Supporting student e-portfolios

Historically, the term portfolio has been used to describe a folder of work used predominantly for skill recording and display purposes. It was mainly paper based, usually begun when its author was a student and developed over a working lifetime. More recently the term has been taken up for use in schools and colleges, describing a more modest folder holding work from a particular project or an entire course, and in professional fields as a collection of material required to evidence competence for accreditation or to prepare for assessment. Since its inception as an evolution of this traditional portfolio, the electronic portfolio or e-portfolio has attracted a great deal of interest from around the world where there is ready access to suitable technology. This interest continues to grow with increasing numbers of students and professionals being encouraged, or required, to produce e-portfolios. This article focuses on e-portfolios in the higher education (HE) sector, principally those authored by students. Its purpose is to provide a basic introduction to e-portfolios: what they are, how they are being used, potential benefits and challenges, and guidance for their successful introduction.

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