Mahara 25.04 and how a feature makes it into Mahara

Professor Dr Michael Sankey from Charles Darwin University in Australia has been involved in the ePortfolio practice for more than 25 years. He started out writing HTML pages, then used various portfolio platforms throughout his university career, and transitioned to a non-institution owned site now that he is retired.In this conversation Michael emphasises the role of the portfolio to support emerging professionals. He advocates for institution-operated portfolio platforms to provide a space where employers looking at student portfolios can be assured that they are dealing with real students. Michael also makes the case for programmatic assessment as the next evolution in assessment and the key role that the portfolio plays in it.Connect with MichaelLinkedInBlueskyInstagramResourcesMichael's websiteePortfolios AustraliaKeynote at the Eportfolio Forum 2024: 'Making visible the "human" side of learning and celebrating one’s achievements through ePortfolio practiceUniversity of Sydney's two-lane approach to artificial intelligence in assessment tasksWhat to do about assessments if we can’t out-design or out-run AI?Program level assessment design and the two-lane approachArtificial intelligence and academic integrity: A conversation between Prof Dr Danny Liu and Prof Dr Stephen MarshallCentre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) at Deakin University; resources on programmatic assessment:Nieminen, J. H., & Boud, D. (2024). Placing authenticity at the heart of student self-assessment: an integrative review. Teaching in Higher Education, 30(3), 640–662.Tree, D., Harvey, A., & Rand-Weaver, M. (2025) Integrated Programme Assessment: 10 years on. (2025). Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 4(1).CRADLE Seminar Series 2025 #1: Programmatic Assessment. Insights from Theory and Practice with Dr Liesbeth BaartmanRelated episodesKate Mitchell: Deliberate and programmatic designMark Glynn: Take a programmatic approach to assessment with portfoliosSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

