Funded mini-projects

 

(444) Using the ePET portfolio to support teaching and learning in medicine: lessons from three institutions

N.B. The information below is authored by the mini-project applicants, not by staff of the subject centre. This text represents the views and opinions of the mini-project team only, not those of the subject centre or its affiliates.

See the list of resources for this mini-project..

Principal investigator

Simon Cotterill, Newcastle University

Full list of project partners

The primary authors will be: Simon Cotterill, Tony McDonald, Paul Horner of Newcastle University

It is envisaged that semi-structured interviews would include the following:

Newcastle University (Geoff Hammond, Philip Bradley)

St George’s University (Terry Poulton, Adele Atkinson)

St Andrew’s University (Jim Aiton, Susan Whiten)

Topic

This is a JISC eLEARNING CASE STUDY proposal

Background

The ePET portfolio was developed as part of the HEFCE FDTL-4 and JISC DeL programmes (http://www.eportfolios.ac.uk). The software has been designed to be flexible in order to support a range of different requirements (eg. PDP, reflection, formative and summative assessment) and provide a framework which facilitates closer integration with subject-specific curricula.

ePET has been adopted in a variety of institutions and regional projects. This particular case study will document the implementation of ePortfolio in Medicine at 3 different institutions (Newcastle, St Andrew’s and St George’s) where it has been customised for different purposes:

i) 3 years experience at Newcastle University (to promote independent learning, evidence learning outcomes, and support end-of-year appraisal)

ii) 2 years experience at St Andrew’s University (used to support case-based learning and support peer and staff assessment of clinical skills)

iii) 1 years experience St George’s University (used to support personal development planning and learning student selected modules)

The case study will include a strong focus on teaching and learning issues and in particular on how ePortfolios can be used to support a diverse range of requirements (as indicated above). As such it will be of interest to the wider community as well as those using specific software. It will help broaden the understanding of how ePortfolios can be used to support the curricula.

The case study will detail the policy drivers, design rationale, and document the implementation strategies at the partner sites. It will also document some of the ‘practical lessons’ learnt in adopting a technology approach to portfolios and collaborating on the development of new tools within ePET. Some of these ‘lessons’ may be specific to the ePET community, but many are of wider applicability. The case study will utilise semi-structured interviews of senior curriculum staff at the partner sites and summarise existing student evaluation and feedback. It will also summarise related developments and research, such as the mobile technologies interface to ePortfolios investigated as part of the CETL4HealthNE.

Proposed activities

Month 1: Liaise with partners and summarise existing evaluation data

Months 2-3: Semi-structured telephone interviews with senior curriculum staff

Months 4+ Analysis of interviews and report writing.

Delivery of final case study report no later than March 2007.

Proposed outcomes

The main outcome will be a case study report written to the specifications of the Subject Centre. There is a high level of interest in ePortfolios because of drivers for PDP within the sector and subject-specific drivers from GMC. As such this case study will be of interest to those interested in the use of ePortfolios in Medicine and other subject areas (ie. large potential impact). If agreeable with the Subject Centre the case study would be publicised and disseminated via the www.eportfolios.ac.uk Website in addition to the HE Academy sites. This website has over 1,000 self-registered users of the demonstration ePortfolio available on the site, so would greatly assist in disseminating the case study. It would also be publicised at conferences and other applicable events attended by the authors. A media-rich version will also be produced, include screen-shots or ‘video’ – animated versions of the ePortfolios at the partner sites.

Also, the case study aims to increase awareness of ePET and other tools available to the UK FE/HE community from DeL and other JISC programmes. It will provide an example of an innovative and collaborative approach, with reference to JISC and Subject Centre enablers, which has been beneficial to the partners and wider community.

Expertise of grant holder and project team

The authors are highly experienced in the field of educational technologies and have been involved in numerous collaborative projects (DfES, TLTP, FDTL, DeL, CETL etc.) largely within the Medical subject area. They have a strong record within the specific field of ePortfolios (as documented in the case study description) and have a good knowledge of both technology and pedagogy.

Similar work

This case study will draw attention to ePET as a possibility for those Medical schools thinking of developing their own ePortfolio software to match subject-specific requirements.

Contact details

Grant holder: Simon Cotterill, Newcastle University
Amount awarded: £1,000
Subject centre project contact: Gillian Brown

Reports

See the final report for this project..

Other resources published by this mini-project

See the list of resources for this mini-project..

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The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine

School of Medical Sciences Education Development, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
Newcastle University, NE2 4HH