Reflecting with Purpose: 100,000 Teachers and Trainers Use REfLECT to Create Portfolios of Achievement and Ongoing Personal Development. Shane Sutherland, Pebble Learning (UK) Study conducted by Sarah Chesney Expert in these kinds of things

The UK professional body, the Institute for Learning (IfL) has 100,000 members using the personal learning space (PLS) REfLECT. Members use the tool for recording and reflecting upon their continuing professional development (CPD) and create eportfolios for accreditation purposes. This session will share the findings of a recent study with 7 regional advisers that focused on the impact REfLECT has had upon its members. The session will describe the challenges and benefits of using REfLECT as identified by the regional advisers, augmented by feedback from users, and share the transferable lessons learnt enabling others to benefit from the findings. Institute for Learning recent study eportfolios REfLECT personal learning space regional advisers accreditation (CPD) Note: The terms marked in red were discussed/explained during the session

Social Networking Space Institutional Learning Environment PLS personally provided personal content personally controlled institutionally provided institutional content institutionally controlled institutionally provided personal content personally controlled

...there is no end point of ‘un-enrolment’ within a Personal Learning Space

Almost all Regional Advisors remarked that the two most common advantages of using REfLECT to record CPD are: 1.Improved reflection through prompts and scaffolded tools. 'since using REfLECT I'm more thoughtful about CPD and evaluating it’; 2.Increased IT skills through meaningful tasks such as self- declaring CPD or applying for Professional Formation.

In addition to these two major benefits 17 further advantages were highlighted: (we’ll discuss just 7!) 1.REfLECT can be a one stop shop for recording CPD. REfLECT reduces the time and effort needed to complete multiple CPD records. I’ve shared one record three times! 2.REfLECT is good for recording meetings and events. These records can then be shared with other attendees and colleagues. 3.REfLECT is a secure backup for those concerned about the risk of an institutional system (e.g. an intranet) losing/deleting material created by the members.

4.Assets in REfLECT can be used for job applications. It is a whole 'career package' for individual members. 5.REfLECT is an effective time management tool, allowing users to set reminders about tasks due. 6.REfLECT is used for communicating with members who are dispersed e.g. using a blog to stay in touch with volunteers across a region. 7.REfLECT is a resourceful method of sharing teaching materials with colleagues, peers and students. Members are encouraged to upload courses/lesson plans to REfLECT and then share with their team and/or classes. This is a way of peer reviewing and allows access to material anywhere there is an internet connection.

1.There are still many 'heavy' HR systems in place at many colleges that require members to complete duplicate CPD records. 2.For some members, using REfLECT to record CPD is a new process and a new system. 3.Some members are used to relying on their HR system to record how many hours CPD they have completed. They are not in the habit of keeping a record themselves. REfLECT places responsibility upon the members to record their CPD, in some cases increasing workload for a member (but presumably reducing workload for the staff development officer or equivalent). Despite this enthusiasm for REfLECT, the Regional Advisers did identify 7 challenges for embedding REfLECT:

4.Some sectors within FE cannot access the internet whilst at work e.g. Offender training. 5.There is a broad differentiation between types of members e.g. urban vs rural, members of other professional bodies, volunteers. This can present challenges when persuading a group to use REfLECT, particularly if they are used to recording CPD in one particular way for years. 6.A college PebblePad system does not 'talk to' REfLECT. 7.A misconception amongst some members that REfLECT can be viewed by others, including employers. I think it is worth noting that the RA s did not problematize REfLECT.

Authenticate blogger PLS 1 flickr twitter access store create export services existing file new template globallocal PLS 2 media interface application associated applications single sign-on originality mediator form-fill transcript skill service knowledge man. indexed publishing MIS community quizzesgateways job search libraryRHS interface 2 interface 3 interface 4 notifications facebook tumblr What the PLS looks like? Sutherland, ePIC 2011 RSSATOMLTI Leap2aInterop. APIOAuthScorm eP4APEL Mobile Apps data

Authenticate blogger PLS 1 flickr twitter access store create export services existing file new template globallocal PLS 2 media interface application associated applications single sign-on originality mediator form-fill transcript skill service knowledge man. indexed publishing MIS community quizzesgateways job search libraryRHS interface 2 interface 3 interface 4 notifications facebook tumblr What the PLS looks like? Sutherland, ePIC 2011 RSSATOMLTI Leap2aInterop. APIOAuthScorm eP4APEL Mobile Apps data

That’s kind of it really... I’d like to leave time for questions. I’m also happy to show you what kind of tool I’m talking about. If we had lot’s of time it would be great to start discussing the conceptual difference between an eportfolio, a portfolio system and a personal learning space. But we’re unlikely to have that luxury! Thank-you for your time Shane Sutherland Sarah Chesney