In this episode, podcast host Kristina Hoeppner, MA, who is the Mahara Project Lead and Product Manager, shares how a feature makes into the application, using a couple of recent examples from Mahara 25.04 that will be released by the end of April 2025.Mahara 25.04 will have a number of great new features available that enhance portfolio practice and also help teaching and support staff in their roles.Connect with KristinaLinkedInMastodonSend a message via the Mahara community websiteResourcesTree swing storyCartoonHistory of the cartoonOrigin of the CPD pluginWireframes as result of the usability reviewMock-ups for Mahara 26.04Mahara roadmapAnnouncement of the Mahara 25.04 previewPresentation 'Who creates open source software?'Upcoming Mahara eventsEvents by AAEEBLRecording of the 'New features in Mahara 25.04' webinarRelated episodesMonash UniversityDr Ingrid D'Souza: Creativity and lifelong portfoliosAssoc Prof Dr Zala Volcic: Develop community, relationships, and compassionJamie Robinson, MEd: Portfolio boot camp for educatorsProgrammatic design and assessmentKate Mitchell, MEd: Deliberate and programmatic designDr Mark Glynn, PFHEA: Take a programmatic approach to assessment with portfoliosSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Prof Dr Margarete Imhof, Franziska Ohl, MSc, and Sebastian Laube, MSc work in the Institute for Psychology, and there specifically in the Department of Psychology in Education at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz in Germany. They are members of the feedback portfolio project, supporting lecturers and students in their department with the creation of portfolios.Franziska, Margarete, and Sebastian are strong believers in portfolios and how they can empower students in becoming reflective practitioners, engage meaningfully in feedback processes, and ultimately be good teachers. In this episode, in particular, they talk about their feedback practices, the use of templates, and how collaboration amongst students and also with lecturers can be scaffolded.Connect withFranziska via her university pageMargarete via her university pageSebastian via his university pageResourcesSebastian's video series on MaharaSebastian's current templateAAEEBL Digital Ethics Principle in ePortfolios: SupportMetaphors in portfolio practice: Coleman, K.S. (2017). An a/r/tist in wonderland: Exploring identity, creativity and digital portfolios as a/r/tographer, Ph.D. dissertation, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2017.Mahara roadmapAAC&U's High-Impact PracticesOhl, F., Laube, S., Imhof, M. &  Harring, M. (2022). Portfolioarbeit und Feedbackkultur gemeinsam entwickeln. In M. Krämer, J. Zumbach & I. Deibl (Eds.), Psychologiedidaktik und Evaluation XIV (pp. 337-343). Düren: Shaker. Laube, S., Ohl, F., Harring, M., Imhof, M. (2023). Das digitale Feedback-Portfolio. In L. Mrohs, J. Franz, D. Herrmann, K. Lindner & T. Staake (Eds.), Digitale Kulturen der Lehre entwickeln. Perspektiven der Hochschuldidaktik (pp. 301- 307). Wiesbaden: Springer VS.Related episodesShari Bowker: Establish good feedback practices in your portfolio The wunderkammer: Metaphors in portfolio practiceSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Chahira Nouira, MSc, is an instructional designer at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany where she supports lecturers in their use of educational technology and how to incorporate them into their teaching and learning activities.In this episode, Chahira talks about the support that the instructional design team offers to lecturers, in particular the initiative 'Get[IN]spired' that also fosters connections between lecturers. She then talks about which study programmes use portfolios, including theology, musicology, and forest sciences. Learn how the portfolio delivers benefits to students in them.Special thanks from Chahira to Natalia Lischer, MA, and Dipl-Ing Christian Fliegner from the Digital Learning and Teaching team at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, whose efforts to support all the university's teaching staff with portfolio work have been remarkable and continue to be very crucial.Connect with ChahiraLinkedInMastodonResourcesInitiative 'Get[IN]spired'The eLearning service team at Georg-August-Universität GöttingenRelated episodesJamie Fulcher: Portfolio boot camp for educatorsMark Brady: Journal regularly for profound insightSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Matthew E. Mueller, CRC, MA, MBA, is the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services at Dominican University of California where he's also finished his MBA in December 2024. He's also one of the integrative coaches of the Student Success Center.In this episode, Matthew talks about how all of his roles at Dominican contribute to him being able to support students holistically, coach them, and provide services to them that help them navigate college successfully. He also shares a bit about his own portfolio journey.This episode is the fifth and last interview with portfolio authors from Dominican University of California whom I was privileged to meet in preparation for the first AAEEBL ePortfolio Retreat that was held at Dominican on 18 October 2024.Connect with Matthew on LinkedInResourcesMatthew's portfolio and his Dominican web pageThe Dominican Experience, of which the portfolio work is partDigital portfolio support at DominicanChristina Mayes, MS, Manager of the Fletcher Jones Digital Portfolio LabNaomi Elvolve, MA, Executive Director of the Student Success Center, Integrative CoachUniversal Design for Learning (UDL)Related Dominican University of California episodes: Solena Ornelas: Set goals and achieve them with a portfolioStarlight (José) Lain-Straus: The portfolio as impactful practice for studentsKatieAnn Nguyen: Showcase your achievements in a portfolio and be proud of themArturo Flores, Jr.: The portfolio is a reflection of yourselfRelated episodesKate Mitchell: Deliberate and programmatic designMark Glynn: Take a programmatic approach to assessment with portfoliosKevin Kelly & Kristina Hoeppner: Digital ethics principles and UDL guidelinesSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Arturo Flores, Jr., is a Psychology and History major at Dominican University of California in his final year. He holds a number of on-campus jobs, amongst them being a peer mentor.Arturo started developing his public portfolio in his first year at Dominican and details some of that journey for us in this episode. He reflects on the benefits of the portfolio for him as a student already now and for the future.This episode is the fourth of five interviews with portfolio authors from Dominican University of California whom I was privileged to meet in preparation for the first AAEEBL ePortfolio Retreat that was held at Dominican on 18 October 2024.Connect with Arturo on LinkedInResourcesArturo's portfolioThe Dominican Experience, of which the portfolio work is partDigital portfolio support at DominicanChristina Mayes, MS, Manager of the Fletcher Jones Digital Portfolio LabNaomi Elvolve, MA, Executive Director of the Student Success CenterJennifer Labovich, BA, Integrative CoachStacy L. Poe, MA, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, & InclusionRec Sports at DominicanRelated Dominican University of California episodes: Solena Ornelas: Set goals and achieve them with a portfolioStarlight (José) Lain-Straus: The portfolio as impactful practice for studentsKatieAnn Nguyen: Showcase your achievements in a portfolio and be proud of themSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

