Exploration of ePortfolios for Adding Value and Deepening Student Learning in Contemporary Higher Education

In recent years, higher education has undoubtedly faced a sea-change. The landscape of the sector has shifted with changes in the student body, increased pressure from government on costs and procedures, and an array of curricular transformations. While much has been written about the use of learning technologies generally and about ePortfolios in particular, there has been a lack of robust evidence about their added value for enhancing student learning opportunities. A case study of the integration of ePortfolios into a professional development master’s program in a Higher Education Institution in Ireland is presented, and added value in terms of the creative learning process is explored. Findings from this study indicate that development of the awareness and understanding of creativity within the student cohort is necessary to nurture creative and critical thinking abilities.

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