Marie Selvanadin and Lee Skallerup Bessette both did several presentations for the OERxDomains21 conference. Their session entitled “Beyond Portfolios” and high-impact practices. I did not know that ePortfolios were added to AAC&U’s list of high-impact practices, as mentioned by Skallerup Bessette. Building on the use of websites and portfolios, Skallerup Bessette mentioned group work and peer feedback can be included. Skallerup Bessette showed several examples of portfolios. For a class on Emergent Technology taught by Bryan Alexander, a student created a website and designed a game. Skallerup Besette also mentioned projects promoted on student domains that are not associated with courses. Students created portfolios for extracurricular activities and internships. Students shared their experiences publicly and helped others in the process. For a corporate communications and public relations course, students create website and blog on topics they are passionate about. Selvanadin then mentioned a Flourishing in College course using domains. Students are encouraged to think about digital presence and write a narrative. One example that I really liked was for a study abroad course in Rome! Students wrote and created websites with visual evidence to share broadly. One question that was asked was about buy-in. The presenters mentioned that at Georgetown they have had renewed interest as well as organic growth. They explained that several faculty were forced by the pandemic to rethink assessments and consider alternatives such as portfolios.
Next, Emily Carlisle-Johnston spoke about the “Lessons from the Frontline: Challenges and Strategies for Inspiring a Shift from Surveillance to Open Practices.” Carlisle-Johnston talked about open practitioners and their choices for using practices that help students create and share. Carlisle-Johnston also described the challenges of discouraging the use of surveillance. Interestingly, labor is cited as a reason for the need for surveillance practices and a barrier for adopting OER and open practices. Carlisle-Johnston described being tasked at a previous job with training on surveillance and learning that a concern was typically time/labor. Carlisle-Johnston spoke eloquently about changing behaviors and how advocacy strategies could leverage labor considerations. One thought-provoking question asked at the end was about the emotional labor required to consider, switch, and/or decide on using surveillance or open practices. I thought this was a consideration I had not thought about. Emily’s talk was so eloquent, honest, and convincing. Advocacy is difficult for complex issues like these. The way the information and argument were presented was engaging and allowed us to decide based on our own thoughts and experience.
