…I am amazed by how much I am learning from the readings I am doing on ePortfolios. The freshest ideas in teaching I have come across lately are in Darren Cambridge’s ePortfolios for Lifelong Learning and Assessment (Wiley, 2010). I especially like the balance he strikes between the “symphonic” and the “networked” identities of the ePortfolio author today. He is absolutely right. The networked identity is driven to write fast and often, even if only short pieces, and based on fleeting day-to-day experiences (i.e., journaling). The symphonic identity, on the other hand, is the more crafted (reflected-upon) product that comes from our more traditional sense of authorship (and the “finished”piece). I appreciate how the ideal fully developed ePortfolio realizes both of them: the “connected speaker” and the “solitary author.”
About Yitna Firdyiwek
Yitna Firdyiwek is an Instructional Designer in the Office of Technology Strategies in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. Until recently, he was with the University's Information Technology Services where he worked as Instructional Technology Advisor in the Scholarly Technology Group.
Yitna has a PhD in Instructional Technology from the Curry School and two Masters, one in Linguistics (George Mason University) and one in Creative Writing (Brown University).
From 1997-2009 he was actively involved in the University of Virginia's Teaching + Technology Initiative. He also worked with UVaCollab, the University's Learning Management System, where he developed the "interactive syllabus" project. He also focused on integrating external applications into the University's LMS. He is currently involved with learning technology initiatives and works with instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences on the design, development, and implementation of innovative approaches to technology integration in undergraduate courses.
Yitna is interested in the use of ePortfolios for reflective learning and authentic assessment, and has published collaboratively on these topics. He is also interested in practical designs for efficient teaching and learning management systems, as well as improvements of technology enhanced classroom environments.
When he is able to, Yitna keeps one foot in the undergraduate classroom developing and teaching a reading and writing course in the history and philosophy of technology.
Yitna is a naturalized US citizen (native of Ethiopia), and lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
