Author: S.J. Cotterill, s.j.cotterill@ncl.ac.uk

Author: P.R. Kyle, p.r.kyle@newcastle.ac.uk

JISC e-Learning Activity Area: e-Portfolios

Higher Education Academy Subject Centre: Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine

This case study illustrates...an effect on learning, an effect on exam results, an effect on student personal development, student satisfaction with e-learning, innovation in learning and teaching, an influence on educational research, staff personal development, a positive effect on recruitment, an influence on policy, use of resources, modifications to learning spaces, management of learning assets, an effect on social equality

Lessons Learned

Summary and Reflection

The e-portfolio has become successfully embedded in the Medical Curricula at Newcastle University, where it plays an important role in both formative and summative assessment, as well as supporting annual appraisal. The e-portfolio was developed around pedagogic and learning requirements, with a high level of stakeholder buy-in and ownership, rather than being 'driven' by technology. This has been vital to its success, as has the integration with the curriculum (e.g. includes learning outcomes and programme-specific terminology and content). It has taken over ten years, with iterative refinements of both pedagogy and technology, to implement and embed the e-portfolio from concept to mainstream use within Medicine.

For others thinking about implementing e-portfolios it is important to start with a clarity of purpose and it needs to be recognised that finding a 'good-fit' with the curriculum will take lots of time and usage, and this will require continuous review (with input from students) as requirements change.