Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography

Valerie Pickard

ePortfolios

ePortfolios, also known as digital portfolios, have developed from paper-based portfolios
and are being increasingly used internationally (the bibliography includes papers from
New Zealand, Australia, the USA, the UK and Europe) throughout the education system
for students at primary, secondary and tertiary levels; as well as for teachers. Within
education they are used as tools for learning, assessment and professional development.
They can also be used for interviews, employment and career development beyond the
education setting.

The annotated bibliography below has been developed both as an assignment for the
Information Retrieval module (MLIM6317) of the University of Hong Kong’s M. Sc. in
Library and Information Management course; and simultaneously as a contribution
towards a City University of Hong Kong, University Grants Committee (UGC) funded
ePortfolio project. A fuller description of the project, ePortfolios for all: A Roadmap for
success, the context of the project and the intended readership of the bibliography can be
found in the appendix. The project is the result of collaboration between the Education
Development Office (EDO), the English Language Centre (ELC), other support centres
such as the Career and Internship Office (CAIO), and academics from different colleges.
Thus, owing to the scale of the project, the objectives for using ePortfolios and the
contexts within which they are developed may vary within the University. How other
universities have integrated ePortfolios within their academic structures, their
interdepartmental collaboration, and their evaluation of the ePortfolio programmes are
some of the concerns addressed in the selected bibliography below.

The main (identified) client for the bibliography will be the newly recruited project staff
(a research fellow and two research assistants) who will need to become familiar with the
whole topic of ePortfolios very quickly in order to make effective contributions to the
project. We are currently running workshops for students and teachers on learning,
employment and professional development ePortfolios. At this stage, we are NOT

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

interested in using ePortfolios for student assessment so this element will not be fronted
in the bibliography below.

Search Strategies

The search was conducted over a one month period from March 7th to April 7th 2009.
The following information retrieval systems were used:

• HKU Dragon Catalogue • Google Scholar

• Ebrary • Google.com – advanced search
• Netlibrary • Scirius.com
• EbscoHost – all databases • ISI World Of Knowledge

As the use of ePortfolios in education is rapidly expanding, only papers written in 2000
or after were selected though any major works prior to that time were considered for
inclusion.

Content and Organization of the Bibliography

Both the content and organization of the annotated bibliography reflect the needs of the
client. Practical resources (with more of an emphasis on ‘how to’) are listed separately
from academic resources as the former should provide a quick reference for students or
teachers developing their own ePortfolios. However, there is inevitably some overlap e.g.
a handbook on developing career portfolios is likely to be grounded upon and refer to
theoretical principles.

The annotations of individual entries, in my own words unless shown as quotations, are
derived from either skimming the full text or a close reading of the abstract. They are
arranged in order of relevance within each thematic section. Some terms of direct
relevance to the project team have been highlighted e.g. templates/structure(s),

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

Blackboard (the platform currently being used at City U). The relative weighting of the
various thematic sections also reflects the major concerns of both the project and the
imminent need for recent references for utilisation in the conference paper currently
being written.

Annotated Bibliography

A. Academic References

Management of ePortfolio programmes/Integration within the university setting

Van Tartwijk, J., Driessen, E., Van Der Vleuten, C., & Stokking, K. (2007). Factors
influencing the successful introduction of portfolios. Quality in Higher Education, 13(1),
69-79.
Considers the objectives, learning environment and contexts required for successfully
introducing ePortfolios. Includes some useful diagrams.

Johnson, G., & Rayman, J. R. (2007). e-Portfolios: A collaboration between student

affairs and faculty. New Directions for Student Services (119), 17-30.
Documents collaborative efforts between sudent affairs professionals and academic
faculty to develop an academic e-Portfolio culture. Additional relevant chapters by other
authors available in the same collection.

Lambert, S., & Corrin, L. (2007). Moving towards a university-wide implementation of

an ePortfolio tool. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23(1), 1-16
Contains literature review, details attempts to find an acceptable platform – wikis were
rejected in favour of Blackboard. Maps out the stages of technological and academic
integration within the University of Wollongong, Australia.

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

Learning Portfolios

Stefani, L., Mason, R., & Pegler, C. (2007). The educational potential of e-portfolios:
Supporting personal development and reflective learning. Connecting with e-learning
series. London: Routledge.
“Blends reference to e-portfolio research and experience to date”. A key work in the
field, this is the product of collaboration by practitioners from the University of
Auckland, New Zealand and the Open University in the UK. Also available as an e-book
via ebrary.

Dubinsky, J. (2003). Creating New Views on Learning: ePortfolios. Business

Communication Quarterly, 66(4), 96-102.
Considers ePortfolios as a means of helping students “become the architects of their own
learning” through a process of reflection.

Barrett, H. C. (2007). Researching electronic portfolios and learner engagement: The

REFLECT Initiative. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 50(6), 436-449.
A key practitioner in the field explores the use of, and arguments for ePortfolios in
secondary education.

Cambridge, D. (2008). Audience, integrity, and the living document: eFolio Minnesota
and lifelong and lifewide learning with ePortfolios. Computers & Education, 51(3), 1227-
1246
Exhaustive study of “active and high impact users” in a well-established ePortfolio
program supporting “lifelong and lifewide learning for a diverse group of Minnesotans”.

Nikirk, M. (2008). Digital Portfolios. Tech Directions, 68(5), 13-15.

Describes digital portfolios as ‘a powerful marketing tool for communication students’.
Different digital portfolio structures provided for students of different skills profiles in
advanced computer applications, computer game development and animation programs.

