“Having an e-portfolio is like having Facebook!”
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Uncategorized
I have been to the JISC “e-Portfolios: Effective Uses in Teaching and Learning” event last week in London where I learned a lot about e-portfolios. I now have a clear idea of what e-portfolios are and why we need them so badly. One of the thoughts that came out of the session was that having an e-portfolio was like having Facebook – Facebook for social life and e-portfolio for academic and professional development.
So… What, exactly, is an e-portfolio?
An e-portfolio is the product, created by the learner, a collection of digital artefacts articulating experiences, achievements and learning. JISC
I would say that an e-portfolio is like a big folder where you keep information about a particular learner that can be added by the learner, teacher or organisation. This information consists of formal documents (certificates…), all different kind of media (audio, video, graphics, text) created by the learner, and an individual learning plan including past results and future aims negotiated between teacher and learner.
This video, created by the University of Cumbria, is really nice and easy to follow. It gives you a pretty clear definition of an e-portfolio. Have a look!
How do they work?
My brainstorm during the event:
What are the benefits?
• Learner-centred • Accessibility • Portability • Long shelf life • Increase learners’ technology skills • Better learner achievement and retention rates • Flexibility • Cost-effective • No more bulky folders or lost evidence • Increased motivation • Transparency • Greater appreciation of collaboration and collaborative learning • Time saving
Why?
Employers are looking for more than a degree grade. Here’s another brilliant video that show you the importance of an e-portfolio and it can be used by learners.
What does an e-portfolio look like?
Tags: E Learning, e-portfolio
