Institution: Birmingham City University: Faculty of Education, Law & Social Sciences

e-Portfolio context: New first-year undergraduate students (level 4) taking the LL.B (Hons) Law degree study a compulsory (30 credit weighted) module called Skills, Processes and Scholarship. This module aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the principal features of the English Legal System as well as developing many of the practical lawyering, study and employability skills required by students throughout their legal education and into employment. Personal development planning and self-reflection are important features of the module. Students are required to produce an e-portfolio using Mahara that demonstrates, (amongst other things), competence in legal research, language and communication and skills of analysis of legal texts. The submission of the e-portfolio is the summative assessment for this module.

Dates of provision: Since September 2010

Reason for implementation: All first year law students are required to take this skills-based module and have previously submitted a paper based portfolio as the summative assessment at the end of the module. The portfolio had to evidence competence in a number of key skills but also had to include reflection on the student’s experience in the module and what they had learned. Students have always engaged with this module but have not always seen the benefit of keeping a portfolio as a reflective tool and something that will aid lifelong learning. The result was sometimes a folder stuffed full of material from throughout the year and put together at the last minute.

It is hoped that producing an e-portfolio will engage students and encourage them to be innovative in the production of their portfolios and think about what should be included. The ability to “blog” about their experience will, we hope, produce a more reflective portfolio that will help students understand their approaches to learning and their plans going forward.

Purpose/s: The use of the e-portfolio Mahara allows students to gather and present material evidencing their competence in the required areas. It allows them to be creative in their presentation and encourages them to think carefully about how they present themselves to each other, to their tutors and to the outside world. It also allows them a space to reflect on their studies, including things they have enjoyed and things they have found more challenging and to plan for the following years of study.

Learning processes involved: The use of this technology is new to all students (and staff) involved (although many are already familiar with other social networking resources). They have had to learn how to use the resource and then consider the best ways to use Mahara to support their studies in the module. They also have to think carefully about how they present themselves through their e-portfolio.

Practice: (Developing) Students attend fortnightly workshops in this module designed to build on their knowledge and skills in the areas covered. After each workshop students are required to reflect on the session – including to what extent they engaged with any activities and how they might do things differently next time around. Students are encouraged to use the Mahara blogs for this activity. As students complete assignments these are also required to be uploaded onto Mahara to form part of their final assessment.

Key staff involved: Beverley Hopkins