What is an ePortfolio?

You might be wondering what ePortfolio is? According to National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (2003), portfolio is:          

a collection of authentic and diverse evidence, drawn from a larger archive representing what a person or    organization has learned over time on which the person or organization has reflected, and designed for presentation to one or more audiences for a particular rhetorical purpose

Hence, student ePortfolio is a collection of a range of digital artefacts of which students have collected, selected, organised, reflected upon and presented to demonstrate their learning progression overtime (Paulson, Paulson & Mayer, 1991). As evident in much research, ePortfolio has many potentials to address this challenge. In recent times, the use of ePortfolio has increasing become of core significance to shifting education beyond its traditional purpose of assessment. Much research highlights the advantages of ePortfolio’s in supporting deeper level of engagement (e.g., Parkes, Dredger & Hicks, 2013; Syzdykova et al., 2021), metacognitive self-regulation (e.g., Segaran, Hasim, 2021; Slepcevic-Zach & Stock, 2018), making it is easier for students to regulate their own learning (e.g., Barrett, 2006; McAllister, Hallam & Harper, 2008). Besides, ePortfolios allow teachers and parents to understand what students know and are able to do so that they can provide appropriate feedback and scaffolds. The following videos could help you gain a deeper understanding of the main characteristics of an ePortfolio.

Additionally, you might have heard that an Australian ePortfolio professional network provides rich information about the use of ePortfolio through professional development, research activities and shared resources, ideas and practices. They provide some online workshops from time to time and launch special events such as “Shut up and ePortfolio.” The next session will be held virtually on 9 June – 12.30-2.00 pm SYD time – Facilitator: Marlene Daicopoulos, Griffith University. If you want to join a 1.30 hours-session, follow this link.

In addition to several resources mentioned on their website, we have one special recommendation. The Emma project provides an amazing course named “EPortfolio Self-development Study.” This course is very comprehensive and developed by a collaborative team of experts. Importantly, it is totally online and FREE! This is a link to this MOOC course on ePortfolio. 

Reference

Barrett, H. C. (2006). Using electronic portfolios for formative classroom-based assessment. Classroom Connect Connected Newsletter, 13(2).

McAllister, L. M., Hallam, G. C., & Harper, W. E. (2008). The ePortfolio as a tool for lifelong learning: Contextualising Australian practice. In International Lifelong Learning Conference 2008 (pp. 246-252).

Parkes, K. A., Dredger, K. S., & Hicks, D. (2013). ePortfolio as a Measure of Reflective Practice. International Journal of ePortfolio, 3(2), 99-115.

Paulson, F.L., Paulson, P.R.& Meyer, C.A. (1991) “What Makes a Portfolio a Portfolio?” Educational Leadership, 58:5, pp. 60-63

Segaran, M. K., & Hasim, Z. (2021). Self-regulated learning through ePortfolio: A meta-analysis. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 18(1), 131-156.

Slepcevic-Zach, P., & Stock, M. (2018). ePortfolio as a tool for reflection and self-reflection. Reflective Practice, 19(3), 291-307. Syzdykova, Z., Koblandin, K., Mikhaylova, N., & Akinina, O. (2021). Assessment of E-Portfolio in Higher Education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 16(2), 120-134.