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e-portfolio system manualGraduate School of Biosphere Science

HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY

Information Madia Center

About the Educational record system

Educational record system (learning portfolio) is for recording and reflecting on a student's learning process

and result. This was built on the web and it was considered as the e-learning portfolio. There are 12 contents

in this system. Students create a record of their own, and teachers comment to it. Since this system is also

used to submit research title and thesis title, please be careful so as not to forget it.

April

Februery

October

October

July

April

October freshmenApril freshmen

At any timeAt any time

Introduction

*1）This deadline shall be 23:59 on the date in question.*2）It is required in order that supervisor and co-adviser may input advice.

End of JuneMid-December

「Research title」

　 Please submit a research title and co-advisor by April 15th (by October 15th, if enrollments fall).

　If it passes over the date, it becomes impossible for you to submit it.

　Before entering, please consult with the supervisor.

「Research plan」　Please input a research outline etc. by a research program exhibition.

「Research activity」「Sience Seminar」「Educational advancement and job-hunting」「TOEIC」「TA or RA」「Presentation at conferences」

　Please input into each applicable contents to create your activity log.

「Mid-term presentation」（A doctoral student does not have this contents. ）　Please upload PowerPoint, a manuscript, etc. which are used for an announcement

by a mid-term presentation.

「Title of master's thesis」or「Title of doctoral thesis」　Please submit a thesis title and co-adviser by October 15th (by October 15th, if enrollments fall).

　If it passes over the date, it becomes impossible for you to submit it.

　Before entering, please consult with the supervisor.

「Master's thesis」or「Doctral thesis」　Please upload PowerPoint, a manuscript, etc. which are used for an announcement

by the thesis presentation.

*1

*2

*2

*1

System usage chart1st year

schedule annualCompletion

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Excerpt from "Information Security Policy, Graduate School of Biosphere Science"Don't leave a seat, displaying important information on a computer at the place where others can go

in and out, or setting those printed matter on a desk etc.

Or when coming out from the room, it must lock, or a computer must be turned off or a password

lock must be carried out by a screen saver etc.

About personal information

Educational record system (mahara) logs in from the personal page of a student information system

"MOMIJI". It cannot log in by any methods other than this.

The data saved in the system is not used except education and university employment.

If the uploaded file is perused, data will remain in the temporary realm of your computer.

Please use a computer for personal use as much as possible, so that information does not flow out.

If you are sharing a computer, please clear your browser's cache after viewing.

And if you saved the file intentionally, please do not reproduce without permission of the person who

uploaded.

Cautions

Education records systems are also available from outside the university network.

However, when accessed from outside the campus, some functions, such as displaying results is limited.

Please make VPN(Virtual Private Network) connection to use all the functions.

　VPN connection method

　　Information Media Center Website（http://www.media.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/）

　　Home → Services offers → HINET · Network access campus network → VPN Service

　　（http://www.media.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/services/hinet/vpn）

Contact Us

Graduate School of Biosphere Science Student support office (C203）

　Telephone　082-424-7908 or 082-424-4424

　e-mail　sei-daigakuin-sien@office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

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1. Login and logoutIn this chapter, we will tell you how to login to the ePortfolio system, Mahara.

1.1 Login

1. Visit http://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/

2. Click the link text to go to MOMIJI.

3. Input your Hirodai ID and Hirodai Password, and login to MOMIJI.

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4. Click Link to the external system.

5. Click ePortfolio.

Welcome to ePortfolio system, Hiroshima University. This system is based on open source ePortfolio system,

Mahara. Therefore, you will frequently see the name Mahara, when you use the system.

Please remember this name, Mahara.

1.2 Logout

Click Logout in the upper right corner on the page. If you have not changed your system language to English,

the text link will be shown in Japanese, ログアウト .

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1.3 What is Mahara?

Now we will tell you two things about Mahara; the features of original Mahara and how different our Mahara

from the original one.

1.3.1 The features of original Mahara

Mahara is an open source* ePortfolio system and is well designed for students in higher education. An

ePortfolio is a system which helps you deepen your learning through three activities of collecting, reflecting on,

and sharing your learning achievements and developments. Then we will explain how to do them in Mahara.

