Jane Hislop on ePortfolios If the videos do not run then select Tools/Macro/Security in Powerpoint and change the security level to “Medium”

EPortfolios I’m Jane Hislop from QMU, Edinburgh I’ve used ePortfolio with: A Professional Studies module as the medium for submission of a reflective assignment Students on placement who complete an ePortfolio as part of their clinical studies

ePortfolios Why I used EPortfolios: Firstly on the Professional Studies module, students need to look at: a.Continued professional development b.Critical reflection c.Keeping evidence of their learning Secondly on the Clinical Studies module: a.They are asked to keep a portfolio b.The final assignment is a personal development plan

ePortfolios Advantages: Provides a reservoir for storing information Lets students develop a web folio where they can personalise the style of the folio, linking to pictures, pro-formas and reflective tasks that they have undertaken they can also share information held in the web folio with: Each other Their tutor Potentially in the future with an employer The folio can also be used to submit assignments via a “gateway” This is particularly useful if the student is at a remote placement

I’ve used ePortfolio to encourage reflective writing and practice: Firstly by looking at some of the tools that are available in ePortfolio eg –t–the blog –t–the proformas, some of which can uploaded from the professional bodies eg critical incident reports Secondly the web folio can be used in presenting the student’s reflective writing From this writing the student can make links to the ePortfolio tools eg using the blog as a diary or the pro-formas or linking to a SWOT analysis In this way all of these can become evidence within their reflective writing

I think the main disadvantages are: Needing to be technically competent in using the software Requiring internet access Some people find it difficult to visualise the information in their ePortfolio and often want hardcopy It is a different way of working, electronically, and some people are not comfortable with that If you are thinking of using ePortfolio for assessment always check with your markers that they are happy/comfortable with marking online If you want students to submit assessments, ask them to submit to the “template” gateway two weeks before the deadline to pick up struggling students

Final Advice: You need to factor in the period taken to induct students and tutors into the ePortfolio system For example you should organise: –P–Practical demonstrations –H–Hands on experience It is particularly useful if you set up a demo site so the students and tutors can see and try ePortfolio This moves the concept from the abstract to a reality