PebblePAD (software)

PebblePAD is a proprietary web-based Personal Learning Environment or EPortfolio system. The software uses Macromedia Flash to provide a customisable visually orientated series of record editing tools. The system is primarily used in the UK Higher Education sector and has been involved in a number of [http://jisc.ac.uk JISC] funded ePortfolio research projects including [http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_edistributed/regionalstories/epistle.aspx Epistle] , [http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_edistributed/regionalstories/filepass.aspx filePass] and [http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_edistributed/regionalstories/elp.aspx elp] .

PebblePad provides the core functionality for the UK's [http://www.ifl.ac.uk Institute for Learning's] Reflect system, which supports the recording and submission of CPD activity for teachers in Further Education to their professional body.

Features

PebblePad uses of moving 'pads' which guide the user though the process of creation of a variety of record types. These include records like action plans, abilities, achievements, experiences and thoughts .

Records may be presented in webfolio (which are a type of webpage) and journal entries as part of a blog. Videos and Photos can be imported from social networking sites like You Tube, Flickr. Assets can be tagged, which allow them to be re-used in different parts of the software, e.g. the same asset can be part of a Webfolio and a Journal.

Users can share the records and assign differential permissions to view, comment, copy, collaborate permissions. These can be granted to both PebblePAD and external users.

Background

The design team behind PebblePAD are all graduates of the University of Wolverhampton and were co-winners of the [http://www.checkpoint-elearning.com/article/4452.html2007 Learning Technologists of the Year award at ALT-C] in recognition of "contribution over the last three years to the development of the PebblePad ePortfolio system, which has been used by over 120,000 students in over forty institutions across the UK."

External links

* [http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/ PebblePAD homepage]
* [http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15194 IfL Launch Reflect April 08]
* [http://www.itweek.co.uk/information-world-review/features/2189465/rockn-roll-education Article from IT WEEK May 07]