* Opens source software is the one whose source code is available to anyone, and its copyright holder allows anyone to modify it and use it

for free.

Collecting: Firstly, you can put your learning achievements, such as photos, documents, and presentation

slides, into Mahara. You can write a blog in Mahara as well. They are stored in your private file repository and

no other user can see them, unless you intend to present them to others.

You can create folders and move

files into them in Mahara as well

as on your desktop.

Reflecting on: Secondary, you can examine what you have collected in Mahara, arrange them, and create

pages to show your achievements to others. By doing so, you can reflect on what you have learned and know

what you have not yet understood.

Pages consist of content blocks, which are available in Mahara. By

dragging and dropping them in your pages, you can create or edit

them. Mahara has many kinds of blocks.

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Sharing: Lastly, you can show your pages to other users in Mahara. As your reader can put their comments on

your pages, you can exchange opinions with them on the topics in your pages. And you will be able to learn

more about what you think you have already learned.

You can decide who can access to your particular page or pages

and when they can see them. You can get comments from your

advisers on your pages.

1.3.2 How different our Mahara from the original one?

Mahara in Hiroshima University is bit different from the original. Our Mahara is customized for the students

in our graduate schools. In the original Mahara, you need to create your own pages to accomplish those three

activities which are mentioned above. However, when you start to use our Mahara, you have already been

provided several pages by your graduate school or your learning program.

In order to distinguish such pages from users’ self-created ones, we call them portfolios.

We will explain how to work on portfolios in this manual.

Photo

DOC

PPT

Movie

Text

The administrator

creates template

pages for portfolios

You can write or put

files in prtfolios, but

cannot change their

components.

Your advisers can see

your portfolios.

ShareCollect Reflect on

System administrator

Distribute copies of

portfolios to you.

Adviser ／ Co-advisers

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2. PreparationIn this chapter, we will explain two things that you need to do before working on Mahara.

2.1 Choose your system language

The default system language is Japanese. However, you can choose your system language either Japanese or

English. When you choose English, Mahara navigates you in English. But it doesn’t mean all of contents will

be presented to you in the system in English.

1. Click 設定 in the upper right corner on the page.

2. Click the サイトデフォルト（日本語） and choose English.

3. Click 保存 button to save the change.

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2.2 Set your proper email address

Upon entering Hiroshima University, you will get an email address such as studentID@hiroshoma-u.ac.jp and

Mahara sets it as your initial email address so that Mahara can send you messages.

If you do not use studentID@hiroshoma-u.ac.jp, set proper one in Mahara.

1. Click Content/Profile.

2. Click Add email address.

3. Input your email address, and click Add.

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4. Click Save profile button, and leave this page open. Mahara will send you a validation email. Check your email.

5. Click the link in the validation email.

6. Choose your primary email address among them, and click [x] to delete an old one.

7. Click Save profile button.

When you have already logged out from Mahara and click the link in

validation email, Mahara login page will be displayed. But you cannot

login to Mahara from it with your Hirodai ID and Hirodai Password.

Be sure to login to MOMIJI first, move to Mahara, and click the link in

validation email.

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3. DashboardDashboard is the first page that you will see when you login to Mahara. Apart from several links, Dashboard

contains the information, which is useful or even essential when you work on Mahara.

3.1 Mahara info.

The information concerning of system maintenance, or messages from the system administrator are shown

here.

3.2 Progress table

This table gives you the information such as name, state, modified date, the number of comments, and

submission period for each portfolio. Your adviser, co-advisers and administrators can read all of contents and

comments in the portfolios listed in this table.

3.1 Mahara info.

3.2 Progress table

3.3 Resent activity

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3.2.1 The name of portfolio

Each portfolio name gives the link to certain portfolio itself. The Japanese/English translation for them is

shown in table below.

* They are only avairable fot master course students. 　　** They are only avairable for doctor couse students.

3.2.2 Status

This column shows how far you have worked on your portfolios. There are five states available for the page, see

the table below.

State Description

Not yet You have not yet started editing this page.

Editing You have been editing this page.

Submitted

You have already submitted this page to your advisers. Currently the

page is locked and you cannot edit it. When your adviser releases it,

you will be able to edit it again.

