Manchester Self-Directed Learning Environments & e-Portfolios

Lead Contact: Mark Johnson, mwj1@bolton.ac.uk

JISC Programme: Distributed e-Learning programme

Lead Institution and Partners: University of Bolton (L), Open University, Stockport College, Bury College, Wigan and Leigh College, Hopwood Hall, Pennine Acute PCT Trust, Bolton PCT, Cheadle and Marple 6th form College, Oldham University Centre, City College Manchester

Project Dates: March 2005 - July 2007

This case study illustrates Assessment, Assessment within Evidence-Based Disciplines, Learner Perspectives, Technologies, Access, Implementation

Background & Context

What is the background to the e-portfolio initiative?

Over recent years, there has been a significant drive at the institutional and national levels in designing, developing and implementing systems and processes to support learners in identifying and recording their personal development needs, particularly through reflection. Several technology-based approaches to personal development planning (PDP) and reflection have been developed within both the academic and commercial sectors. Additionally, significant funding has been directed at the creation of lifelong learning networks (HEFCE (2004)) which integrate FE, HE and workplace learning.

Drawing the dimensions of PDP and lifelong learning together clearly highlights the need for effective systems and processes to enable learners to plan, manage and reflect on their learning now and in the future and to be supported and mentored effectively throughout the process. At a local level, this is reflected in the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance Lifelong Learning Network Business Plan.

At a technical level the trend for large and complex software applications which attempt to provide a vast array of functionality within a single package is evolving in favour of the creation of discrete services. This concept of a service-oriented architecture, or web services, enables individual services to be aggregated in a variety of ways in order to provide a best match to the needs of individual users. This approach is embodied within a wide diversity of recent national and international initiatives, culminating in the proposed JISC e-framework.

The MANSLE project was designed to highlight and evaluate the issues in designing, implementing and operationalising the use of a web service approach to support learner reflection, personal development planning and mentoring. In particular the project attempted to clarify the issues surrounding the specification of portfolio services and how these can be deployed to support student progression within the context of lifelong learning. This is consistent with the approach being adopted within the development of a reference model for e-portfolios for lifelong learning.

What are the aims and objectives of the initiative?

The overarching goal of the project was to demonstrate and evaluate how e-portfolio web services from a variety of sources could be aggregated to support learners' personal development planning and portfolio development activities, and to receive appropriate mentoring and guidance, within the context of the lifelong learning agenda. More specifically the project sought to identify how these pedagogic approaches could be supported through the use of technology with learners on foundation degree programmes within the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance lifelong learning network.

How was the initiative implemented?

The MANSLE project was in a unique position amongst the range of DEL regional pilot programmes in that the bid was led by the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance (GMSA) rather than by an individual institution or group of institutions. The project was formally owned by the GMSA, although the University of Bolton acted as the lead partner.

There were five project phases:

1. Needs analysis

   This involved interviews and discussions with senior staff to identify the principal issues specific to work-based learners on foundation degrees which technology could have a role in supporting. Some of these included: facilitating external interaction and dialogue between learners, academic tutors and work-based mentors; reflection; planning and managing learning.

2. Review and evaluation of existing tools and services

   To support a web services approach a survey was undertaken of a broad range of open source software developed both by previous JISC projects and within the wider academic community to identify web services or functionality which could be incorporated within the MANSLE interface.

3. Development of the MANSLE application and web services

   The technical development of the MANSLE application was constructed around the web services architecture, which would provide the various functionality required by the project stakeholders and the client application architecture which end users would utilise to record and analyse their data during the project implementation.

4. Implementation and ongoing review of the MANSLE application

   Each project partner identified an appropriate module within a foundation degree programme in the health and social care context with which to pilot the MANSLE application with learners. Students piloted the use of the MANSLE tool during semester 1 2005-6

5. Student and staff evaluation

   Informal evaluation was carried out on an ongoing basis throughout the development and implementation phases. Formal evaluation was undertaken using an evaluation instrument which allowed the project to assess students’ use and technical experience of using MANSLE as well as evaluating the process of using PDP and their understanding of the potential of technology in this context.