GPS LifePlan

1

GPS eFolio Success
Kristin Hageman, Dean of Student Life Century
College Jill Aitchison, GPS LifePlan Outreach
Coordinator, Century College eFolio Summit
Aug 6, 2008

2
History of GPS LifePlan

• Valencia College LifeMap. Aim is to engage and
  retain students. Starting third year at Century
  College.
• It is a large program and part of the culture.
• Academic and student affairs working together.
• Goals Plans Success.
• 5 plans, holistic approach, focus on planning.
• Other schools piloting Fall 2008.

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Components of Program

• Web site www.gpslifeplan.org/century
• Workshops
• Student Success Day
• Course integration
• eFolio
• Faculty/Staff use in daily student contact

4
Impact of Program

• Formal Assessment completed May 2008 (students,
  administrators, faculty, and staff) after 3
  semesters of use
• High awareness Faculty 86, Students 92
• Various parts of GPS used in various ways
• Retention rates up from Fall 06 to Fall 07
• Reading 80 classes fewer withdraws, more
  re-enrolls
• Themes common language, more planful,
• incentives get them started, holistic
  approach

5
eFolio and GPS

• eFolio is a partner tool
• Designed separate but work together
• Serves as a virtual three ring binder place to
  store GPS related efforts
• Briefly considered other tools but student
  owned was a key factor

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how eFolio is used with GPS

• Faculty support student use varying degrees
  (some require). Each faculty teaches own class
  how to use. Goal is to have designated person on
  campus who can be a resource for faculty and
  staff to teach/trouble shoot.
• Faculty and students like the concept and tool
  but find it takes too much time. Additional
  resource plus new version of eFolio should
  address this.
• Had a CTL Teaching Circle focused on eFolio
• Hold workshops about eFolio for students

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how eFolio is used with GPS cont.

• Created a GPS LifePlan template so when student
  sets his/her eFolio up, he/she can choose that
  format. It sets the default structure and
  layout. All is still customizable by student.
• GPS LifePlan template includes
• Logo
• What is GPS LifePlan paragraph
• Links to Century College resources
• 5 plans/sections with sub-sections
• Some formatting for guided activities/reflection
  (Interests SII, Skills Top Ten, Values Top
  5, Career Considerations with details, Course
  Plan, Time Management Calendar, Learning Styles,
  etc)

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samples of Student eFolios

• Created generic Century Student eFolio with all
  template items included with notes/guidelines of
  how to use each section. http//centurystudent.efo
  liomn.com/
• Sample of skeleton with little/no
  personalization http//jillaitchison.efoliomn.com
  /
• Samples of many students http//www.century.lifep
  lan.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?TypeB_BASICSEC
  99864BBC-E2EC-43FB-ADEC-AD58614544AE
• Sample of professional eFolio
  http//www.patrickcallies.efoliomn.com

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Student Efolio Content

• Feedback can be displayed or private
• Sections can be locked from public but shared via
  passwords
• Workshop attendance and reflection (Instructor)
• Academic courses planned (Counselor or Advisor)
• Transfer Plan (other schools considered)
• Interests, skills, values, and personality
  assessments Tools are in GPS LifePlan website.
• Career Considerations . Research on GPS LifePlan
  website and iSeek and other tools and record
  findings on eFolio.
• Resume and related materials to share with
  potential employers
• Track involvement and work and experiences as
  pre-resume writing task.
• Other examples Mission/Value from a Comm class
  or from GPS Website. Goal Setting and Action
  Plans. Life Roles and vision for 5/10/15 years.
  Time Management tips. Learning Assessment (VARK
  in GPS Web). Attend interview workshop, then
  reflect on and record how answer interview
  questions and what to ask.

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Contact info

• Kristin Hageman
• kristin.hageman_at_century.edu
• 651-773-1780
• Jill Aitchison
• Jill.aitchison_at_century.edu
• 651-779-3437
• www.gpslifeplan.org/century