Audio Transcript - Tutor Guidance

mp3 | Emma Purnell, University of Wolverhampton (1.50 mins)
Emma gives her top tips on using e-portfolios

My top tips for tutors looking to use e-portfolios within their teaching is to initially look at their module and see where an 'e-portfolio way of 'being' might naturally fit in with what they're doing - try not to make it 'fit' for the sake of it but find where naturally it might just slot in and enhance what already exists and to always ask yourself the question at the start why e-portfolio and why now? And sort of answer yourself honestly to those two questions and then move on from there. It's important that you try to build a community of practice or join a community of practice because being the e-portfolio person originally can often be a bit of a lonely place so it's nice to try and either join a community of practice that already exists or try and enthuse colleagues to work with you and take the risks with you. It's important that you look at e-portfolio practice that is already out there if you are the pioneer within your institution and if there's nothing that already exists go and look at other institutions and there's an absolute wealth of good e-portfolio practice out there. There are lots of online resources as well as contacts within different institutions. You have to be brave and take some risks, innovation costs in lots of different ways and that's with any sort of innovation but be prepared that initially it'll take a little bit of extra time to prepare and to implement but it really is worth it in the end if you persevere with it. My other tips would be be prepared to work a little bit differently, if you're not used to giving online feedback or having this online relationship with students that can sometimes take a little time to get into but again that's worth the investment that you put in so those would be my top ones.