In a research report “The impact of e-portfolios on learning” published by Becta and dated June 2007, some significant benefits were identified. One finding was that e-portfolios benefit learning most effectively when considered as part of a joined-up teaching and learning approach, rather than as a discrete entity.
In many schools this idea that an e-portfolio or an online learning experience is something separate from ‘real learning’ seems to be prevalent but misguided. During the last two years progress in this area has been slow – there has not been a significant adoption of e-portfolios as part of the learning experience and, despite a great deal of promotion, neither has the notion that e-portfolios can support lifelong learning been widely accepted.
However, this does not mean that the online learning experience is not valuable – it just means that there are still a great many educationalists who do not yet understand the extension to the learning opportunity that an online experience provides.
Click here to download or view a summary of “The impact of e-portfolios on learning“.
