2009 E-portfolio implementation trials: Case studies released

Case studies documenting the 2009 E-portfolio implementation trials are now available.

These case studies provide information and resources for training providers, practitioners and assessors seeking to implement an e-portfolio system, and include support strategies for helping learners to create their own e-portfolio and negotiate common issues.

Funded and supported by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), the trials aim to identify the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of an e-portfolio system to support a person to move quickly and efficiently between education and training, employment and industry areas.

The trials were conducted over six months, with three registered training organisations (RTOs) each implementing an e-portfolio system to generate, manage and validate evidence for learners and support RPL (recognition of prior learning) in education and training.

Supportive recognition – Coonara Community House, Victoria

Coonara Community House (Coonara) trialled the use of the Mahara e-portfolio system with its Diploma of Children’s Services learners. The majority of these learners have substantial employment history in the community services industry, driving the need for a streamlined RPL process.

To support learners in transitioning to the new process, Coonara trialled the use of an e-portfolio system in conjunction with its current course wiki, providing learners with the opportunity to blog in their e-portfolio and have a link added to their personal course wiki page. Coonara also developed a website dedicated to the RPL process, which provided a central location for RPL information such as background, process, eligibility, options and e-portfolio instructions.

Many learners participating in the trial reported that the e-portfolio was a valuable tool for gathering evidence of their performance and were keen to complete their e-portfolio for the RPL process and maintain it for future work opportunities.

Coonara plans to roll out an electronic RPL system across the organisation and will incorporate e-portfolio training into the beginning of each accredited class where RPL is offered.

Skills capture – Fire Protection Association Australia, Victoria

Australia’s major technical and educational fire safety organisation, the Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPA Australia) created and trialled Ning (a free online social networking site) to allow fire protection service technicians to capture, store and manage ‘live’ workplace evidence and upgrade their skills and knowledge.

Service technicians uploaded photos and videos of assessment activities to the Evidence Record e-portfolio to support competencies of the Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence.

The Evidence Record e-portfolio was found to:

• improve the collection of evidence for assessment
   
• provide a friendly online space for technicians and assessors to share skills, comment on assessment materials and validate the assessment evidence of their peers 
   
• connect instructors and learners within the industry, who are largely geographically dispersed
   
• serve as a quality assured ‘resource bank’ for technicians and assessors, providing practical demonstrations of good workplace practice and correct technical procedures

Just-in-time mentoring was used to support the development of skills in using digital technologies among the service technicians.

The use of digital media (eg Bluetooth transfer from a mobile phone) will be explored to further facilitate the submission of workplace evidence.

Skills recognition using e-portfolios – TAFE NSW (Sydney Institute), New South Wales

As part of its long-term strategic plan to embed personalised recognition services into all of its mainstream courses, the Sydney Institute of TAFE (SIT) trialled an e-portfolio system with learners undertaking Certificates III and IV in Hairdressing at SIT’s Ultimo College.

On-campus and workplace RPL processes were largely paper based.

To streamline this process, the project explored the use of:

• the Mahara e-portfolio system, to support and enhance the existing skills recognition services and workplace assessment processes
   
• a range of digital media to record evidence and upload into the e-portfolio system, using devices such as point-of-view (POV) camera glasses and video recorders.

SIT’s Workforce Development Unit ran hands on workshops with teachers demonstrating how to use Mahara and POV camera glasses. A project wiki and the social networking features of the e-portfolio system were used to provide IT support, maintain motivation and track the progress of the project.

SIT will continue to trial e-portfolios with the hairdressing section and with other targeted sections in 2010 and will integrate it with Moodle v2.0 mid to late 2010.

This year, RTOs can apply for a share of $25,000 to participate in the 2010 E-portfolio implementation trials. Applications will open on 24 March and close 21 April. Successful applicants will be notified from 14 May.

Once applications have opened, more information will be loaded to the E-portfolios webpage. Contact Allison Miller: (08) 8348 4075, email: Allison.Miller [at] tafesa.edu.au (please replace at with @ to use the email address) for more information.

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Published on 18/02/2010