myPortfolio

1. What is myPortfolio?

MyPortfolio is a digital portfolio system that is supported by Unitec. MyPortfolio uses open source software called Mahara. Meaning 'think' or 'thought' in te reo Māori, the name Mahara reflects the project's dedication to creating a user-centred life-long learning and development application underpinned by considerations of pedagogy and policy

2. Why should I use MyPortfolio instead of another platform such as Wordpress or WIX or Google Sites?

MyPortfolio is a supported platform at Unitec, which means you can get technical as well as pedagogical support. It has the advantage that when a student submits their work for feedback or grading, they are unable to keep adding to the portfolio until it is released. This means the grader will know that the work was completed by a due date. MyPortfolio is also free to staff and students and connects with Moodle, enabling people to use it without having to create an account. It can be as simple or as complex as you wish.

There are certainly some aesthetic advantages to using some other platforms but these do need to be weighed against any potential need for support.

 
3. How do I get started?

As a Unitec staff member or student with Moodle access, you automatically start an account by logging in via the login button on this Moodle page. Accessing myPortfolio is always done through Moodle. Go to STAFF or STUDENTS in the menu at the top of any Moodle page. Select MyPortfolio from the dropdown menu.

You cannot google Mahara or MyPortfolio and get in that way.

 
4. How much can I upload?

MyPortfolio allows for up to 1 gigabyte of storage space per user. Please contact your Te Puna Ako school liaison if you get a message that your file storage is nearly full.

5. How can I share my resources?

Selected information is presented by creating a 'Page'. You can have as many Pages as you like, and these can be aggregated into a 'Collection'. Pages and Collections are private by default. Access can be given to Pages or Collections for specific audiences including; friends, teachers, employers, members of a study group, or they can be made public. Access settings can be changed at any time. Some staff (e.g. Te Puna Ako) have special permission levels that allow them to access your page in order to support you and problem solve. Privacy laws prevent this access being used for any other purpose.

 
6. How can I get help using myPortfolio?

There is an online manual that will guide you (see the top of this page for the current link) and staff can also contact Te Puna Ako for support. If you are a student you should use the manual or seek help from teaching staff.

7. How can a student use MyPortfolio?

My Portfolio provides a student-centered and personalised space to bring together formal institutional learning activity and informal learning experiences. It can help students reflect upon what they have achieved, where their ambitions are, what they need to get there and how learning can help them do that. Teachers can create page and collection templates that support students in developing a portfolio.

Some examples of use include:

•  assignments that ask students to gather/create/showcase work and achievements over time, collate this information and submit it for feedback/grading -  especially where formative feedback is to be provided by lecturers or people outside of Unitec (e.g. internships and Clinical placements
• Developing a tailored Resumé for prospective employers and internships/work experience

• Working in a group to create both group and individual assessments for submission
• Curation of evidence for staff ADEP and Promotion purposes
  

8. Can I link with people from other organisations?

My Portfolio has the potential to develop a sector wide learning community across all institutions in New Zealand. You can share portfolios with anyone by creating a Secret URL that links to your Portfolio. See the Manual for instructions.

9. Can I link to my other online spaces?

My Portfolio is a personal learning space, which you can use to present work in a way that suits you. We feel it is important to be able to pull together other online resources that help to build up a picture of your life and learning beyond the organisations in which you work or study. For example, you can include embedded You Tube videos and add RSS feeds from external websites or Journals. You can also include hyperlinks from other digital spaces you curate or participate in.

10. Can I take my Portfolio with me when I leave my institution?

Yes. It is possible to export your eportfolio in a format that can be imported by some other eportfolio systems or as a webpage. Pages can also be downloaded as PDF files. Please contact Te Puna Ako (tepunaako@unitec.ac.nz) or see the manual for instructions.

11. How do I report a problem with myPortfolio?

Any questions regarding the use of myPortfolio, staff should log help requests through the email: imssupport@unitec.ac.nz or contact your school TPA liaison. Students, please talk with your teachers.