1. using the e-portfolio to maximise learning
Dr. Ramesh Mehay
Programme Director (Bradford VTS)

2. Who Is The e-portfolio for?
Think…
ARCP panel : assessment
Public : clinical governance
YOU : most importantly to help you reflect and learn

3. Implications of This E-portfolio serves several purposes
We need to satisfy all stake holders
Trainees
The Educational Team – COs/PDs
The Assessment Team – ARCP, Deanery, PMETB
The Public – ensuring structure training to produce safe and competent docs

4. So, How Do We Do That?
Your entries have to satisfy that they have “ticked” the right boxes: satisifies the assessment team and the public
Your entries have to be put in a way that is meaningful for you and that you can refer to in the future if needed: i.e. it helps YOU

5. What they say….(RCGP)
“Above all else the ePortfolio is where the GPStR records their learning in all its forms and settings. Its prime function is to be an educational tool that will record and facilitate the management of the journey of clinical and personal development through learning.”
“It might be described as the glue which holds the curriculum learning and assessment together. “

6. The Curriculum Headings
Can tell you which areas you are covering well
Which areas you need to concentrate on more
Hence helps you prepare for the AKT
And makes you more “rounded” when you go out there on your own

7. Adding Entries
Don’t get too hung up about where to put what (ie what title to log the entry under). Most things go in the “shared learning log”
If you’re stuck, consider the “lectures/seminars” or “professional conversations” subtitles.
Failing that, put it somewhere, anywhere!
Remember, it’s about quality of information not quantity! A trainee with 300 log entries might not have recorded them to the right depth to make an informed judgement about them

8. Types of Things to Add
The things in red below give some idea of what you are like to the reader. They also help you reflect and develop professionally.
Assessments (obviously): COTs CBDs etc
OOH session
Lectures/Tutorials
Stuff you’ve read
Clinical conundrums/dilemmas – eg things from consultations you wish to discuss with your trainer later on (PUNs and DENs)
Ethical issues
Dysfunctional consultations
Team working problems
Your feelings

9. (obviously, stronger words like the F word are not encouraged.
Example
you could write “felt cheesed off today because blah blah blah and then the district nurse hassled me about blah blah blah. Will talk with trainer re: how he handles this on a day to day basis”
(obviously, stronger words like the F word are not encouraged.
It’s a tool to help you reflect and develop (although, yes, it does help inform the assessment process)
This is not an EXAM!

10. Shared Log Useful storage space Helps you get into reflective mode
Can add in detailed stuff that you might want to refer to in the future (eg during consultations)
Some people say they do ‘the reflective stuff’ in their heads, but this is likely to be at a superficial level. Mapping it out encourages depth AND informs you of new links and associations you might not have previously conceived (trust me on this one).

11. Not So Helpful Entry Title “migraine tutorial” Things you learned:
“diagnosis, treatment guidelines, referrals,”
What will you do differently
“Manage according to set guidelines”
SATISFIES PANEL/PUBLIC
SERVES LITTLE PURPOSE FOR YOU

12. A better way Title “migraine tutorial” Things you learned:
“diagnosis, treatment guidelines, referrals,”
“Must remember that hi dose aspirin (900mg) with metoclopropramide can stop an acute attack if taken early and is a simple measure”
What will you do differently
“Manage according to MIPCA protocol guidelines, and encourage the aspirin regime when someone presents early”
 SATISFIES PANEL/PUBLIC
 SATISFIES YOU : eg the next time a patient comes in with migraine but a) you can’t remember who wrote the protocol and where it is and b) if you forget the “aspirin regime”  you can search for it

13. Recording entries – a summary
So, there are TWO main things you need to enter for each learning activity:
General stuff
to show the breadth of what was covered
Satisfies the ARCP panels/assessment process
Specific stuff
to highlight the key messages for you
Helps you in your continuing professional development

14. Searching the e-portfolio
Easy peasy
Put in keywords into the search box on the “Shared Log” page
Click search

15. But, For This To Work… You need to use good headings Be Concise
Include Key words
eg “Migraine tutorial”
eg “RCA: oral contraceptive pill”

16. Don’t forget to make use of your PDP
Shared log entries in which you have describe some tasks you need to do can be sent to you PDP section
What’s the advantage? Instead of trawling through all the log entries to see what needs to be done, the PDP section collates it all
You can then tick them off when done
Makes organisational management (and thus your life) easier
Also maximises learning
One snag: for it to work, trainer/supervisor has to have read entries too; you’ll find a “submit to PDP” box once both ticks show in the learning log i.e. you have shared, trainer has read

17. OOH sessions
Use the COGPED OOH work booklet to help add structure to an OOH session (available on Deanery and Bradford websites: )
Then transcribe the important bits to the e-portfolio
Record under “shared learning log” section, subtitle “OOH”

18. Evidence Remember, numbers are the MINIMUM
This means you should have done more than that as:
CBD and COT are meant to be happening on a weekly/fortnightly basis
No good saying at the 4m ARCP panel meeting “we’ve done 4 and planning to do the next two in the next 2 months”. They want to see at least 6 by the 4m stage.
You may need to talk to your trainer/PM/hospital consultant to devise an organisational process to make this happen.

19. How Often? Continue to visit the e-portfolio regularly.
Why not open it up just before you start your consultations so you can add to it seamlessly.
For those in hospital posts: why not just have a go once a week……. It will become habitual , you’ll end up reflecting naturally and probably end up WANTING to log into more often. You’re never too far from a PC connected to the net – so you can even do it daily if you’re organised and motivated enough.

20. Summary If you want to add something, do! Don’t worry where.
The content should mean something to you
Add it in your own natural style: makes it more believable too and gives a more accurate impression of you
Visit it regularly to make it useful
Log your OOH sessions

21. E-portfolio Pearls – how to start loving the e-portfolio and making the most of it.
An e-portfolio guide (not the mechanical guide from the RCGP) on (click nMRCGP  eportfolio )
It’s meant to show you how you can use the e-portfolio in a way to help you (ie as an educational tool) as well as satisfying the ARCP panel
It will also detail some common troubleshooting problems and mistakes to help you avoid falling into the same trap
And it’s dead easy to read