A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Design, implementation and evaluation of a 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience. Simon Cotterill, Tony McDonald, Paul Drummond, Geoff Hammond School of Medical Education Development University of Newcastle, UK

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions SST (Student Support & Tutoring) FDTL-4 project ePortfolios in Medicine Evidencing outcomes PDP 1 st Newcastle-Nottingham PARs project, nd Newcastle-Nottingham PARs project, Internet-PARs DfES funded PDP focus Background

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions An FDTL-4 project developing ePortfolios for undergraduate Medicine ( ): Newcastle University (lead site) Leeds University Sheffield University Dundee University (for consultancy) Project funded by Background

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Aims 1. Personal Development Planning (PDP) "a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development” Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2001.

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions a) Towards a life-long learning record School HE CPDAims 2. Supporting Life-Long Learning (LLL) b) Encouraging the development of LLL Skills: Evidencing Learning Outcomes Transition to Independent learning Preparation for professional requirements: - Appraisals - Assessment - Revalidation

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Aims (technical) 3. Design a ‘generic’ ePortfolio -transferable / useful in different contexts 4. Integration with VLEs

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Context-specific tools Common tools ‘Generic’ framework Common contents structure sharing cross-referencing searchable integrated action planning Customisation select tools by course/year outcomes / skills sets nomenclature graphics / layout simple tool editor CV Outcomes / skills log PDP Reflective learning diary Meetings log SWOT Integrated into the common contents structure Architecture Developed with Open Source products: Zope, MySQL

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions create context-specific tools via simple Web forms Student view Selecting tools by Course and Year Course Admin view ‘Generic’ framework: Customisaton

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Configuring learning outcomes / skills sets Course Admin view ‘Generic’ framework: Customisaton

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions ‘Generic’ framework: Sharing

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Piloting & Implementation The ePortfolio developed at Newcastle has been applied in the following contexts: 2003/4Undergraduate Medicine Contract Research Staff (CPD) Generic Portfolio (project demonstrator) 2004/5Dentistry (Undergrad + Vocational Training) Undergraduate Biosciences St Andrew’s University (Medicine)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Generic ePortfolio: Public Demonstrator

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Medicine at Newcastle: Integration with a bespoke VLE

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: Learning Diary (Medicine – Newcastle)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Context-specific Tools: PDP for Year 4 Student Selected Components

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: Record courses (CRS)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: Learning Outcome / Skills (CRS)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: SWOT (Bioscience prototype)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: CV (St Andrew’s University)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Common Tools: Tutor meetings (St Andrew’s University)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Context-specific Tools: Dentistry Project involves 6 Dental schools and 2 Postgraduate Deaneries

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Promoting Continuity & LLL in Dentistry Context-specific Tools: Dentistry

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Integration #2: Blackboard (via a ‘tab’)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Integration #2: Blackboard (via the tool bar)

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Evaluation #1: Medicine (Years 1&2) Cotterill SJ, Sarma S, McDonald AM, Bradley P Ethical approval / informed consent Focus groups + Questionnaires Key issues: Generally well received but what motivation ? not assessed not viewed by tutors (staff interface completed later) Need better clarity of purpose Wanted a more quirky / fun design ! Learning diary - useful at first, less so over time Good to browse the Learning Outcomes

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Ethical approval / informed consent Questionnaires (before and after using the ePortfolio) Change in awareness of intended learning outcomes ? Factors influencing use of the ePortfolio Attitudes and perceptions of using the ePortfolio Student perception of impact of using the ePortfolio Evaluation of technical features and ‘usability’ 186 students completed the portfolio (~100% compliance) 105 questionnaires completed (56% of cohort) at 30/06/2004 Evaluation #2: Medicine (Year 4) PDP for student selected components Cotterill SJ, McDonald AM, Bradley P, Robinson R, Hammond GR

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Evaluation - positive “ It encouraged me to really give thought to what I wanted to achieve during the option, which was especially useful as this was my first option. As a result of the portfolio I think I got much more out of the option than I would have otherwise. ” “ It made me concentrate on creating aims at the start of the option and allowed me to plan the option with my supervisor in a defined way. Overall it made my learning for the option more organised and focused. ”

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Evaluation - barriers & problems: “Most of the things I learned couldn't be 'measured/quantified' so I felt it was of little value to try and invent a way in which they could.” “ Access to computer as option took place in Barnard Castle, records may have been more detailed if completed straight after meetings etc. ”

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Building the ePortfolio was a useful learning experience 80% thought it was a useful learning experience Having clearly defined intended learning outcomes influenced the way in which I approached the option 72% felt that the LOs influenced their approach

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions 93% reflected on their learning after their SSC At the end of the option I spent time considering what I had learned from this option.

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Conclusions #1 The ‘generic’ ePortfolio Highly configurable Can be readily adapted for different contexts Existing tools have an emphasis on PDP -but the portfolio framework can serve other purposes Integration in VLEs Fully integrated into a VLE for Medicine Initial work to integrate with Blackboard has been successful

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Evaluation (in Medicine) ePortfolios implemented / piloted in 2003/4 Demonstrated: Feasibility & Acceptability Most students perceive these as beneficial However, unless assessed / mandatory the motivation to complete is reduced. Conclusions #2

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions A systematic map and synthesis review of the effectiveness of personal development planning for improving student learning. EPPI-Centre (2002) Educational Objectives (including PDP) Some evidence that PDP had a positive impact on planning and approach to learning (Year 4 SSC) Encouraged reflection in some students Good preparation (and practice) for LLL & CPD However, long-term impact on learning is unknown Further research is essential Some (limited) evidence that PDP improves learning: Conclusions #3

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Additional Developments: ePortfolios Extension Toolkit (ePET) -A JISC funded project to develop a ‘Web services’ interface for the portfolio (by 04/2005) IAMSECT ‘Shibboleth’ Single Sign-On project -JISC funded project Further information on the ePortfolio: Simon Cotterill

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions Implementation of ePortfolios - Humans are important too ! Buy-in of key stakeholders: Learners Clarity of purpose ? Sense of Ownership ? Tutors & Admin staff Extra work ? Senior Curriculum staff Integration with existing processes Training (all) Monitoring and evaluation

A 'generic' ePortfolio: the Newcastle experience Background Aims Design Implement Evaluation Conclusions InstitutionalData Portfolio for Presentation Portfolio for Application (job / promotion) Portfolio for Assessment Portfolio for Accreditation/ Revalidation PDP (shared) PDP / Reflective (private) Portfolio for Appraisal Learner’s‘repository’ Central data: Transcript MIS/ HR data Programme data: Granular assessment data Outcomes / skills sets Selecting sub-sets of portfolio data for different purposes: