Introduction
ePortfolios are becoming increasingly popular as a strategy to enhance traditional learning and teaching methods, record achievements, collect pieces of evidence to demonstrate the acquisition of competences, the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or assist individuals with Personal Development Planning (PDP) and Personal Career Development (PCD). However, despite the growing interest in using ePortfolios for different purposes and in a variety of contexts of application, there is a lack of training activities to help individuals and/or organizations to implement and improve (if necessary) their practices with it. To foster ePortfolio initiatives we have developed the “ePortfolio Self-Development Study”.
The aim of the ePortfolio Self-Development Study is to provide an entry point to the subject of ePortfolios for non-expert users and early adopters. The course offers the conceptual and instrumental knowledge for the creation of an ePortfolio strategy and prototype solution, regarding specific individual or organizational aims.
Who is it for?
The ePortfolio Self-Development Study is targeted to those who use or support others’ uses of ePortfolios, answering to their practical interest, theoretical concepts and practical models. To get involved in the course it is not required to have previous knowledge in the subject of ePortfolios.
This course is organized into seven learning modules with a total workload of 3 ECTs. All the modules are usable as self-study resources or can be integrated by teachers or facilitators into existing courses.
The modules are structured as an activity-oriented flexible path and can be taken selectively according to the individual interests, concerns and purposes. However, learning modules are designed to progressively build up a greater understanding of ePortfolios moving the participant to growing complex skills.
Modules are organized around activities linking theory and practice. Conceptual content is presented in rich media formats using a variety of sources including videos, online presentations, interactive content, and readings.
Each module has a variety of learner-centered activities. Each of them provide illustrative examples showcasing diverse situations and cases of ePortfolio uses. The activities are focused on real tasks and produce practical outputs that can be shared with others. In this sense, the course has social media functionalities that support social interaction such as debate spaces, open folders for participant-productions’ sharing, and functionalities for easing social interaction.
The modules will be delivered in first place as a MOOC within the EMMA platform, a development of the homonym European project. This action is understood as an initial open cohort that launches the initiative. The first MOOC iteration will have an official end but the learning space is intended to rest opened with a non-stop enrol approach. Modules will be also delivered via the EPNET Portal.
http://platform.europeanmoocs.eu/ http://www.europortfolio.org/
The course is part of a greater effort within the EPNET (European Network of ePortfolio Experts and Practitioners) European funded project. EPNET has developed a European learning space, constantly updated, on the design and the use of ePortfolios. This is achieved by establishing a network of ePortfolios experts and practitioners and developing a Learning Community Portal
