Portfolio Use in Software Engineering Education: an Experience Report

1 Richard L. Upchurch, Computer and Information Science, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, N. Darmouth, MA 02747, [email protected] 2 Judith E. Sims-Knight, Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, N. Darmouth, MA 02747, [email protected] Abstract—This paper discusses the use of an electronic portfolio in a software engineering course at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The Learning Portal provides the standard function of such systems for students to post their work. It also provides a syllabus function so instructors can post all information and assignments to the Portal. It goes beyond these basic functions, however, to facilitate reflective practice. It allows both students and faculty to give feedback to student work and it collects various types of student work, including survey forms that require students to reflect upon their work. It also provides functions for team interaction. In this paper we will describe how the electronic portfolio was used in this course, including what artifacts were captured and how students used the system. We conducted an interview study of students after they finished the course to ascertain how they felt the portfolio changed the way they learned, the issues they encountered in working within such an environment, and their perspectives on how such a support system might influence their behavior in the future.