Core Assessment Elements

Core ePortfolio and Reflective Essay Instructions

An ePortfolio is an electronic collection of artifacts that shows learning over time. Within an ePortfolio
you will find artifacts or evidence that may include writing samples, photos, videos, observations,
lessons, artwork and more. One can also submit reflections or narratives, which are a key component
telling why the artifact was chosen and what was learned from the process.

The ePortfolio component of D2L is linked to each student and follows them throughout their time at
the University. It is accessed via a particular “course” called the ePortfolio "How To Course." Students
self-enroll into the course from the main home page of D2L (look for the link by scrolling down on the
right side of the screen). (After graduation students can get a “D2L for Life” site for free and continue to
have access to their e-portfolio.) The student adds items (e.g., Word files, audio or video recordings,
links, etc.) and can add a reflection on particular artifacts

To start your e-portfolio, select “e-portfolio” from the top menu bar of the ePortfolio "How To Course."

Step 1: Add Items

Select “My Items” and then you can add items (e.g., Word files, audio or video recordings, links, etc.)
and can also add a reflection on particular artifacts. The items required to be in your TRW or GSJ E-
Portfolio are listed below.
Tip: Start by making new Collection and call it TRW or GSJ and creating #trw or #gsj as a tag.
Then add the tag to every item you upload that you want to be in your Core e-portfolio

Step 2: Create a Presentation

The user makes a “presentation” and this is essentially the e-portfolio you will share. This is where you
not only put together the required elements of the e-portfolio, but where you can have some creativity
in how you organize things. Call your presentation TRW E-Portfolio or GSJ E-Portfolio. Presentations
can have several pages to them (think of them as webpages). If you’ve made a collection, you can add
that collection to the presentation. TRW materials should be in one section, with multiple pages, and
then once you take GSJ, you will add a second section to the SAME presentation that will contain
materials from GSJ.

Step 3: Share the Presentation

You invite people to view presentations by “sharing” it, which involves the system sending them an
email with a web link.
• Click on the dropdown arrow to the right of your portfolio/presentation icon in My Items.
• Choose SHARE.
• Click Add Users and Groups.
o Type in the last name of the faculty and wait for the name to appear.
o In addition, add core_eportfolio@stkate.edu.as an external guest. To get the Add
External User box, you have to click Add Users and Groups (again) or do it at the same
time you add your instructor.
• Send an email Invite by checking the box next to their name and clicking SEND INVITE.

Be sure to share your presentation with your instructor and the Core ePortfolio email
core_eportfolio@stkate.edu.
 TRW Section
Composing A Life:
• Reflection on the Artistic Expression of Self Assignment (you may also add a photo or sample of the
work that you produced)
• Interview paper – as a sample of your writing at the beginning of your college career at St. Kate’s and
your exploration and articulation of identity
• Reflection or Paper on the Parker Palmer article – to show your current thinking about vocation and
career awareness.
Searching for Truths:
• Structured Controversy/ Research Paper – as a demonstration of your critical thinking and reflective
judgment, along with the development of your voice in academic writing.
Working toward Community & Justice
• Community Action Report or Community Letter Assignment or other assignment that demonstrates
your growing knowledge of the impact of diversity and systems of power and privilege on identity,
the individual, and society, and development of a strong civic identity where you see yourself as an
active participant in society and with a strong commitment and responsibility to work with others
toward the public good.
Additional
An assignment or reflection that demonstrates how you have come to claim your education and
develop your voice (in writing and/or discussions) through this course.
TRW Final Reflection Essay

Final TRW Reflection Essay: All TRW students are required to submit a final reflection paper. Reflect on
the questions below and write a 3 – 5 page word-processed reflection on your TRW class and the work
that you produced in it. Depending on your instructor, this reflection may or may not be graded, but it is
a required component of the course and needs to be done in order for you to receive your grade. Using
the portfolio of your collected work from this class and your experiences in the course, please answer
the following questions:

1. Consider the readings, class discussions, guest speakers, videos, assignments, projects, etc. of
TRW:
a. What were the most memorable/beneficial things about TRW?
b. What were the least memorable and/or beneficial parts of TRW?
2. How would you grade your effort, participation and overall performance in this class and why?
3. How do you feel this course has prepared or not prepared you for future coursework at St.
Kate’s?
4. Overall, what will you take away from this class? What did you learn? What growth if any, have
you experienced?
5. If you could change one thing about TRW class, what would it be and why?

Please add any final comments/suggestions/feedback you’d like to offer.

 GSJ Section

Justice Concepts and Analysis

Choose a work that best Illustrates your understanding of social responsibility and concepts of social
justice
(For example, this could be a critical analysis essay with a social justice focus or your research paper on
a justice issue)
Search for Action/Answers
Choose the work that best illustrates your ability to identify possible actions to address an injustice and
evaluate or analyze their potential effectiveness
(For example , your research paper on a justice issue, your presentation, a discussion forum
contribution …)
Global Perspectives and Analysis
Choose a work that best illustrates any or all of the following:
• Global: demonstrate understanding of an issue globally, by identifying multiple stakeholders and the range of
perspectives involved
• Diversity: describe the experiences and contributions of various social groups (e.g., gendered, racial or ethnic
groups) across history and cultures and to identify and critically analyze the impact of social categorization on
identity, experience and systems of power and privilege.
• Colonialism: analyze current inequities as a product of historical colonization.
Critical and reflective judgment
Research Paper on a Justice Issue
In addition, show your writing process by including all stages of the written work.
• Research proposal or outline or brainstorming
• Annotated Bibliography (if required)
• Draft(s)
• Final paper
Additional
GSJ Final Reflection Essay

GSJ Final Reflection: At the end of the course you will synthesize your experience by writing a 3-4 page
paper in which you address the following questions:
1. What is your understanding of social justice? How did this course influence your understanding
of social justice (if at all)? Explain how social justice frameworks central to this course (i.e.,
Catholic, feminist, non-western) influenced how you think about this issue.
2. How does what you learned in this course relate to your particular major and your potential
career? What do you think your role as a responsible citizen in our society is, and will be in the
future? Do you think you are more likely to engage in action for social change as a result of
taking this course?
3. GSJ is one of four required “writing intensive” courses. In what ways has this course helped you
to develop your writing skills and writing process? Which piece of work from this course best
illustrates your skill in writing?
4. What were the most effective learning experiences for you in this course? Why were they
effective?
5. What is your perspective on The Reflective Woman and Global Search for Justice courses? Have
they been fitting bookends for your St. Kate’s education? What links do you see between the
two courses? Please explain.