking on the link
322b as shown on the add items page 322, a dynamic add items page
326 may be used to add digital items to the collection (as shown in
FIG. 31). A particular list name 328 (e.g. "Math and Others") may
be associated with one or more tags 330 (e.g. "math", "biology",
"science"). When saved, the tags 330 may be used to automatically
search for particular digital items, and when a similarity or a
match is found, automatically add the matched items to that
collection.
[0192] In some embodiments, each collection may include local
digital items associated with a particular electronic portfolio and
remote digital items associated with a different electronic
portfolio. In some cases, the remote digital items may be linked
digital items external to the social electronic learning system 10
(e.g. digital files on an externally hosted web server, such as a
You Tube video).
[0193] As shown in FIG. 32, the collections may be viewed using a
view collection page 332, and which may allow various reflections,
comments and/or assessments to be associated with that
collection.
[0194] As shown in FIG. 33, each collection may also have a
permissions profile associated therewith using a permissions
profile page 334 for the particular collection. Similar to the
permissions profile page 232 described above with respect to
artifacts, users may use the permissions profile page 334 to set at
least one of general availability criteria 336 and user specific
access criteria 338 for a collection.
[0195] Turning now to FIG. 34, the presentations management page
130 will be described in greater detail. The presentations
management page 130 is generally similar to the artifacts
management page 122 and collections management page 126, and
includes a search field 400 for searching for presentations, and a
presentation list 402. As shown, the toolbar area 108 includes a
presentations button 404 (which generally displays the
presentations management page 130 as shown in FIG. 34) and a new
presentation button 406.
[0196] As shown in FIGS. 35 to 38, a presentation is another
specific instance of a digital item (similar to artifacts and
collections), and may be created and/or edited using a presentation
page 410 that allows configuration of the properties 412, the
content/layout 414, the banner 416, and/or the theme 418 of that
presentation.
[0197] Generally, each presentation may include one or more digital
items (e.g. artifacts, collections, reflections, etc.) displayed in
association with a particular theme, and which may include
presenting the digital items as several pages having common color
schemes, layouts, arrangements, etc. In other examples, the
presentation may include only content generated for the specific
presentation (e.g. a presentation may not include any digital
items).
[0198] In some embodiments, the presentation may be shared with
external users (e.g. public users 50) who may not be required to
login to the system 10 to access the presentation.
[0199] Turning now to FIG. 39, as shown the themes page 134 may
allow the user to modify themes 418 for use in presentations, such
as by changing page layouts (e.g. the order and location of page
elements for each particular page), color schemes, default
presentations, etc.
[0200] In some embodiments, certain aspects of digital items may be
locked down or configured based at least one global theme variable.
For example, the themes 418 for presentations may include some
branding elements that are associated with the particular
educational service provider 30 (e.g. a color scheme or logo
associated with a particular university or other institution may be
automatically added as part of one or more themes).
[0201] Turning now to FIG. 40, as shown the reflections page 138
may allow each user to reflect on their own digital items, and/or
list personal thoughts and/or information about their goals. In
some examples, one or more reflections may be associated with one
or more digital items generally as described above. Each reflection
is another instance of a digital item, may include its own
meta-data (e.g. keywords or tags) allowing it to be searchable, and
can be added to collections, presentations, etc.
[0202] Turning now to FIG. 41, as shown the shared items page 142
may allow users to see the items within their electronic portfolios
that they are currently sharing with other users, and may also
allow each user to see whom (i.e. which other users) they are
sharing digital items with.
[0203] Turning now to FIG. 42, illustrated therein is the explore
page 146. The explore page 146 may allow each user to see what
items from other users are currently being shared with them, as
well as identify who among the other users are sharing digital
items.
[0204] Turning now to FIG. 43, illustrated therein is the
permissions profiles page 150. The permissions profiles page 150
may allow users to see what permissions portfolios have been
defined (either by them or by other users), as well as allow users
to define new permission profiles and add or delete particular
users from a permissions profile.
[0205] Turning now to FIG. 44, illustrated therein is the forms
page 260. The forms page 260 can allow users to create new forms
(another instance of a digital item) using a new forms page 262 (as
shown in FIG. 45). Once created, these new forms can be populated
with various elements 266 (e.g. data fields) using the edit forms
page 264 (as shown in FIG. 46). For example, some data fields (e.g.
first name, last name, email address) may be predefined by the
system and can be selected from a pick list. Other elements, like
customized fields, and/or selection tools (e.g. radio buttons, drop
down boxes, etc.) may be defined by users. Other elements (e.g.
separators) can also be selected from a pick list.
[0206] The completed form can generally be previewed using a
preview page 268 (as shown in FIG. 47), which can include some data
pulled directly from the system (e.g. user names, nick names, etc.)
and other data that must be entered by the user.
[0207] While the above description provides examples of some
embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or
functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to
modification without departing from the spirit and principles of
operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been
described above has been intended to be illustrative of some
embodiments of the invention and non-limiting and it will be
understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *