As delivered December 17, 2009.

1. ePortfolio
A new employability tool for
Manitoba’s immigrants?
Manitoba Labour and Immigration
December 17, 2009

2. Agenda
• 0930: Introductions
• 0940: Context
• 0945: ePortfolio: introduction, current trends, linkage
to immigrant needs
• 1045: Break
• 1100: ePortfolio and Manitoba
• 1120: DISCUSSION
• 1200: Conclusion

3. “Learning Agents eStudios”
– Flexible Digital Production Studios
– Mobile Production & Facilitation Support
– Collaborative Workshop Environment
– Community Telecentre

4. Underlying questions
• What is ePortfolio?
• Can it help Manitoba‟s immigrants?
• What are the next steps?

5. Context
New Manitoba Settlement Strategy
• Working to improve services and expand programs
to respond to the settlement, integration and
labour market needs of the increased number of
newcomers with:
– Improved pre-arrival information
– Centralized information and assessment services
– Easier and earlier connections to services
– Increased support to communities and groups
– Expanded language training
LIM_pathways_2009

6. • What is ePortfolio?
ePortfolio 101 and current trends

7. Recognition of Prior Learning
The language of skills & knowledge
• RPL = a way to determine what a person knows
and can do
• RPL can be used for:
– access to education (advanced standing)
– career planning & professional development
– access to employment
• a Portfolio is a product of RPL
• an ePortfolio is a digital portfolio

8. Key elements
• Links individual‟s skills/accomplishments to
skills frameworks
• A record of formal AND experiential learning
• Claims backed by digital evidence
• Learner ownership
• More than a showcase

9. ePortfolios and resumes
(Courtesy FuturEd)

10. Credentials vs. ePortfolio
Credentials ePortfolio
• Reflect time spent in • Reflects time spent learning
class • Evidence-based proficiency
• Questionable proficiency • Statement of actual skills and
• Proxy for skills and knowledge
knowledge • “Living”
• Dated • Systematic
• Variable quality • All learning valued
• Formal learning only
(Courtesy FuturEd)

11. ePortfolio: product and process
• Digital archive
• Showcase: celebration & assessment of learning
– Education
• Acceptance/advanced standing, course requirement,
graduation requirement
– Workplace
• Hiring, HR development, professional development, project
team selection
FuturEd 2004

12. ePortfolio: product and process
• Assessment for learning (e.g. CLPA)
• Reflection, self-assessment
• Transferring skills
• Coaching, collaborative learning
• Learning plans
• Knowledge Management
(Agustin, Duane)

13. Benefits of “e”
• Information Management capabilities
– Collecting, archiving, making different versions
• Easy to share with others
– “one to many”, digital copies, links to specific pages
• Collaboration
– Easy to add comments, edit, mentor, coach
• Measurement
– Link to frameworks, rubrics, track learning over time
• Easy to illustrate/demonstrate with multimedia
• Can integrate with other ICT systems
• Builds personal network, grooms digital identity

14. Quick Tour
• Global, regional, sectoral initiatives
• Converging standards and interoperability
• Open Source, Web 2.0, social software
• Adaptations for employers
• Manitoba momentum
• eP & immigrants: recent research, case studies
Sarah Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t2dXPb9Wc8&feature=related

15. UK – PDP, NVQ, WBL, CPD, etc.

16. UK - Careers Wales
http://www.careerswales.com Partly from percolab CAPLA Nov 2009

17. Sectoral Approaches
UK - Health

18. Sectoral Approaches
UK - Construction
Construction

19. Europass CV, Language Passport

20. New Zealand - Mahara
• 2007 OS project led by Massey University
– Lifelong learning & social networking environment for NZ
tertiary students
• Funded by NZ government ($500K), later Carnegie
Mellon Foundation
• Learner owned, multiple views
• Learning Mgmt System (LMS) integration
• LEAP2A exportability

21. Regional Initiatives
eFolio Minnesota

22. Canada
Employability, Essential Skills

23. Canada
Sector Councils

24. Employers
Human Capital Management

25. Web 2.0, social software
“Publish yourself”
Sarah Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t2dXPb9Wc8&feature=related
Theo Ramsey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1XYjZcmck

26. Flickr Example
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xinwen_zhang/sets/72057594115462151/

27. Linked In Examples

28. Cobbling it together…
Map of a Personal Learning Environment (PLE)

29. Web 2.0 as the engine of a PLE - the appeal
and the danger…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meg/3527560991/

30. Vision of the aggregated ePortfolio
“Small Pieces, Loosely Joined”
Student
Records
Online
Credential
Verification

31. Manitoba momentum
LIM-ALT

32. Manitoba momentum
Other selected RPL initiatives
• PLAR Policy Framework 2001
– Broad Goals: mobile, portable credentials, recognition of informal &
continuous learning, decentralization, seamless service, systemic
operational capacity
– 3 cornerstones: post-secondary, community, workplace
• RRC
– RPL Programs, Socrates ePortfolio
• MPLAN
– Community of Practice
• Centre for Education and Work
– Workplace Informal Learning Matrix, Successful Preparation for
Retaining Immigrant Workers
• WPLAR
– Working with employers, competency frameworks,
– Essential Skills linkages

33. •Can ePortfolio serve the needs of immigrants?
ePortfolio and immigrant
employability

34. Research
Information Practices of Immigrants
Nadia Caidi, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, 2009
http://www.slideshare.net/settlementatwork/information-practices-of-immigrants

35. ePortfolio benefits for newcomers
• Self-assessment
• Develop communication skills
• Develop other necessary skills and knowledge
• Build your Network
• “Digital evidence bank”
• Personal space for learning and building
knowledge

36. Immigrants and Essential Skills
• Reading Text
• Document Use
• Numeracy
• Writing
• Oral Communication
• Working with Others
• Continuous Learning
• Thinking Skills
– Problem Solving, Decision Making, Job Task Planning and
Organizing, Significant Use of Memory, Finding Information
• Computer Use

37. RESEARCH PROJECT
ePortfolio for Skilled
Immigrants and Employers
Pan Canadian
Employer Focus Groups
Jan-Feb 2006

38. Benefits of ePortfolio
• Pre-employment
• Recruitment
• Human Capital Development
– Employee Development
– Performance Management
– Talent Management
– Succession Planning

39. Employer feedback
ePortfolio as a tool to describe skills and knowledge
• Majority in favour
– “digital matching service, living document, screening tool,
digital evidence of credentials and experience”
• Benefits:
– Accessible documents of work accomplishments vs. credentials
– Pre-employment bridging tool, linked to LMI
– Help standardize the language of competencies
• Acceptance Factors
– Accuracy, consistency, ease of use
• Potential Issues
– Time for creation and processing, privacy, content
maintenance, system integrity, overall responsibility...

40. Employer feedback
On the advisability of a broad ePortfolio system
• Good timing
– Rising skills shortages, immigration levels
• Current examples
– Job Banks and PSC system
• Benefits
– Good potential: niche sectors, skill sets, countries
– Transparent tool for diversity and equity
– Early adopters could have hiring advantage
– Ease/improve recruitment, reduce wrong hires
• Potential Barriers
– Cost, regulatory body acceptance/validation, privacy,
ownership, process inertia, consistency

41. Employer feedback
On the advisability of a broad ePortfolio system
• Acceptance Factors
– Simplicity, accessibility, usefulness as a screening tool, trust,
confidentiality, standards, integration, flexibility, extensibility,
government support, marketing, training
• Solutions
– Fit eP into existing interviewing and hiring practices
– Incremental approach with action research to measure benefits
– Make eP mandatory (!) with allowed exceptions for
inclusiveness

42. CASE STUDY 1a
SkillsInternational.ca - Ontario

43. CASE STUDY 1b

44. CASE STUDY 1c

45. CASE STUDY 2
percolab - Laval, QC

46. CASE STUDY 3
e-Career Services, BC

47. CIIP at CAPLA 2009*
Special Initiatives
• PNP pilot for LIM
• Online writing skills, job-search, employer matching pilots (MISA,
HILC, Skills International)
• Online mentoring pilot (JVS, Algonquin)
• Online competency assessment pilot underway (ICTC, CTHRC)
• Videoconferences-employers, sector councils, regulators - ongoing
(ON Chamber)
• Online orientation courses pilot for IEHPs –ongoing (U of T)
* Copied from a paper handout

48. CIIP at CAPLA 2009*
Making the (Competency Portfolio) Model Work
• Blended model: facilitation and self-directed learning
• Clear and simple language and terminology
• User friendly – keep it simple
• Include a transition phase to a Canadian agency
• Provide initially at no cost – pilot phase and then for a
reasonable fee

49. CIIP at CAPLA 2009*
Collaboration on the Competency Portfolio
CIIP has an interest in the outcome of this (CAPLA)
workshop:
• Pilot the e-competency portfolio with a select group of CIIP clients
• Provide job ready clients with yet another tool that encourages
employers to consider them as serious candidates
• Provide clients a tool that helps them organize a „previous skills‟
record and maintain an ongoing skills record
• Provide clients with a clear view of where they have been and
where they are going and how best to fill the gaps or develop
further skills
• Provide facilitators with a clear picture of how best to guide the
individual

50. Break
Break!

51. • How can ePortfolio serve the needs of Manitoba’s
immigrants?
ePortfolio and Manitoba immigration

52. Where We Are Going
• Increase immigration level to 20,000 annual arrivals by
2016, primarily through the Provincial Nominee Program
• Improve, expand and consolidate immigrant
settlement labour market programs including pre-
arrival services
•
• Improve Recognition of International Qualifications
• Protect foreign workers through partnerships with
employers and other stakeholders
• Continue to improve supports to communities outside
of Winnipeg
• Renewal of Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement

53. Qualifications Recognition
Initiative
Major Challenges for Employers Major Challenges for Immigrants
• Language • Lack of official language
• Providing work experience
• Lack of Canadian work
• Difficulties assessing foreign
qualifications experience
• New and timely approaches, • Transferability of qualifications
capacities • No networking/social capital
QR Initiative
• Manitoba’s Qualification Recognition
Action Strategy
• The Fair Registration Practices in
Regulated Professions Act
• Demonstration projects and
specialized programming

54. Fairness Challenges

55. Manitoba immigration demographics

56. Settlement Programs
(Immigration, Settlement and Multiculturalism Division)
Pre-Arrival Information
Web-based
Capacity Building
Enhancing services for newcomers through:
- professional development
Centralized Information, Language & - needs identification
Orientation - program building and promotion
- evaluation and continuous improvement
ENTRY Program
- employer registration under the
Worker Recruitment and Protection Act
Centralized Assessment and Referral - facilitation of ethical and effective worker
recruitment
Winnipeg English Language Assessment and
- regional coordination
Referral Centre
Adult Language Training Newcomer and Labour Community and Labour Market and
Market Supports Integration Supports Strategic Initiatives
Settlement, employment, Settlement of immigrants Settlement programs to Qualifications recognition
and academic focused and refugees post-arrival support the long-term initiatives including the
English classes delivered including workplace integration of immigrants and Academic Credentials
in neighbourhoods, orientation, specialized refugees. Assessment Service and
Promotion of Multiculturalism
workplaces, employment services for the Credentials Recognition
and support for ethno-cultural
classrooms and by workers in professions and Program.
communities through the
distance. trades of varying skill and Multiculturalism Secretariat. Information and supports for
language levels. temporary foreign workers.
For a list of the agencies that deliver settlement services see the MAP DIRECTORY on
immigratemanitoba.com.

57. Possible Futures
• “ePortfolio Training Wheels”
– Enhance current programs
• Web 2.0 tools, ePortfolio fragments, personal web publishing
• “ePortfolio Hybrid”
– Integrated platform (hosted or installed)
• Standards-based for mobility, extensible for customization, linked
to one or more other learning programs
– Phased pilot strategy
• One group, simple functionality; analyze, refactor, reiterate
• “ePortfolio SUV”
– Custom, feature-rich enterprise system
• Linked to other MB systems, broad-based rollout

58. Potential ePortfolio program
elements
• Induction
– ePortfolio awareness, hands-on orientation
• Self-assessment
– LMI context, Essential Skills, Employability
– Gap analysis, learning plan
• Learning Activities (group, self-directed, coached)
– Evidence collection, reflection, discussion, role play
– Inquiry based learning, link to other LIM learning programs
– Assessment for learning
• Products
– Multi-view ePortfolio with a larger digital archive, learning
journal
– Resume/CV, cover letter(s)

59. Some Issues
• Cultural fit?
• Technology infrastructure
• Support
• Professional Development for facilitators
• Interoperability with other systems
• Privacy, security
• Portfolio lifecycle..how long?

60. Early Steps…prepare
• Complete Market Research (Q4 2009-2010?)
– More thorough research of related systems in other
jurisdictions
– Assess/poll clients, service providers, stakeholders
about needs and capabilities
• Develop a Phased Plan (in parallel)
– Train the Trainer “sandbox”
– First pilot
– Wider rollout
• Develop/validate pilot curriculum (Q1 2010-2011?)

61. Early Steps…pilot
• Train the trainer (Q1-2 2010-2011)
– Core facilitator group, other interested stakeholders
(cadre of 8)
– Sandbox (try out alternatives)
• First Pilot (Q3 2010-2011)
– Client group with high chance of success

62. Further steps
• Analyze (Q4 2010-2011?)
– Lessons learned
– Proceed? Big changes?
– List of needs for a dedicated Manitoba ePortfolio
platform
• Rollout (Q1 2011-2012?)
– Choose an ongoing ePortfolio platform
– Pilot the ePortfolio platform, plan for rollout
• Training, ongoing hosting and support, “future proofing”

63. Discussion of Priorities
• Confirm order of priority:
– Newcomers (1-3 years)
– Pre-Arrival
– Established, under-employed (3+ years)
• Other questions:
– QR vs. employability (exploring career alternatives)?
– Presentation showcase vs. learning environment?
– Dedicated program vs. module in other programs?
– ePortfolio with eLearning for gaps?
– Internal LIM oversight vs. Advisory Committee?
– Made for Manitoba vs open standards
– Action research vs. internal summative evaluation?

64. Recommended Reading
• Effective Practice with e-Portfolios
– http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/effectivepracticeeportfolios.pdf
• European guidelines for validating non-formal and
informal learning
– http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/download-manager.aspx?id=5060&lang=en&type=publication
• Networks, Connections and Community: Learning with
Social Software
– http://pre2009.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/pid/377
• e-portfolios for RPL Assessment
– http://pre2005.flexiblelearning.net.au/newsandevents/E-portfolios_for_RPL_Assessment_Final_190309.pdf

65. Don Presant
don@learningagents.ca
(204) 219-5933

67. •Extra Slides
appendix

68. OMFC Vision

69. Frameworks, Standards, interoperability,
transferability
• IMS PLEaSE (a personal learning,
employability and social environment)
• SCORM
• HR-XML
• Europass XML
• hResume
• LEAP2A
http://www.eife-l.org/publications/standards/interop

70. LEAP2A
interconnectivity

71. Community Learning Networks
http://spa-online.org.uk/
http://mahara.org/view/view.php?id=1929

72. Potential Issues and Barriers
• Time to build and assess portfolios
• Ownership and control of information
– Corporate Security
• Losing employees to competitors
• Individual Privacy, Identity Theft
• Technology – isolated systems vs. open
standards
• Technology – user accessibility (Digital Divide)
• Lack of widespread acceptance (critical mass?)
• Language limitations of immigrants

73. Helen Barrett Portfolios
http://electronicportfolios.com/myportfolio/index.html

74. Australia
http://www.eportfoliopractice.qut.edu.au/

75. The Netherlands
Competency Atlas http://www.competentieatlas.nl/
percolab CAPLA Nov 2009

76. Europortfolio
European Instittue
for E-Learning
(EIfEL)
Define, design, and
develop digital
portfolio systems
that meet the needs
of all stakeholders
http://www.europortfolio.org/
percolab CAPLA Nov 2009

77. Research
Information Practices of Immigrants 1
Nadia Caidi, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, 2009
http://www.slideshare.net/settlementatwork/information-practices-of-immigrants

78. Maytree Vision
Fulfilling the Promise
Alboim and Maytree
April 2002

79. Europe
TENCompetence
• European Commission Project
– Develop a technical & organisational infrastructure, which is
both open source and standards based, to support lifelong
learning in Europe, to serve the needs of individuals, groups,
and organisations.
• KEY TOOL: Personal Competence Manager
– 4 use cases:
1. I want to keep up to date
2. I want/must attain a new set of competences
3. I want/must upgrade my current competences to a higher
level
4. I want/must match my competences on other job
profiles, because my current job is not in demand any
more http://www.tencompetence.org/node/182

80. Context
• Immigration and Manitoba‟s Action Strategy for
Economic Growth
• Transition Penalty
• Manitoba policies and programs for
Workforce integration
– Ben Rempel 2007
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93YOGqFedw0)

81. James Croll
Victorian Poster Child for RPL
http://www.brianmicklethwait.com/education/archives/001380.htm

82. Benefits of RPL and Portfolios
• Reflection
• Planning
• Review
• Recognition
...Lifelong Learning Process and Tool

83. Job Boards
(Monster.com Power Résumé Search)

84. Automatic Profiles – Digital
Identity

85. CASE STUDY 3c

86. YouTube
• Sarah Stewart, Midwife
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t2dXPb9Wc8&feature=related
• Theo Ramsey
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1XYjZcmck

87. Canada - Online Credentials

90. (e)Portfolio - Working Definition
• “a collection of authentic and diverse evidence,
drawn from a larger archive...
• ...representing what a person or organization
has learned over time on which the person or
organization has reflected,
• ...and designed for presentation to one or more
audiences for a particular rhetorical purpose”
(NLII, 2003)

91. Employers
eRecruitment

92. Manitoba Momentum
Skills Passport at New Flyer

93. Pedagogical underpinnings
http://pre2009.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/webdav/site/flxsite/users/cpickles/public/Final_
Report_Social_Software_for_Learning17April.pdf

94. How Immigrants Come to Manitoba
Permanent Residents Temporary Residents
Privately-
Sponsored
Refugees
Refugee Economic Family International Temporary Visitors
Government-
Assisted Class Class Class Students Workers
Refugees
Refugees landed
in Manitoba
Self-Employed
Business Live-in Federal Skilled Manitoba Provincial
Investors
Immigrants Caregivers Workers Nominees (MPNP)
Entrepreneurs
MPNP MPNP
Skilled Business
Workers Immigrants
Employer International Family Strategic General
Direct Students Support Recruitment Stream

95. Personal Learning Environment
ELGG’s “Learning Landscape”

96. Manitoba momentum
WIN project

97. CIIP at CAPLA 2009*
Encouraging the Use of a Competency Portfolio
• Self-exploration/reflection
– education, experiences, competencies, documents,
testimonials, etc.
• Career development tool
• Multiple values to employers, regulatory bodies,
educators, etc.
• Identifies and helps communicate transferable skills
• Uncovers options for alternate career paths