Using an Implementation Trial of an ePortfolio System to Promote Student Learning through Self-Reflection: Leveraging the Success

Abstract

This paper reports on a pilot study that was conducted during a technical trial of a new ePortfolio system at a large Australian university. Students from a large (n = 325) first-year educational technology course were given the opportunity to use the new ePortfolio system weekly as part of their reflective practice at the end of the hands-on tutorial classes and also through a blogging assignment that required six posts throughout the semester. Although the students reflecting on their work and ePortfolios themselves are not new concepts, this paper reports how assessment practices can be improved using ePortfolios and how students can improve their reflective practice through simple and regular use throughout the 12-week semester that the study was conducted. From the class, 208 students responded to the survey with the results being positive. The students were able to use the system easily and did not report many problems with crashing or freezing. The lessons learnt form an important part of this study for future iterations with these reported in the paper.

School Experience Students’ Perspective on the Benefit of Blackboard LMS for e-Portfolio Development

“…Though there is quite a number of studies on e-Portfolios, the focus has tended to be more general in terms of fields, disciplines and levels, that is, undergraduate and postgraduate [4,9,14]. Most studies that are specific have been conducted mostly with teacher education programmes with limited studies in other service professions and clinical courses such as radiology, nursing and other health science related programs [1,10].…”

The Role of High Impact Practices in an Online Graduate Program: Leveraging the Success

“…An ePortfolio platform allows students to collect digital representations of their learning experiences and demonstrate their skills and competencies developed at an academic program or educational institution (Campbell & Tran, 2021;Downer & Slade, 2019). The electronic representations can be badges, certificates, community involvements, club affiliations, photographs, PowerPoint Presentations, newspaper clippings, transcripts, teamwork assignments, reports, research papers, video presentations, and written reflections on both formal and informal learning experiences (Abad-Jorge & Kronenburg, 2020;Lu, 2021).…”

“…The electronic representations can be badges, certificates, community involvements, club affiliations, photographs, PowerPoint Presentations, newspaper clippings, transcripts, teamwork assignments, reports, research papers, video presentations, and written reflections on both formal and informal learning experiences (Abad-Jorge & Kronenburg, 2020;Lu, 2021). As a pedagogical and professional tool, ePortfolio engages students in an active learning process and enables them to critically reflect on their learning when compiling evidence of learning and skill development, making learning more meaningful (Campbell & Tran, 2021). The ePortfolio application allows students to compile, arrange, appraise, and synthesize meaningful artifacts representing evidence of academic progress and achievement (Abad-Jorge & Kronenburg, 2020).…”

“…Students make sense of their learning by connecting courses, disciplines, co-curricular activities, and life experiences (Lu, 2021). Students will be able to transfer their learned knowledge and skills to other contexts in the future (Campbell & Tran, 2021). Sabio et al (2020) affirmed that ePortfolio offers an analytical and reflective way of obtaining knowledge and helps students build their professional identities.…”

“…Sabio et al (2020) affirmed that ePortfolio offers an analytical and reflective way of obtaining knowledge and helps students build their professional identities. While reflecting on their learning in the program, students think critically and become independent and self-directed learners (Anderson et al, 2017;Campbell & Tran, 2021). In addition, an ePortfolio can demonstrate a student's professional and personal growth and provide a planning space for future professional development needs (Lu, 2021).…”