Epsilen Community @ UT

An Experiment in the Learning of the Future

The University of Toledo is conducting a pilot program with Epsilen, a cutting-edge, Web-based ePortfolio system. A faculty-driven initiative undertaken with the support of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and guided by the University Assessment Committee and the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Epsilen pilot program consists of seven academic disciplines and service offices (composition, sociology and anthropology, paralegal studies, pharmacy practice, management, educational leadership, and career services) representing five colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Health Science & Human Service, and Pharmacy) and two divisions (Academic Affairs and Student Affairs). The goal of the pilot program is to determine if Epsilen will meet the educational and administrative needs of the participating programs.

The University of Toledo is the second institution in the world to be licensed for the current beta version of Epsilen. The first institution was the American University of Paris.

What is Epsilen?

Epsilen is a Web-based system with a large number of tools, including an ePortfolio system, course management system, personal and professional networking capabilities, lifelong repository space for students and faculty members to store artifacts (such as Word documents, video clips, and digital images) related to learning and professional activities, and an internal e-mail system. Other features, such as a personal intelligent agent to help a user make connections based on the user's interests and past activities, are in development.

What Are Epsilen's Uses?

Epsilen has multiple uses for different types of users -- faculty, students, and administrators.

For Faculty

  • Documents student learning outcomes for program assessment and accreditation purposes.
  • Integrates standalone courses into integrated sequences of learning activities.
  • Provides enhanced opportunities to provide feedback to students about individual assignments, as well as course requirements and overall program requirements.
  • Provides enhanced ability to collaborate with colleagues at other campuses throughout the world.

For Students

  • Demonstrates what students can do, not just what courses they have taken.
  • Serves as both an academic and a career portfolio.
  • Showcases achievements, both in class and out of class, for:
    • Potential employers.
    • Family and friends.
  • Provides a feedback mechanism from instructors about individual course assignments.
  • Enables deeper reflection on their learning and on their college work, both in class and out of class.
  • Increases possibilities to make connections with fellow students at UT and at other colleges and universities.

For Administrators

  • Provides readily accessible data for assessment and accreditation purposes.
  • Demonstrates the nature and range of student learning to:
    • Federal and state legislators and policymakers.
    • Accrediting bodies.
    • Parents and potential students.
    • The public.

Epsilen Community @ UT Links