ConfirmedYour adviser found the contents in this page appropriate, and confirmed

it. The page is still locked and you can not edit it.

Overdue

You failed to submit this page before the deadline. Currently the page

is locked and you cannot edit it. When your adviser releases it, you will

be able to edit it again.

Japanese English

研究題目 Research title

研究計画 Research plan

履修計画 Course plan

研究活動状況 Research activity

共同セミナー Science Seminar

進学就職活動状況 Educational advancement and job-hunting

TOEIC TOEIC

TA・RA TA or RA

学会発表 Presentation at conferences

中間発表 Mid-term presentation *

修士論文題目 Title of master's thesis *

博士論文題目 Title of doctoral thesis **

修士論文 Master's thesis *

博士論文 Doctoral thesis **

旧システムデータ保存場所 Backup data from the old system oparated until March, 2013

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3.3 Recent activity

When you receive messages from other Mahara users or comments on your contents, they are listed here. At

the same time, Mahara sends you a notification mail, which tells you that you have received a message.

Each notification mail from Mahara contains the link to lead you to certain page in Mahara. When you

click such a link, while you are not on Mahara, Mahara login page will be displayed. But you cannot login

to Mahara from it with your Hirodai ID and Hirodai Password. Be sure to login to MOMIJI first, move to

Mahara, and click the link in the email.

3.3.1 Read a message

1. In order to read a message, click the message title.

2. You can read it or reply to the sender.

3.3.2 Delete messages

1. If you want to delete messages, click the link in the upper right corner on the page.

2. You can delete messages here.

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4. Portfolios

Basically each portfolio consists of four components.

1. Navigation : This is a set of links among the portfolios, which are provided by your graduate school.

2. Advisers : This area shows your adviser and co-advisers.

3. Content : What contains this area depends on the type of portfolio. You need to edit here.

4. Comment : You can read or place comments on the portolio here.

1

2

3

In order to reach each portfolio, click the name of certain portfolio in Progress

table on Dashboard.

4

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4.1 Edit portfolio

At this time, April 2013, you have two types of portfolios, Text form and Journal.

4.1.1 Text form type

This type of portfolio is used for Research title and Thesis title.

1. Input what you are required to submit. You can use italic style, Greek letters and so on. Click (i) to show the help page for special letters.

2. Click Save button for the item.

4.1.2 Journal entry type

Most of portfolios belong to this type. Each journal consists of more than one entry. There are two subtypes in

Journal. The difference between these subtypes is whether you can add new entry or not. See below.

You can edit entries, but can’t add new one.

You can edit entry and add new one.

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4.1.3 Edit journal entry

1. Click Edit journal entry.

2. If you need to change title, type here.

3. Write some text.

4. If you want to put files to the entry, click Add a file button.

5. Click Save entry to save the entry.

Leave them as they are.

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4.1.4 New entry

1. Click New entry.

2. Type the title for the entry.

3. Write some text.

4. If you want to put files to the entry, click Add a file button.

5. Click Save entry to save the entry.

Leave them as they are.

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4.2 Comment

Your advisers may give comments on your portfolio or entry. And if you have something to ask your advisers,

you may put your question as a comment on proper portfolio or entry. On such an occasion, Mahara sends a

notification to not only you but also your advisers.

And the number of comments on certain portfolio is displayed in Progress table.

4.2.1 Read others’ comments

When your adviser leave a comment on your portfolio or entry, Mahara will tell you that you have received a

comment. You can see such a notification in Recent activity and receive a notification mail.

1. Click the notification in the Recent activity.

2. Click this to move to the certain page.

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4.2.2 Place your comment as a reply

1. Click Place comment.

2. Write your comment.

3. Click Place comment.

Leave it as it is.

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4.2.3 Newly post your comment

1. Click Comments (0).

2. Click Place comment.

3. Write your comment.

4. Click Place comment.

You can put your comments both on each journal entry

and on portfolio itself. Here, we will place a comment

on the first journal entry.

Leave it as it is.

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4.3 Submit portfolio

You may ask to submit certain portfolio. If you submit a portfolio, it will be locked. So you cannot edit it

unless adviser releases it.

In order to submit it, see below.

1. Click Submit button.

2. Click Yes to submit it.

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