What is BIOL-L390? BIOL-L390 is a capstone course offering students an opportunity to illustrate and reflect upon how the coursework for the Human Biology Area Certificate links to and integrates with their goals for their post graduate work or career. Students will develop an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio). They will use reflective writing to demonstrate connections among their coursework, extra-curricular activities and life experiences. Students will write an opinion essay based on scientific evidence they gathered from their various courses. They will provide linked documents for potential employers or graduate school personnel. Finally, students will collaborate with other students to assess their e-portfolios, as well as design and produce a group project.

What is an e-portfolio? A reflective electronic portfolio is a creative method for students to showcase their academic growth, illustrate unique personal and extracurricular activities and to make meaningful connections between these experiences. An e-portfolio is individually designed & created. It includes a collection of artifacts which students select to document academic work and demonstrate their growth and achievements. The reflective e-portfolio also allows students to examine and reflect on the knowledge they have gained. Students are able to present their work electronically to specified audiences. Students will design their e-portfolio using the Carnegie Foundation of the Advancement of Teaching KEEP Toolkit.

The Development Process of an E-portfolio Collection- determine artifacts to save for the e-portfolio. Selection- evaluate these artifacts for ones that demonstrate achievement or growth. Reflection-evaluate your growth. Where are you going in your learning? Connection-make meaningful connections between academic, community service & work/life experiences. Presentation-present to other students for feedback and then to potential employers/admissions personnel.

Things to consider as you design your e-portfolio Who is your audience? What image do you want to portray? What skills do you want to emphasize? What materials support this image and how could you display them? How do you want to design your e-portfolio? How could you unify the look of your e-portfolio? Is it easy to navigate? Does it display professionalism? Do you want to include contact information? If so, what? Are you informed of privacy issues? EPIC Privacy issues

Human Biology Students Connections & Reflections:

Connections to Self: Humbio students have a variety of interests which they can showcase in a myriad of ways. Who are you? Where are you from? What are you studying? What are your academic and personal interests? Why do you want a Human Biology Certificate?

Connections to Coursework: Humbio students identify connections among their area certificate courses, major courses and their future studies/careers. What have been significant parts of your educational experience? What are some themes that you have found between your courses? How are your courses related to your developing interests in your future career/studies?

Connections to Community in the Classroom: Humbio students have developed problem solving, communication & cooperative skills to accomplish group goals. What do we want to accomplish? How can we effectively work as a team? What makes a good leader?

Connections to Future Study or Career: Humbio students develop professional skills & personal strengths that will facilitate the transition from college to future study or careers. What skills have you learned from your coursework that you anticipate using this year? In three years? What strengths do you see in yourself from your educational experience? What would you like a potential employer to know about you?

Connections to Life Experience & Social Responsibility: Humbio students have enjoyed extracurricular activities which have enriched & supported their coursework and educational experience. How have your extracurricular activities intersected with your courses and your educational experiences? How have these pursuits helped you to grow?

Connections to Personal Growth through Self Assessment: Humbio students become knowledgeable about themselves, their personal beliefs and opinions through their understanding of human beings and the issues our society faces. How have you changed by taking the certificate courses? How do you know what you know?

Resources: Examples of e-portfolios: Penn State University Penn State's site has examples of student e-portfolios as well as many pages of instruction. Carnegie Foundation Knowledge Media Lab Gallery This is a KEEP resource page where you can link to the various Carnegie pages and also go to the KEEP e-portfolio development pages. St. Olaf College This website has good student examples as well as useful commentary about e-portfolio design. LaGuardia Community College Many examples of student e-portfolios. Kalamazoo College Examples of student e-portfolios.

References: Cambridge, Barbara, Susan Kahn, Daniel P Tompkins, and Kathleen B Yancey, Eds. Electronic Portfolios: Emerging Practices in Student, Faculty, and Institutional Learning. Washington DC: American Association for Higher Education, 2001. Dr. Helen Barrett's Electronic Portfolios Dr. Barrett's extensive research and practical information for developing e-portfolios. Mt. Edgecumbe HS, AK Todd Bergman's learner-centered perspective on creating e-portfolios. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative EDUCAUSE provides several links to online e-portfolio resources.

BIOL L390 Syllabus

BIOL L390 Evaluation Criteria

For more information: Leslie Hobbs-Ramsey Human Biology @ Indiana University Jordan Hall A009, Bloomington, IN 47402 lhobbsra@indiana.edu www.indiana.edu/~humbio