Lessons Learned

What are the lessons learned from the project?

There are a number of ways to achieve interoperability. The method available to the project was to transfer data from one e-portfolio into another but the JISC e-learning framework reference model project offers a potential alternative in that the data can reside in the original e-portfolio but can be drawn out by whatever system is currently in use.

IT skills of both students and staff may present a significant barrier. For example, one student had hardly used a computer before and felt that using an e-portfolio was too big an additional barrier to overcome to participate as a volunteer.

Electronic assessment of large pieces of written work such as portfolios presents a real barrier for staff who are used to flicking through and annotating paper versions. At its most basic level, electronic assessment limits the locations where staff can assess.

Resistance to change is always a barrier particularly where existing practice is successful and no big driver exists to adopt new practices. The additional benefits of technology need to be clearly stated and demonstrated.

Findings suggest that making e-portfolio optional, especially as part of assessed courses, will not help its take up. Students are acutely aware of the importance of assessment and do not like to feel that they may be at a perceived disadvantage (real or otherwise) because the way they are preparing their work differs from what other students are doing.