ChalkandWire@USF

An ePortfolio is a purposeful collection of electronic documents, that is formatted as a website. Documents are selected for inclusion based on the intended purpose of the ePortfolio. Common purposes for creating an ePortfolio include demonstration of skills, education, professional development, or possible benefits to a particular audience, such as a potential employer.

There are two basic types of ePortfolios: assessment and showcase. In the assessment category, there are two uses for an ePortfolio: assessment of learning and assessment for learning.

An ePortfolio that is used for assessment of learning generally links examples of student work directly to program standards. Often the choice of documents to include in this type of ePortfolio is program-directed. An assessment for learning ePortfolio is used to document progress in learning over a period of time. This type of ePortfolio supports the reflective practice that is essential to continuous improvement plans.

The content of student ePortfolios is generally negotiated between the student and instructors. Elements of each type of ePortfolio may be combined to achieve different learning, personal or work-related outcomes, with the ePortfolio owner usually being the person who determines access levels.

Assessment of learning ePortfolios are often part of an assessment management system at the university level, used for accreditation reporting or other assessment and research purposes. The content of these types of ePortfolios is generally not controlled by the learner, so they cannot be strictly thought of as student ePortfolios in the same sense as an eportfolio with negotiated or student controlled content.toc

What is ChalkandWire? toc

ChalkandWire is a web-based ePortfolio system, available to students at subscribing universities. ChalkandWire began at a university in Canada in the mid 1990’s and is currently in its second version. More background information on ChalkandWire is available at their Website: www.chalkandwire.com

What is ChalkandWire at USF? toc

The ChalkandWire system at USF was initially implemented to help with accreditation reporting in Spring 2006. That means that each student account must contain at least one ePortfolio that is linked to the national, state, and institutional standards for your program.

USF’s Office of Quality Assurance provides a ‘Table of Contents’ that has been developed by each department. These program related tables of contents indicate which assignments are considered ‘critical tasks,’ meaning that these assignments provide evidence of addressing the appropriate standards. Once you have this 'assessment of learning' program ePortfolio set up in your account, you are free to create as many <i>other</i> ePortfolios as you need, including your own ‘Table of Contents’!

Info for Students

How do I get a ChalkandWire account? toc

ChalkandWire access codes are available for purchase at your campus bookstore. The cost is around $45. Access codes can also be purchased online from the Tampa Campus Bookstore Website: http://sftampa.bkstore.com/

How do I get help getting started? toc

There are several ways to get help when you start ChalkandWire.

The ChalkandWire Resources page has a variety of online tutorials available in Word (to print), the Resources page is located here: www.coedu.usf.edu/main/chalkandwire/resources.htm
You may also drop by the Help Desk during regular hours and get one-on-one assistance.
If you can’t visit the Help Desk Lab, email is the best way to get in touch with support staff and get questions answered: EDU-chalkandwirehelp@usf.edu
You may also call the Help Desk during regular hours and speak with a representative: 813-974-4422

How do I know what assignments to submit to ChalkandWire? toc

Your instructor should provide you with a list of critical tasks that must be submitted with your ePortfolio. This information is also available as part of the Table of Contents sections in your ePortfolio itself.

How long is my account good for? How do I renew my account? toc

Your account is active for one year from the date of initial activation. At that point you may purchase a renewal from your campus bookstore or online at: http://sftampa.bkstore.com/

What do I do if I have a problem with my ePortfolio? toc

Please email the Help Desk if you have any difficulties. Staff are usually able to help immediately by email, or will phone to ‘talk you through’ the problem. All email is responded to within 24 hours.

What do I do if I can’t get my assignments into my ePortfolio? toc

Generally, the problem with being unable to upload documents is that the file size is too large. Help Desk staff will show you how to compress graphics, etc. and reduce file sizes so that your documents will load. Normal size files are not usually a problem, and staff will be glad to walk you through the process.

What do I do if I can’t send my assignments for assessment? toc

Usually when you have not been successful at sending your portfolio for assessment, it is for one of four reasons:

You put your files on the wrong page.
You forgot to click the Submit Page button after uploading your files.
You sent it to the wrong professor.
You did send it, but the professor has yet to assess it, so you haven’t gotten a grade yet.

Don’t panic, we can help…

What do I do if I took the class a long time ago and the professor is gone now? toc

The critical task that is associated with the class or section of the ePortfolio should be linked to the appropriate page in your ePortfolio. The fact that it has already been graded in hardcopy simply means that you will not have to send that assignment for assessment.

What do I do if I don’t have an electronic copy of my assignment? toc

If you don’t have an electronic copy, shame on you! J Never fear, you can scan your documents into .pdf files and upload them in that form…we will help you in the lab (EDU 262) during regular hours. When you are all done scanning your 35 page document, you should seriously consider keeping electronic copies of EVERYTHING!!

Info for faculty

How do I get a ChalkandWire faculty account? toc

Please email the Help Desk and request a faculty account. The staff will return an email with your UserID and password, which you will enter directly into the existing subscriber textboxes at: www.chalkandwire.com/usf .

How do I get ChalkandWire training for my whole class? toc

Please email the Help Desk at: EDU-chalkandwirehelp@usf.edu. The Help Desk will contact you to schedule a training during your class time, or at another convenient time.

How do my students know what the ChalkandWire assignments are? toc

Your department head should be able to provide you with a list of critical tasks that must be submitted with the ePortfolio. To see a list of the critical tasks, click on the Table of Contents tab near the top of the screen, and then click "actions" button to the the right of your program and click view.

This information is also available as part of the Table of Contents sections in the students’ ePortfolio itself. By clicking on each section in the ePortfolio Table of Contents, the students will be able to see which assignments are ChalkandWire critical tasks.

What should I tell my students to do if they are having trouble with their ePortfolio? toc

You should direct them to the Help Desk email at: EDU-chalkandwirehelp@usf.edu and to the Website: www.coedu.usf.edu/main/chalkandwire/

There are a limited number of challenges that students encounter in setting up and maintaining their ePortfolio accounts (not counting motivation and attitude J ). Please help your students by assuring them that the Help Desk folks are very anxious to make their ePortfolio experience a positive one!

What should I do if I am having trouble assessing student work? toc

Email the Help Desk and we will look into the source of the difficulties. We are more than willing to visit your office and help on a one-to-one basis.