Memoranda to myself: Maxims for the online portfolio

For a successful pedagogy of online portfolios, set up the computer network before the term begins; guide students to teach themselves how to use the system; legislate only one software for use in the class; briefly explain the portfolio system at the beginning of the term; give "unsatisfactory" grades on the first assignment; prompt revision even on "satisfactory" submissions; maintain an electronic storehouse of commonplace responses; accept revisions only from "clean" copy; wait until the term is well underway before beginning peer review; provide written guidelines for peer response; provide for off-line, small-group peer response; allow each student to determine when and how often to engage in peer response; provide detailed portfolio guidelines a few weeks before the portfolio is due; have a provisional, midsemester portfolio submission; and work toward a "composition" that would include interactive media.