Catalyst in Action

In 2017, Bret Eynon and Laura M. Gambino released High-Impact ePortfolio Practice, which drew broad acclaim from faculty and educational leaders. “An instant classic,” wrote one reviewer. “The book I’ve been waiting for!” exclaimed another. With compelling evidence of the impact of ePortfolio “done well,” and a practical framework for educators to follow, this research study quickly led to the formal recognition of ePortfolio as a validated High Impact Practice. Now, with Catalyst in Action: Case Studies of High-Impact ePortfolio Practice, Eynon and Gambino have taken the next step.

The book offers 20 powerful case studies, drawn from campuses ranging from Bronx Community College to Yale University, from the University of South Carolina, to Dublin University and Arizona State. In High Impact ePortfolio Practice, Eynon and Gambino outlined the Catalyst Framework, spotlighting the strategies needed to launch, build and sustain a “high-impact” ePortfolio practice. Linking integrative social pedagogy to technology, assessment and professional development, the Catalyst Framework offers guiding principles and classroom-based ePortfolio practices that improve student success, deepen the student learning experience, and catalyze learning-centered institutional change. In Catalyst in Action, teams of faculty and college leaders detail their experiences exploring and testing the Framework on their campuses. Working with diverse groups of students in a broad range of disciplines and settings, the case study authors put Eynon and Gambino’s integrative strategies into practice. Catalyst in Action shares their findings and their insights.

As higher education enters a challenging new era, it must find new ways adapt and change, to support and demonstrate student growth and development. Catalyst in Action is a powerful combination of intensive research and practical experiencing. Offering exciting new evidence and fresh new insights, Catalyst in Action will be an invaluable resource for those who wish to build student success, advance higher learning, and meet the demands of the 21st century.

A Co-Publication with AAC&U