Exemplar  10

PGCert CPD
 

Institution: University of Wolverhampton

e-Portfolio context:  e-Portfolio used to support and facilitate the PGCert. 20 members of staff a year.

Dates of provision:

Sept 08
 

Reason for implementation: 

Originally used for cohort in Yunnan China in 2006/7 which was taught in a ‘flying faculty’ model. All assessments were submitted at same time so decided to put all through the PebblePad. Shane was teaching on the programme at the beginning so having a Pebble champion probably had a bit of impact on the decision to use Pebble. Assessments for all three modules, one of which was a portfolio, were submitted. However, there were problems with the submission, for a variety of reasons, and a lot were actually submitted via email – distance and time was the main reason for not being able to resolve, time in both a close deadline and also the 8 hour time difference between UK and China. It was introduced as an optional method of submission in UK in January 2008 but no students chose to submit this way.

From Sept 08 we made it a compulsory method of assessment for the one module – Learning and Teaching in HE

The assessment is based on a portfolio of work with a reflective narrative showing how the learner has developed their L&T practice over the course of studying on the module with reference to evidence provided through critical incidents, observations and commentary on effective evaluation and feedback. Learners must include appropriate reference to L&T theory throughout their submission. Correctly used, the e-portfolio allows a rich picture to emerge within the narrative by building in hyperlinks to relevant evidence and additional information.

Many use the e-portfolio like a repository and write their submissions in Word documents that are then uploaded into the e-portfolio. However, although this was the norm in the first iteration using the e-portfolio more learners are using the e-portfolio as it is intended.

Part of the reason for variation in use is the lack of time to show learners how to create their own e-portfolio – those who do, tend to be those who already use it in their teaching. There are only 9 face to face days teaching in the year so very little time for showing how to use software – although comprehensive help through tip sheets etc are available as is 1-2-1 tuition, when it is requested.

Purpose/s: CPD

Learning processes involved: 

Tutor provides a webfolio template that is placed in the gateway for the module. Students then customise the template with their personal information and submissions for the module. Each page of the webfolio relates to a specific element of the tasks that need to be completed for the assessment; guidance is given on what needs to be submitted on each page.

Within each face to face day there is a session covering aspects of the e-portfolio to support learners in creating different types of asset, sharing assets and completing the webfolio. There is insufficient time to go into details in the face to face days but support is available through the help sheets and videos, through the BLU team and through the module tutors.

Practice: Fully developed
 

Key staff involved: Staff from the Institute for Learning Enhancement 

Links to examples