Thinking outside the boxPutting pedagogy not technology first in the support of PDP

Sue Riddell – Learning and Teaching CoordinatorSu Westerman – Learning Technologist

Canterbury Christ Church University Faculty of Health and Social Care

1) Use of an in-house system to support study skills and PDP

2) Use of the Blackboard VLE e-portfolio tool to support PDP

3) Plans for use of a portfolio of reflective evidence in a new programme to be supported by a wiki

4) Questions and discussion

A tale of three attempts to embed

PDP and lessons learnt

tale one: development of an in-house system to support PDP in a large UG programme

Why we did it• Institutional need to provide means for students to reflect on their PDP• Trialled range of products, decided these didn’t do what we wanted• Request from some staff for a system to support study skills testing• First attempts of faculty to support PDP (in addition to practice portfolio)

What we did• In-house system developed. Tailored for use by University programmes• In the Health programme students were encouraged to reflect on six key areas • Carrot and stick approach (blog – personal, statements – sent to tutor) Pass/fail• Students and staff inducted on the system• PDP (e-portfolio) was separate to practice (paper) portfolio

What we learnt• The tool worked, but…..• Some tutors disliked the process, others the tool, others both• As a result of this many students did not engage• Need to ensure that you have skill base to maintain in-house tools

Thinking outside the box - tale one

tale two: initial pilot of the

Blackboard e-portfolio to support reflection amongst a group of PG students

Why we did it• Continuing institutional commitment to supporting PDP and now e-portfolio• Drive to use e-portfolio at centre of staff CPD• Institutional commitment Bb and perceived flexibility of the tool• Programme requirement to meet demands of Royal College

What we did• Initially offered a number of tool options to the programme, but then went with Bb• Trained and encouraged programme team to use the system for their own CPD• Students were advised which areas they might reflect on and evidence • Trained the students to use the system and evaluated their use of it

What we learnt• Not easy for students to use an e-portfolio “on practice”• The tool was not user friendly• Students did not like the tool and were not sure what to reflect on/evidence • Staff were comfortable with the notion of self-refection, but also did not like the tool

Thinking outside the box - tale two

tale three: plans for use of a portfolio of reflective evidence in a new programme to be supported by a wiki

Thinking outside the box - tale three

Why we are doing it• Recognition amongst staff of the need to help students articulate their skills• Understanding of the need to integrate PDP and reflection• Consideration of a number of tools led to selection of the Bb wiki as best suited to support

learning aims and providing a user-friendly technology experience.

What we are doing• Programme will begin with long-thin module focusing on Professional Development. This

has PDP at its core. It will be delivered by the personal tutor.• Students will use a paper portfolio and wiki to develop evidence and reflections which will

contribute to an assessed reflective piece of work • Workshops are being provided for staff on how they will support the module and on how to

access and assess the wiki. • Students will receive technical training at induction and guidance throughout module

What we hope• That in letting the pedagogy lead the choice and use of technology, staff and students will

engage in PDP in a far more integrated and organic way.• And that in using a tool which is proving very user friendly, the technology will aid not

inhibit the process of PDP.

Questions/comments?