Group Admins
Description
Session Description
Continuing professional development (CPD) is a core part of academics practice. Reflecting on learning is seen as key to the development of deeper learning (Hinett, 2002). Eportfolio provides an online space through which the learner can provide evidence of and reflect on their learning. The ability of eportfolio to support multiple media – text, images, audio, video – makes learning visible in a personalised way to the learner as well as to external stakeholders (Chen & Light, 2010). This supports the use of eportfolio to showcase CPD for certification, promotion and employment purposes.
In Dublin City University (DCU), we are beginning to harness the affordances of eportfolio for CPD in many ways. Our work in this area is informed by the development of the Professional Development Framework (PDF), international benchmarking through programmes such as the Advance HE /HEA Fellowships, and local focus from institutional strategies such as the DCU Academic Development and Promotion Framework. Through various eportfolio initiatives, DCU has sought to support continuing learning and sharing of practice through formal and informal channels.
The annual President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognises outstanding contributions to DCU’s Teaching and Learning activities. This year, shortlisted nominees will design a eportfolio page outlining their teaching philosophy as well as their approach to teaching and assessment. The medium of eportfolio will enable nominees to creatively showcase their achievements in an easily shareable format. The eportfolio will also be used by faculty pursuing fellowship of the Higher Education Academy to demonstrate their commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching and provide evidence of meeting the criteria of the UK Professional Standards Framework. Furthermore, a workshop with supporting resources has been delivered for DCU faculty pursuing ongoing CPD. A guide for the development of a professional portfolio, supported by workshop templates has been specifically designed to support structured reflection and mapping to the 3 frameworks above.
This quick fire Gasta presentation will focus on the development of formal and informal learning opportunities supporting lifelong learning and will feature examples of all DCU eportfolio based CPD activities. The benefits of the eportfolio approach for each initiative will briefly be explored and the featured digital poster will provide a framework adopted by DCU to structure a professional portfolio. In addition, participants will receive a personal resource aimed at supporting them in showcasing their professional learning through a structured eportfolio.
References
Chen, H.L. and Light, T.P., 2010. Electronic portfolios and student success: Effectiveness, efficiency, and learning. Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Hinett, K., 2002. Improving learning through reflection–part two. The Higher Education Academy. Retrieved February, 25, p.2008.
