Pass-port
Encyclopedia
PASS-PORT is a web-based electronic portfolio
assessment and course management system operated by Innovative Learning Assessment Technologies, LLC.
schools prepare for, and pass, the revised NCATE 2000 unit standards. This new standard set was highly data-driven and required that accredited bodies keep detailed information student performances and evaluations of those performances that were to be used to improve academic programs and services over time. The Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education funded a state-wide project to develop an electronic data system to assist with the collection and aggregation of student learning performance data and work on the system began in late 1999. PASS-PORT entered service in 2001 and was made available to all of the Louisiana schools at no cost.
schools who chose to use PASS-PORT had an NCATE review and all passed. During this time, the system continued to be refined and expanded.
made landfall in southeast Louisiana. The storm's enormousness had 2 effects on PASS-PORT:
and Xavier University of Louisiana
. An agreement was reached that provided ILAT with an exclusive on-going license to the PASS-PORT system while allowing the Louisiana schools to maintain ownership (for longevity purposes).
It has a template-based design which allows administrators to design their own evaluation instruments
and associate those measurements directly to standards. PASS-PORT also collects Demographic data
on students, faculty members, and field experience participants. It also automates the review process associated with a student's transition points (which PASS-PORT calls a portal).
PASS-PORT has several editions that are suitable for use in a variety of contexts:
Electronic portfolio
An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks...
assessment and course management system operated by Innovative Learning Assessment Technologies, LLC.
Origins
PASS-PORT was originally conceived as a way to help the 20 teacher preparationTeacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
schools prepare for, and pass, the revised NCATE 2000 unit standards. This new standard set was highly data-driven and required that accredited bodies keep detailed information student performances and evaluations of those performances that were to be used to improve academic programs and services over time. The Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education funded a state-wide project to develop an electronic data system to assist with the collection and aggregation of student learning performance data and work on the system began in late 1999. PASS-PORT entered service in 2001 and was made available to all of the Louisiana schools at no cost.
Public use
From 2001 to 2006, all of the Louisiana teacher preparationTeacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
schools who chose to use PASS-PORT had an NCATE review and all passed. During this time, the system continued to be refined and expanded.
Hurricane Katrina
In late August of 2005, Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
made landfall in southeast Louisiana. The storm's enormousness had 2 effects on PASS-PORT:
- Teacher preparation students from University of New OrleansUniversity of New OrleansThe University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
, Southern University at New OrleansSouthern University at New OrleansSouthern University at New Orleans is a historically black university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, Tulane UniversityTulane UniversityTulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, and Dillard UniversityDillard UniversityDillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
were all able to retrieve all of their pre-existing course work that had been loaded into the PASS-PORT servers (safely located in Baton Rouge, LA) so that they could complete their academic programs at other institutions without having to produce duplicate work. - The Louisiana legislature became disinterested in on-going funding of the public project.
Commercialization
Beginning in late 2005, Innovative Learning Assessment Technologies negotiated with the two Louisiana schools who jointly owned the PASS-PORT intellectual property: University of Louisiana at LafayetteUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
and Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana , located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher education...
. An agreement was reached that provided ILAT with an exclusive on-going license to the PASS-PORT system while allowing the Louisiana schools to maintain ownership (for longevity purposes).
Today
Today, ILAT continues to offer PASS-PORT to schools, both in and out of Louisiana, on a fee basis. With the introduction of new editions of the PASS-PORT system that target additional accrediting bodies beyond teacher preparation, there is renewed interest in the software's unique capabilities and history.Purpose
PASS-PORT is designed to help colleges and universities meet accreditation standards for their academic programs and student services. It assists administrators in collecting, aggregating, and reporting performance-based assessment data -- aligned to accreditation standards -- from a number of sources:- File Artifacts submitted by students for review by a faculty member
- Professional Development Experiences
- Field Experiences with associated assessments from faculty members and participating teacher mentors
- Web Links to student works
- Student Self Assessments in the form of questionnaires
- Faculty Assessments of student performance
- Standardized Tests such as the Praxis batteryPraxis testA Praxis test is one of a series of American teacher certification exams written and administered by the Educational Testing Service. Various Praxis tests are usually required before, during, and after teacher training courses in the U.S....
- Course Grades
It has a template-based design which allows administrators to design their own evaluation instruments
Rubric (academic)
A rubric is an assessment tool for communicating expectations of quality. Rubrics support student self-reflection and self-assessment as well as communication between assessor and assessees...
and associate those measurements directly to standards. PASS-PORT also collects Demographic data
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
on students, faculty members, and field experience participants. It also automates the review process associated with a student's transition points (which PASS-PORT calls a portal).
PASS-PORT has several editions that are suitable for use in a variety of contexts:
- PASS-PORT HE (Higher Education Edition) - for Teacher EducationTeacher educationTeacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
schools pursuing NCATE or TEAC accreditation - PASS-PORT BE (Business Edition) - for business schools pursuing AACSB or ACBSP accreditation
- PASS-PORT NE (Nursing Edition) - for nursing schools pursing NLNAC or CCNECommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationThe Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
accreditation and other health care related programs - PASS-PORT CE (Campus Edition) - for schools pursuing Regional AccreditationRegional accreditationRegional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
and other programs not covered by other editions