ComPort - piloting e-portfolios in Tyne & Wear

The Project Focus

ComPort

• A collaborative project involving originally four (now three) FE Colleges in North-East England

• Piloting the introduction of different e-portfolio systems within HE in FE programmes with work-based learning components.

• Establishing a standard framework of metrics to collect data consistently

• Other key outputs: evaluation report, case studies

Focus of Project

Outcomes

• Comparison of the use of e-portfolios across different courses and institutions

• Gain knowledge that will help the HE in FE community make choices about the implementation of e-portfolio/PDP technologies with work-based learners

• Gain insight into how e-portfolios may influence the way work-based learners, tutors and institutions work.

Project Strands

Colleges and Technologies

• City of Sunderland College : Blackboard and PDAs

• Gateshead College : ePET

• South Tyneside College : Blackboard

• Fourth Strand: As Tyne Metropolitan College had to withdraw from the project, a fourth comparative strand was added looking at existing use of web 2.0 technologies by learners

City of Sunderland College

Foundation Degree in Service Management

• A programme now in its second year, year 2 learners participating in pilot

• Learners (mainly school administrators) are issued with PDAs for collecting evidence

• Use of Blackboard as a means of collecting evidence and reflecting

• The learners have used templates to create an e-Portfolio with Action Plans and reflections comprising major part.(familiar with paper-based version from year 1 for PDP aspect of course). Students have varied from template where necessary.

Gateshead College

Certificate in Education/PGCE

• A large number of first and second year trainee teachers

• Many of the trainees are college employees

• Using a customised version of ePET (support by University of Newcastle EPICS team)

• Both a reflection tool (Learning Autobiography) and Professional Development file – log of teaching, tutorial records, action plans,

South Tyneside College

Foundation Degree in Marine Engineering

• A new programme with a small initial group of learners.

• Learners spend part of their course on duty ‘at sea’ : a need to maintain contact and support learning.

• Blackboard being used – in particular to support reflective blogging.

• The Professional Development Planning component has been a new departure for students and tutors.

Comparative Study

Foundation Degree Popular Music/Music technology:

• Investigating what students are already using

• Provides contrast to the institutional systems being piloted in other parts of project

• Involves interviews and review groups with staff/students

• Feeds into project evaluation and other outputs

Progress report

• Planning, pre-implementation phases .– Preparatory activities in each institution (technology

installation, staff development, learner induction).

• Implementation: technology introduced and used by learners.

• Evaluation: framework of metrics established, experts consulted - evaluation data being generated.

Expectations and Initial Concerns

• Variety of views on what an e-portfolio is

• Reflection Tool? Storage System? Both? More?

• Can we address all stakeholder needs?

• “It should eventually be possible for an individual to build this personal electronic record through education and carry on using it in the workplace and lifelong learning.” (Harnessing Technology DfeS 2005)

Conceptions of Electronic Portfolios

Reflection Tool? Storage System? Both? More?

• System that allows gathering of information - evidence of learning. Also can be used to disseminate information and experiences to peers. Enables monitoring of progress.

• A replacement for paper based things

• An accessible way to communicate / share ideas with fellow course members. Informal way to blog and chat with friends. A site to assist with communication between tutor and student as well as complete assignments.

• It's a bit like facebook, but for serious work/college related stuff

• Not bothered either way as long as it works

• To help with personal reflection, build an 'e-identity', and compile a database of my skills. Oh, it saves destroying a rainforest of paper too.

Initial Learner Views

How regularly do you think that you will use the e-Portfolio/PDP system?

Every few days 9%

Weekly 52%

Fortnightly 13%

Don't know 26%

Who of these would you grant access to?

Personal Tutor  96%

Other teaching staff  39%

Mentor  70%

Selected Student colleagues  70%

Employers 13%

Will People Blog?

Emerging Themes & Issues

Emerging Themes & Issues

Experiences and emerging issues

Where are we?• Evaluation activities

• Bringing findings together: discussion and debate

• Consideration for own plans for next year

• Project website & contact details: – http://comport.gateshead.ac.uk– Phil Robinson (phil.robinson@gateshead.ac.uk)– Andrew Robson (andrew.robson@gateshead.ac.uk)