Exemplar  3

Midwifery (course level)

Institution: University of Wolverhampton

e-Portfolio context: 
The use of an e-portfolio to support practice learning in Midwifery. e-Portfolio is embedded in year long practice modules at each level in the Midwifery course. Each of these year long e-portfolios that students complete are then linked together with the previous to provide a continued picture of practice learning and development. There are approximately 250 students across the three levels and 10 tutors. The e-portfolio consists of a number of evidence based assets such as meeting records, action plans, evidence of competency and critical incident logs, as well as a number of personal reflective accounts threaded throughout. There is also a group blog element where students are able to share experiences with others in their cohort. In addition to the consistent strand of the practice placement modules, e-portfolio exists in a number of other elective modules throughout the programme.

Dates of provision: 
Feb 2007 onwards

Reason for implementation:
The midwifery team had, for some time, required the students to maintain a yearly ‘paper’ portfolio containing written evidence to support the achievement of the ‘Standards of Proficiency for Practice’ determined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).  The e-portfolio provides a platform on which this evidence can now be gathered electronically. The portfolio is used to build evidence for continuing professional development (CPD) which is also a requirement by the NMC for a registered midwife.

Purpose/s: Personal Development Planning (PDP) and Continued Professional Development (CPD) to support and evidence practice learning

Learning processes involved:
Students were encouraged to compile a portfolio providing at least one piece of evidence for each of the 18 placement learning outcomes. This was initially an optional element to the placement modules. After the pilot year it then became a compulsory element of the curriculum.

Practice: fully developed

Key staff involved: 
Deborah Holmes and the midwifery team

Links to examples 
Pebblebash Midwifery case study 2010 http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/pp2010/cs05.pdf