Release Notes Portfolio v2.0

RELEASE: Februari 2022

In this second major release of Portfolio, functionalities have been added around managing and organizing collections, expanding evidence with multiple versions and files, improvements for collecting and providing feedback, and a number of improvements to the user interface.

Organize Collections

Change Collection Order

Collections can be moved via drag-and-drop by dragging the handle (6 dots) with the mouse. In addition, collections can be moved and through the options menu.

Value

This allows students to organize collections to reflect chronological order or any other relevant order.

Hide Collections

Collections can be hidden. Hidden collections are only visible to the owner and not visible to visitors of a portfolio. The hidden collections are not included in a frozen version of a portfolio. A hidden collection is identified by a gray color of the circle behind the folder and an icon of a crossed-out eye. Through the options menu of the collection it can be hidden and shown again (both on the portfolio page and on the collection page).

Value

This allows the student to archive collections that are no longer relevant without losing the content. In addition, a student can also build a collection as a draft without allowing others to view it already.

Sections

Collections can be divided into sections; a visual layer to group collections. Sections can be created on the portfilo page using the '+ New section' button. By hovering over a section with the mouse, the name can be changed, the order changed and a section can be deleted (provided it does not contain any collections). Collections can be moved to another section via the options menu of a collection or in the header of a collection page.

Value

Sections allow students to divide collections into meaningful groups. For example, sections can be used to distinguish between e.g. semesters, educational phases (undergraduate/master's, major/minor, teaching/internship), overarching learning objectives or types of skills represented by collections.

Evidence

Version Management of Evidence

Students can add new versions to a piece of evidence. The feedback on each each version is visible and labeled with the version number. When the evidence is viewed, the user can choose which version is displayed. Feedback can also be filtered by all feedback, or only feedback from a specific version. Each version can additionally be provided with a (short) explanatory note.

Value

This functionality allows support of the iterative learning process. The student can share draft versions of documents and drafts of the entire portfolio and request feedback on them. In response to the received feedback, the student can add a newer version in the same evidence. Moreover, this makes it possible for visitors to easily see the growth or development a student is experiencing.

Multiple Files

A piece of evidence can now consist of multiple files. When you upload or import a new piece of evidence from Canvas, you can choose multiple files at once.

Value

A piece of evidence can consist of multiple files that are inextricably linked (e.g., a product and associated process report). They can now be posted in the same piece of evidence. Thus, the feedback posted can be about the unit of evidence.

Collect Feedback

Invite External Users

In addition to inviting other Canvas users, it is now possible to invite external users outside Canvas to view a portfolio or collection and provide feedback. External users can be invited via an email address and they can log in via 2-factor authentication. When inviting external users, the student can specify the name and role of the feedback provider in addition to the email address. All feedback from an external user is identified by the logo of the organization the external works for. The student can manage and revoke an external user's access in the same manner as for Canvas users. Inviting an external is possible by clicking 'Click here to invite external users' under the search bar for Canvas users in the dialog box.

Value

By also allowing students to request feedback from people outside the LMS (Canvas), valuable feedback is also authentically gathered from the side of external supervisors and stakeholders.

User Roles

Users can indicate their role in their profile. This role is used to indicate the user role in feedback threads. The role can be changed at any time. For previously given feedback, the role remains displayed as it was set at the time the feedback was given. The role is initially based on the highest role the user has in Canvas. Available roles are: student, student coach (teacher) and expert.

Value

Because the role of the feedback provider is displayed with the feedback that was given, it is clear from which role a piece of feedback was posted (for example, from a peer or an expert).

Rich Text Editor

It is now possible to format text. Frequently used options such as bold, italic, underline and lists are supported. It is also possible to quote text and insert hyperlinks.

Value

By formatting feedback, it can be better structured and feedback can be more clearly communicated. In addition, quoting texts can be used to respond more specifically to a (part) of a previous message or a passage of evidence.

Feedback Attachments

It is possible to add attachments under comments (feedback). One or more files can be uploaded within a new comment.

Value

This makes it easy to transfer a document to interpret feedback more comprehensively.

User Interface and Privacy Improvements

In addition to the features mentioned above, a number of improvements have been made to the user interface and privacy:

• Dutch Translation
  If the user has set the language to Dutch in their own Canvas settings, Portfolio will also be displayed in Dutch.
• Default Limited Access Period
  By default, the period that an invitee has access to a portfolio or collection is limited to the end of the academic year. A shorter period can also be chosen. This way, you can assure yourself that others do not have access to your portfolio for an unnecessarily long period of time and prevents a user from forgetting that access is still granted that is no longer desirable. The access period can be extended at any time.
• Search Function in Shared Portfolios or Collections
  In the section 'shared with me', the user can now search within the list of items shared with him.
• Naming Frozen Versions
  Frozen versions can now be labeled with a name instead of a serial number, making them easier to identify, for example during the submission process.
• Downloading Evidence
  Evidences displayed in a preview can now also be downloaded. This makes it possible to download a piece of evidence such as a Word or PDF document and add annotations and suggestions in Word or Acrobat and return it to the portfolio owner as an attached comment/feedback.
• Undo within Text Editor
  It is now possible to undo changes in the text editor using the hotkeys CRTL+Z (undo) and CTRL+SHIFT+Z (redo).
• Shifting/reloading of content in document preview
  Products (evidence) shown in the preview are no longer reloaded when focusing back on the screen. This previously caused disruption during review or feedback because the scroll position was not remembered during reloading.
• Showing Previous Canvas Submissions
  It is now possible to view previous submissions of Canvas assignments in Portfolio, where previously only the latest one was visible.