What is Mahara?
Mahara is an ePortfolio tool used within the University of the Highlands and Islands. Mahara was selected for use within the university for the following reasons:
- ePortfolios can be exported so that students going on to other educational organisations can take their ePortfolio with them. Another institution with a Leap2A compliant system can import the file.
- The above also applies to students wishing to maintain their CV throughout their career. There are a number of free Mahara hosts that will accept an export of an ePortfolio.
- Mahara is also a good blogging tool and attractive web pages can be assembled quickly for sharing with individuals or groups.
- Different types of open or closed groups can be created within Mahara so that classes can collaborate on projects or tutors can assess material privately submitted to a group.
How does Mahara Work?
Mahara is very versatile. Basically, there are three steps:
- You can work within the Content menu to add data and artefacts (images, files etc). No-one can see into your Content area.
- Then you would display all your text, files and images on a page using building blocks. Creating pages comes under the Portfolio menu. Still no-one can see what you're doing.
- Lastly you would allow other people to view your page. There are a number of different ways of doing this and lots of options.
Use the links directly above to get more information on how to use these menus.
In What Way is Mahara used?
Here are some ways in which Mahara can be used:
- Students can prepare their Curriculum Vitae. Different versions of the CV can be quickly prepared which are adapted to the positions being applied for.
- Individuals can keep a record of their Continuing Professional Development, including goals, relfections etc.
- Research students can keep a journal of research tasks and findings, can 'market' their projects and presentations using Mahara.
- Students on work placement can keep in touch with tutors using a journal/blog which can later be used in assembling their report.
- Individuals can keep a professional, fully multimedia, blog and enable users to subscribe.
- Group members can prepare pages outlining projects which their peers can review using the feedback function.
- Group members can submit assessments or assignments to tutors which can not be viewed by peers.
- Attractive web pages can be quickly created for disseminating information about services, events etc.
- Students can assemble a portfolio which is effectively evidence of assessment. The portfolio can be fully multimedia.
- Students creating artefacts, whether art, carpentry, music, engineering, can prepare a virtual exhibition of their work.