CEFR & LP SIG is inviting you to the 5th meeting of the Portfolio Roundtable Talk on October 29th, 2022 from 3:30 pm to 5 pm, online, on the topic of the e-Portfolio and its applications. - This presentation examines student reflective practices in the compilation of an ePortfolio on an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) module as part of a Foundation programme in an Irish tertiary institution. The aim of these digital teaching and learning strategies is to provide students with greater personal choice, innovation and ownership of their learning. Over 100 EAP students output various products in the year-long module including research essays, seminar discussions, presentations, reading, writing and listening exams. Learners are free to design and select their content which includes, but is not limited to, multimedia podcasts and videos prepared alone or with peers, evidence of the process and peer-reviewed writing drafts and final submissions, reactions to lecturer feedback, reflective journal entries, and personal blogs or vlogs. End-of-course questionnaires and reflective journal entries are examined with data analysis focusing on the affective aspects of the process (e.g., how they contribute to future academic development). This is followed up by focus group sessions with selected learners to review their portfolio content and their feelings about the process in general. Analysis shows that the reflective practices have a positive influence on learners’ levels of self-regulation in writing. The reflection improves academic skills like effective implementation of learning and time management strategies, appropriate response to academic expectations and requirements, ultimately nurturing autonomous and strategic learners by enhancing levels of self-direction and self-awareness. The ePortfolio is central to closing (and restarting) the loop in an iterative learning cycle of self-assessment, goal-setting, action (e.g. essay writing) and reflection, couched within an action-oriented approach (North & Piccardo 2019). Our conclusion will discuss implications about the effectiveness of reflective ePortfolio processes, and will look forward to how current practices can be modified and adapted to suit individual learner needs. This contribution from Europe on a case study of an ePortfolio implementation using action research will give a good opportunity to share and exchange on portfolio implementations.
