Resource

e-Portfolio / Portfolio

Author: ATU Galway

What is it?

A compilation of academic work and other forms of educational evidence assembled by a student for the purpose of evaluating coursework quality, learning progress, and academic achievement and for creating a lasting archive of academic work products, accomplishments, and other documentation in a folder or booklet. An e-Portfolio is the same concept but using an electronic system to store and organise the information.

Advantages & Challenges

Advantages

Challenges

Advantages

Challenges

Tips for Use

It is important that students have opportunities to access exemplars and engage with dialogue about them prior to commencing production of their own portfolio entries.
What often works best is to set firm guidelines about volume and scope of evidence to be included, for example in terms of an overall maximum word count for text, maximum numbers of tables and graphs, and total running time of audio/video
e-Portfolios are easiest to mark if students are required to submit their portfolios with a contents page and a short narrative account (say 1,000 words max) outlining what is included, as well as a matrix mapping where submitted items provide evidence of achievement of the different learning outcomes. Assessors can sample evidence items to check that learning outcomes are met without slavishly having to review every separate item in detail.

Resources

University College Dublin (UCD): Portfolio (ucd.ie)
Madden, T (2007). Supporting Student e-Portfolios. Supporting Student e-Portfolios
Warwick University: Portfolios (warwick.ac.uk)
Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence – Microsoft Word – Pugh|CompendiumOfAssessment.docx (leeds.ac.uk)(page 33)
Sambell, K., & Brown, S (2023). Choosing and using fit-for-purpose assessment methods. Heriot Watt University. (page 8. Link: https://sally-brown.net/download/3496/