KatieAnn Nguyen is a Chemistry student at Dominican University of California. She's also a peer mentor for digital portfolios at Dominican.In this episode, KatieAnn shares what she does as a peer mentor and why she thinks portfolios are important for students to create.This episode is the third of five interviews with portfolio authors from Dominican University of California whom I was privileged to meet in preparation for and during the first AAEEBL ePortfolio Retreat that was held at Dominican on 18 October 2024.Connect with KatieAnn on LinkedInResourcesKatieAnn's portfolioThe Dominican Experience, of which the portfolio work is partDigital portfolio support at DominicanChristina Mayes, MS, Manager of the Fletcher Jones Digital Portfolio LabRelated Dominican University of California episodes: Solena Ornelas: Set goals and achieve them with a portfolioStarlight (José) Lain-Straus: The portfolio as impactful practice for studentsArturo Flores, Jr.: The portfolio is a reflection of yourselfSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Starlight (José) Lain-Straus is an Education Studies bachelor student at Dominican University of California. He's also a peer mentor, supporting students when they join Dominican.In this episode, Starlight shares how the portfolio has helped them to see all their accomplishments since joining Dominican and how it became impactful for their further education.This episode is the second of five interviews with portfolio authors from Dominican University of California whom I was privileged to meet in preparation for and during the first AAEEBL ePortfolio Retreat that was held at Dominican on 18 October 2024.Connect with StarlightInstagramFacebookTiktokLinkedInYouTubeResourcesStarlight's portfolioThe Dominican Experience, of which the portfolio work is partDigital portfolio support at DominicanChristina Mayes, MS, Manager of the Fletcher Jones Digital Portfolio Learning LabKathleen Ferrando, MA, Adjunct Professor in EducationASDU - Associated Students of Dominican UniversityPRIDE ClubPSAAC - Penguin Student-Athlete Advisory CommitteeRelated Dominican University of California episodes: Solena Ornelas: Set goals and achieve them with a portfolioKatieAnn Nguyen: Showcase your achievements in a portfolio and be proud of themArturo Flores, Jr.: The portfolio is a reflection of yourselfRelated episode: Shari Bowker: Establish good feedback practices in your portfolioSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

Solena Ornelas, MA, started her college career at Dominican University of California, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Music. She then continued on to New York University to pursue a Master of Arts in Art Politics, and is now a civil servant as congressional staffer.In this interview Solena outlines how she started with her portfolio and developed it over time, and what the main uses are for her: goal setting and showcasing her accomplishments as a multi-talented performance artist, activist, academic, and civil servant.This episode kicks of a mini-series with five portfolio authors from Dominican University of California whom I was privileged to meet in preparation for and during the first AAEEBL ePortfolio Retreat that was held at Dominican on 18 October 2024.Connect with Solena on LinkedInResourcesSolena's portfolioThe Dominican Experience, of which the portfolio work is partDigital portfolio support at DominicanIntegrative coaches at DominicanChristina Mayes, MS, Manager of the Fletcher Jones Digital Portfolio LabAssociate Professor Alison Howard, MA, Director of Core CurriculumJonathan Lear (2008). Radical hope. Harvard University Press.On Nina Simone's activismRelated Dominican University of California episodes: Starlight (José) Lain-Straus: The portfolio as impactful practice for studentsKatieAnn Nguyen: Showcase your achievements in a portfolio and be proud of themArturo Flores, Jr.: The portfolio is a reflection of yourselfSubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward

In this episode, podcast host and Mahara Project Lead Kristina Hoeppner, MA, from Catalyst IT shares some insights from her trip to the Northern hemisphere in October and November 2024 where she's met with portfolio enthusiasts and Mahara community members to talk about portfolios.Connect with KristinaLinkedInMastodonResourcesAAEEBL retreat, October 2024AAEEBL Digital Ethics Task ForceMahara community site and demo of MaharaMoodleMoot Global 2024 recordingsKristina's presentation 'Mahara y Moodle: Una combinación perfecta para los estudiantes'How to add Mahara to MoodleUniversité de Lorraine project Pléiades, programme TrajectoiresUniversité de Lorraine project template and competency templateESUP PortailOtto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg's project DiKuLePlanungs- und Entscheidungshilfe für den Einsatz von Portfolios vom Projekt DiKuLePlanning and decision-making guide for portfolios created by Project DiKuLePortfolio starter kit from Projekt Dreiklang (in German) with lots of case studies and tutorials (enter using the guest login)Mahara UX review 2024: WireframesRelated episodesDr Leticia Britos Cavagnaro: Make learning visibleDr Helen L. Chen: Reflect through conversation to tell your storyMike Joiner-Hill: Represent yourself through a portfolioDr Ruth Cox & Dr Kevin Kelly: Grow and nurture the portfolio through the framework of ePorticultureDr Ricardo Elizalde: See the whole student and their learning journeySubscribe to the monthly newsletter about Mahara and portfolios.Production informationProduction: Catalyst ITHost: Kristina HoeppnerArtwork: Evonne CheungMusic: The Mahara tune by Josh Woodward