AU will implement PebblePad's to support a wide range of academic and professional development goals, including:
- Academic showcases: Students can compile essays, research, and projects to demonstrate academic excellence.
- Skills development: Track growth in communication, technical, and subject-specific competencies.
- Career readiness: Build professional ePortfolios that integrate resumes and work samples for job applications.
- Reflective practice: Use journals and feedback tools to deepen learning and self-awareness.
- Program-level assessment: Support faculty in evaluating learning outcomes and accreditation readiness.
- Graduate applications: Present research and achievements in a polished, accessible format.
Dr. Connie Blomgren, Program Director for the Master of Education — Open, Digital and Distance Education, said:
"PebblePad will be a cornerstone tool for the Master of Education — Open, Digital and Distance Education where students will use the platform to curate and create their summative ePortfolio. The ease of use enables graduate students to design and assemble various learning artifacts into a clean looking and aesthetically pleasing eportfolio that they can share within their professional circles and employers."
Margot Young, Portfolio Mentorship Coordinator, and Serita Smith, Director of Learner Support Services, emphasized the platform's accessibility and value for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR):
"For AU's PLAR process, our ePortfolio assessment practice has been fostered through an online environment for several years. We see PebblePad as an accessible, user-friendly opportunity for students to create and organize their ePortfolios."
The platform will reduce the time needed to become proficient, allowing students to focus on ePortfolio development components.
Gerry Annand, AU's User Experience Specialist, highlighted the platform's integration:
"PebblePad is a major addition to AU's suite of pedagogical tools. Its integration with Brightspace means learners and instructors are just one click away from accessing all the amazing features and resources PebblePad has to offer. No additional accounts or login credentials required. Users will be able to include content from an incredible list of services such as YouTube, Google Drive, and Credly."
This partnership aligns with AU's priorities by improving access to learning through pedagogy-rich technology, enabling students to reflect on and showcase their growth, and strengthening the learning community through alumni engagement and communities of practice.
About PebblePad
PebblePad, is an award-winning ePortfolio, workbook and assessment platform designed to support personalized, reflective, and evidence-based learning in higher education and beyond.
About Athabasca University
Athabasca University (AU) is Canada's Open University, dedicated to transforming lives through accessible, high-quality online education. Based in Alberta, AU serves over 35,000 learners across Canada and in 81 countries with flexible undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional development opportunities.
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Source: PebblePad
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