With the increasing focus on graduate employability within higher education, ePortfolio activities present an opportunity to work with students on reflective practice and digital fluency for lifelong learning. However, universities must invest in building teachers’ capacity to confidently embed portfolio activities through the use of technologies. In this presentation, we will describe how we designed trials of two new ePortfolio platforms to build staff capacity, by incorporating these trials into courses for teaching staff and educational designers. We will also discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by such innovation projects through the lens of staff development.

1. Using ePortfolios
with teaching staff
Building staff capacity while
informing evaluation of learning
technologies
Jo Elliott and Chie Adachi
@Dr_JoElliott @chieadachi
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

2. Overview
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
- The project: Evaluating portfolio platforms
- The pilots: Trialing the platforms with staff
- The lessons

3. DLE3 Portfolio project
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
- Aim: Identify and evaluate an ePortfolio platform for University-
wide implementation
- Two platforms selected for evaluation
- 11 pilot units

4. The platforms
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
PebblePad
• “learning journey” platform
• Emphasis on structured, scaffolded
learning, reflection and curation of
evidence
• LMS-scale system, offering a wide
range of options
• Applicable at both unit and course
levels

5. The platforms
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
PebblePad
• “learning journey” platform
• Emphasis on structured, scaffolded
learning, reflection and curation of
evidence
• LMS-scale system, offering a wide
range of options
• Applicable at both unit and course
levels
Portfolium
• “student success” platform
• Emphasis on employment and
employability through personal
portfolio pages, talent matching and
networking
• Simple, social-media-type interface,
pre-defined structure
• Greater applicability at course-level

6. Why pilot in staff courses?
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
1. Build capacity for portfolio pedagogy
2. Position teachers as learners
3. Provide opportunity to explore new learning technology
4. Provide opportunity for staff to provide feedback on platforms
5. Draw on staff experience when developing training resources
6. Induct staff into the University’s innovation culture

7. Pilot 1 – Grad Cert in Higher Ed (Learning & Teaching)
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
HEA accreditation through the GCHE(LT)
EEE740
A1 Design and plan
learning activities
and/or programmes
A2 Teach and/or
support learning
EEE741
A3 Assess and give
feedback to learners
EEE742
A4 Develop effective
learning
environments and
approaches to
student support and
guidance
EEE743
A5 Engage in
continuing
professional
development,
incorporating
research, scholarship
and evaluation

8. Pilot 1 – cont’d
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
• Learners (staff) to build portfolio across GCHE(LT)
– Written reflections on each Area of Activity (A1 – A5)
– Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Opportunity to add to and build upon portfolio following course

9. Pilot 1 – What happened?
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
• We messed up the learning design…
• Majority of learners chose not to use the platform as we set it up
• Some learners used it, differently
– Interest in, and appreciation for, platform

10. Pilot 2 – Digital Learning, Design and Assessment
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Assessment
Task
Reflection 1:
On designing
for learners
and outcomes
Reflection 2:
On learning
activities and
assessment
Reflection 3:
On selected
theory
• Optional reflective prompts
throughout unit
• Linked to assessment task
• Few learners engage with prompts
• Provide opportunity to complete both
reflections and assessment task in
portfolio platform
• More direct link between
reflections and assessment
• Can continue building portfolio

11. Pilot 2 – What happened?
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
• Most learners still didn’t engage with reflective prompts
– Platform as repository for assessment task
• Some learners really did explore the platform
– Building own portfolio -> continued activity
– Noted opportunities to use portfolios in their own teaching/learning
design practice

12. Lessons learned
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
• Learning design is key!
• Structure =/= simplicity
– Design for flexibility but provide exemplars
• Exploring new learning technologies is great – but don’t force it
– There must be a value-add
• There are benefits even when it goes wrong…