JISC

The final report is available at the bottom of the page

Region: West Midlands  

Overview

One of the ways in which we may be able to encourage University students to achieve more in their studies and gain the careers they desire is to enable them to reflect upon their own learning.  This process of student reflection may include recognition of their achievements and skills, as well as planning ahead for their personal, educational and career aspirations. A novel and useful tool to assist in the process of reflection is the electronic Portfolio (ePortfolio). ePortfolios are the subject of this project.  

The ePistle project will investigate the potential of ePortfolio use for student retention and progression in the catchment area of the University of Wolverhampton. It will create the opportunity for groups of students from two local schools and three Further Education colleges to use an ePortfolio system.  

The project will then investigate the use of ePortfolios by these students in terms of the if, how, what, when and related to this it will uncover how best to embed these into a curriculum. The project will also investigate how ePortfolios are and can be used by both those students wishing to progress along their education path and those institutions who will accept them.  

Aims and Objectives

The overall aims of this project are twofold.  The first is to gain a better understanding of the way in which ePortfolios are used (or not used) by students and how best they can integrated into the curriculum. The second is to observe how ePortfolios are used for assisting progression from one institution to another, by both students and institutions’ admissions departments. The outcomes will be:

• A set of materials and guidelines which will assist teachers to embed an ePortfolio into the curriculum
• A set of guidelines to frame the use of ePortfolios for accreditation for entry into Higher Education; Policy statement or set of guidelines to frame the use of ePortfolios for accreditation for entry into Higher Education written
• A set of guidelines for the use of ePortfolios in colleges and schools as artefacts to enable learners’ transition or progression to other institutions of education;
• A policy statement or set of guidelines to frame the issues around storage, and ongoing access of learners’ ePortfolios is written and endorsed by ITS and legal team.
• A  report into the investigation of the issues which affect the use and non-use of e-Portfolios by learners.

Project Methodology

Two ePortfolios will be used in this project – PebblePad and ePet. In order to answer our research questions will be collecting the following materials and data through interviews and questionnaires: learning materials and workshop plans for staff about to encourage their learners to use ePortfolios; the views and patterns of use of ePortfolios by the students participating in the project; and the views and procedures of institutions who have ePortfolios submitted as evidence of learning.

Implications/ Deliverables/ Stakeholders

The need for this small-scale pilot project is threefold. The first centres on gaining a better understanding of how learners choose to use ePortfolios, in terms of the if, what, when, how etc. Clearly this may involve encouragement (or direction) from external agents to promote engagement.  The second need for investigation addressed by this project is understanding of how best ePortfolios can be embedded in the curriculum and what classroom processes and materials might best assist this. The third need is to observe and evaluate if, and how, ePortfolios support the process of transition and progression between different educational institutions. At the end of the project the community will have a deeper understanding of how ePortfolios are used, can be embedded in the curriculum, and how they can support the process of transition and progression in the educational context.  

Lead institution

• University of Wolverhampton 

Project partners

• Birmingham and Solihull New Technologies Institute (Contact Oliver Williams)
• Kidderminster College (Shibboleth) (Contact Graham Mason)
• Leasowes Community College (Contact John Howells)
• Midlands Leadership Centre (Contact Liz Dix)
• Rodbaston College (Contact Judith Mills)
• Shirelands Language College (Contact Mark Grundy)
• Telford College of Arts and Technology (Contact Theresa Loughlin)
• City of Wolverhampton College (Contact Sila Goddard-Patel)
• University of Wolverhampton (Shibboleth) (Contact Max Caines)