Yitna Firdyiwek is a Senior Instructional Designer.  Before he retired, he worked in the Arts & Sciences Learning Design & Technology group at the University of Virginia  supporting College faculty on the (re)design, development, and implementation of innovative approaches to technology integration in the undergraduate curriculum. Yitna’s academic background is a Doctorate in Education in Instructional Technology with a focus on composition and writing instruction.  He researches ePortfolio pedagogy which he sees as one of the most significant pedagogical innovations across all learning today. Yitna has designed experimental ePortfolio platforms for research purposes as well as collaborated in the integration of ePortfolios in a World Language Learning curriculum about which he has published with colleagues.