Northwestern University . The School of Education & Social Policy

Mark SwindleDirector, Web Communications

James WebbDirector,Information Technology

©2007 Northwestern University

Accreditation and Accountability: Digital Portfolios, Virtual Showrooms

and a CMS

Need: How to efficiently manage complex web sites?

Step 1 Tackling content management

Solution: Content management system (CMS)

• Northwestern’s experience with an off-the-shelf product

• Northwestern’s Computer Science Department

Need: How to efficiently manage complex web sites?

Issue: Off-the-shelf or build our own?

Step 1

Solution: Content management system (CMS)

Step 1

• Northwestern’s experience with an off-the-shelf product

• Northwestern’s Computer Science Department

• SESP’s small size

Need: How to efficiently manage complex web sites?

Issue: Off-the-shelf or build our own?

Solution: Content management system (CMS)

Step 1

Underlying (Free) Architecture “LAMP” or Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP/Perl

Step 1

CMS Architecture

$$Underlying (Free) Architecture “LAMP” or Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP/Perl

Step 1Alumni

Step 1Editor

Step 2 Problem-solving with our CMS

A robust CMS makes it possible to create web sitesboth media rich…

Step 2

A robust CMS makes it possible to create web sitesboth media-rich…and interactive

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Digital Portfolio

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Profile Engine

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

News Center

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Virtual Showroom

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Faculty Annual Report

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Faculty Research Support

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Digital Portfolio 2

Step 2

2004 2005 2006 2007

Creating custom tools for our community of users

Alumni Services

Step 3 Accreditation and Accountability

Solution: We built a Digital Portfolio based on NCATE standards. We built a Virtual Showroom - also based on NCATE standards. Because they were built on the same framework, we could tie the two together – and connect both with other features in the CMS.

Need: How could we answer the needs of our teacher certification program for portfoliosand accreditation?

Step 3Teacher Certification Program Students from 4 ofthe schools at Northwestern create a portfolio.

2004 2005 2006 2007

Step 3Their portfolio is based on a Conceptual Framework…

Step 3…derived from NCATE Standards

Step 3Artifacts/Reflections are mapped to Checkpoints, and toPrinciples. Final Checkpoint Certification

CP1 CP2 Final Cert.

Principle 1.1

Candidate Reviewer

Step 3Portfolio Candidates Artifacts/Reflections upload,text entry, Notifications to Reviewers.

Step 3Portfolio Reviewer

Step 3Certification Publish to Profile Page

Step 3Virtual Showroom

2004 2005 2006 2007

Step 3Uploading…

Step 3View documents…

Step 3…and Digital Portfolio Artifacts

Step 3Reporting Engine

Step 3Next?

Northwestern University . The School of Education & Social Policy

James Webb(847) 467.3833

Mark Swindle (847) 467.2939

William Siegrist (847) 467.2939

©2007 Northwestern University

www.sesp.northwestern.edu/hlc