E-PORTFOLIO APPLICATION FOR STUDENT REFLECTION AND ENGAGEMENT IN THREE CASE STUDIES IN AN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

E-portfolio use in higher education is a relatively new application that, apart from its fundamental use in the creation of student work portfolio’s, also enables the advancement of the student learning experience by promoting collaboration, facilitating curation, and enabling the monitoring and assessment of student work in a single virtual environment. These characteristics address the need for meaningful interaction, discussion and feedback using online tools. However, the application of new e-portfolio tools requires a focussed study to assess their potential and the implications of their implementation.

This research looks at best practice of e-portfolio application through literature and interviews with Universities in the UK that use e-portfolios in their curricula. It then looks at ways that e-portfolio use can be incorporated in teaching and particularly in a discipline where visual aspects are important. A series of case studies of modules taught in an Architecture School are used to investigate e-portfolio application. The different pedagogical needs that aim to be addressed in each case study are identified and the range of potential applications of the tool are revealed. The application of the tool aims to facilitate student work curation, monitoring reflection and assessment. The use of the tool was evaluated through interviews with the educators and the students involved in the case studies.

The outcome of this research provides a process for implementation for streamlining the approach to enable staff to more effectively implement the e-portfolio tool use.