What is an e-Portfolio?

There are many definitions of e-Portfolios and an over-arching consensus is yet to be reached. Simply stated an e-Portoflio is a web space/page owned by the learner which facilitates Personal Development Planning (PDP). Learners can plan their learning, store information and resources, keep reflective diaries, track progress, access information and communicate with tutors via their individualised page. In many ways the e-Portfolio can be regarded as an all singing, all dancing Individual Learning Plan.

Why create e-Portfolios?

Initially designed with our Initial Teacher Training team, our first e-Portfolios were developed in 2008 to enable learners studying at the local YMCA to access curriculum resources, assist with the planning of their course and to enable a communication flow from tutors based at the College campus and the learners in an off-site location.

Since then we have expanded the use of e-Portfolios by embedding them in the delivery of all 3 years of our Sports Science Degree programme. Our Sports Scientists have been our guinea pigs and have allowed us to test the system across a large cohort.

Our Sports Science students can access their e-Portoflios from any off-site location (including their home), upload content, complete action planning lists, access resources and submit work online whenever they desire. Each time an assignment is uploaded to a learner's page the tutor is informed via an email which also acts as a receipt of submission (time and date stamped). Tutors also deliver their assignment feedback via the e-Portfolio, ensuring timely feedback which learners can use to plan objectives, set targets and re-draft work where applicable.

So far we have created 115 individual e-Portfolios and we're now ready to roll the use of e-Portfolios out across our entire HE provision.

How to create e-Portfolios

Our e-portfolios have been created using Microsoft SharePoint. This system allows you to create templates quickly and efficiently which can be modified and adapted to suit the needs of the learner, the tutor and the course. Once a template has been deigned, it's simply a case of creating a separate SharePoint site for each of your learners.

SharePoint allows you to assemble a page using webparts which can be modified to suit your needs. Add a list of useful links here and a folder to store assignments there...simple and not a single line of code required! SharePoint also integrates with Active Directory so that permissions on each individual page can be set up, maintained and adjusted for each user of the page.

Jiscinfonet has a wealth of information on e-portfolios...well worth checking out.