Best Practice 3: E-Portfolio

What is E-Portfolio...?

E-Portfolio is also sometimes known as Electronic Portfolio or Digital Portfolio. It is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by user on the web. They include inputted text, e-files, images, multimedia, hyperlinks or in the form of blog entry. It demonstrates the user's abilities for self-expressions, which can be maintained dynamically over time. 

An e-portfolio can be seen as a type of learning record that provide actual evidence of individual achievements. At the same time. e-portfolio help to foster a more independent and autonomous way of thinking. Through e-portfolio,  individuals, especially students, are able to to reflect on what they have learned and how they plan to build and improve in the future. As such, it helps these people to become more critical thinkers and help them to develop their writing and multimedia skills.

Success Story

COFA Online is an online learning and teaching unit at the College of Fine Arts, The University of New South Wales (UNSW). The university has developed a series of free online resources as part of its ‘Learning to Teach Online’ (LTTO) Project. This project aims to provide free resources for teachers from any discipline  to gain the skills and knowledge they need to effectively plan, teach and evaluate online learning initiatives of varying scales.

Based on the findings, there was an increase in peer and collaborative learning among students and teachers in the university. Also, teachers have reported being able to better monitor students’ progress and the ability to form supportive relationships with students. At the same time students have reported higher levels of feedback from their teachers. This has encouraged deeper levels of self reflection about the students' own learning and professional practice.

Students in UNSW develop a professional ePortfolio during the class that they can export to the professional ePortfolio system used in the UK as part of teacher accreditation. This has given them a working understanding of the professional accreditation system.

Using an ePortfolio is ideal for any discipline where teachers have an active interest in monitoring and assisting in the process of students’ construction of knowledge and abilities. The technology offers students the opportunity to easily maintain a record of their learning journey, providing them with a means of critical reflection and giving them an opportunity to engage in peer feedback.

Source:http://online.cofa.unsw.edu.au