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

Makes a useful distinction between general portfolios in which students keep their best
work from the course, and interview portfolios which are created for a specific job
interview.

Pink, J., Cadbury, N., & Stanton, N. (2008). Enhancing student reflection: the
development of an e-portfolio. Medical Education, 42, 1132-1133.
Discusses the development of e-portfolios designed to guide medical students through the
stages of the reflective learning cycle and personal leaning plans. Interesting use of the e-
portfolio template which becomes part of a complete reflective learning package.

Lombardi, J. (2008). To Portfolio or not to Portfolio: Helpful or Hyped? College

Teaching, 56(1), 7-10.
Considers the pros and cons of ePortfolios for learning, and especially for use in teacher
training. Concludes that ‘portfolios are here to stay’.

Lopez-Fernandez, O., & Rodriguez-Illera, J. L. (2009). Investigating university students'

adaptation to a digital learner course portfolio. Computers & Education, 52(3), 608-616
Qualitative and quantitative methods employed to study the impact of ePortfolios on the
learning of 88 Spanish university students. Though students were in favour of ePortfolios
as a personal development learning tool, no significant impact on their learning was
found. Useful research tools such as questionnaires are included.

Johnson, R. S., Mims-Cox, J. S., & Doyle-Nichols, A. (2006). Developing portfolios in

education: A guide to reflection, inquiry, and assessment. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage
Publications
Suggests methods of organizing the process, and provides tools that will be used during
preparation programs and for professional and academic advancement. Accompanying
CD with templates, sample documents and links.

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

McAllister, L. M., Hallam, Gillian C.,Harper, Wendy E. (2008). The ePortfolio as a tool
for lifelong learning: Contextualising Australian practice. Paper presented at the
International Lifelong Learning Conference 2008, 16-19 June, Yeppoon, Queensland.
Review of ePortfolio practice in Australian Universities within the context of supporting
lifelong learning.

Vuorikari, R. (2005). Can personal digital knowledge artefacts' management and social
networks enhance learning? European Schoolnet, 2006-2012.
Sees a role for ePortfolios as a means of managing both formal and informal digital
artifacts. Explains how the artifacts can be shared with other learners via various social
networking applications.

Awang, D. (2008, Nov 06-07). PebblePAD: Big Splashes or Mini Ripples? Reflections on
Electronic Portfolio Usage on a Blended Learning Course. Paper presented at the 7th
European Conference on e-Learning, Agia Napa, CYPRUS.
Describes how student reflections and e-portfolio usage were integrated within a post-
graduate course in a UK university.

Austin, C., & Braidman, I. (2008). Support for portfolio in the initial years of the
undergraduate medical school curriculum: what do the tutors think? Medical Teacher,
30(3), 265-271.
Tutor facilitators of the Manchester School of Medicine report positively on a group
support scheme for the integration of portfolio reflection with clinical experience.

Williams, G. A., Park, J. R., Traynor, V., Nairn, S., O'Brien, E., Chapple, M., et al.
(2009). Lecturers'and students' perceptions of portfolios in an English School of Nursing.
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(8), 1113-1122.
A study of 413 nursing students and 50 lecturers. Raises interesting questions regarding
communication between lecturers and students.

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

Career/professional/employment/interview portfolios

Campbell, M. I., & Schmidt, K. J. (2005). Polaris: An undergraduate online portfolio

system that encourages personal reflection and career planning. International Journal of
Engineering Education, 21(5), 931-942.
Evaluates an ePortfolio program and platform specifically designed to showcase the work
of engineering students.

Herman, C., & Kirkup, G. (2008). Learners in transition: the use of ePortfolios for
women returners to science, engineering and technology. Innovations in Education and
Teaching International, 45(1), 67-76.
Part of an online course by the UK’s Open University with the aim of helping women
returning to a profession. Pertinent to institutions developing ePortfolios through a “set
of structured and guided e-learning activities”.

Hill, C. F. (2008). A Portfolio Model for Music Educators. Music Educators Journal,
95(1), 61-72.
Includes a succinct history of portfolios and ePortfolios within US education. Makes a
very clear distinction between three portfolio types: learning, assessment and
employment and clearly shows the advantages of each type. Proposes a generic structure
for music teachers’ portfolios which will be of interest to those researching the wider
potential of templates and ‘pathways’.

B. Practical Resources

DiMarco, J. (2006). Web portfolio design and applications. Hershey, PA: Idea Group
Publ.
Guides readers through the whole process of ePortfolio design and also warns of common
pitfalls
Resource Type: book and ebook

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 Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios): An Annotated Bibliography
Valerie Pickard

Satterthwaite, F., & D'Orsi, G. (2003). The career portfolio workbook : using the newest
tool in your job-hunting arsenal to impress employers and land a great job. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Despite the fact that this book deals mainly with paper portfolios, it is packed with
relevant and practical advice on gathering and presenting evidence for career portfolios.
Contains five sample portfolios and a number of worksheets to guide students through the
process of evidencing their PEAKS (Personal Characteristics that Add Value,
Experience, Accomplishments, Knowledge and Skills). Chapter 9 covers digital
portfolios and resumes. Particularly useful information, lacking in other resources, is how
to use the portfolio effectively within the interview scenario (Chapter 6).
Resource Type: ebook

Kilbane, C., R, and Milman, N, B. (2003). The digital teaching portfolio handbook : a
how-to guide for educators Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
This practical handbook “not only demonstrates the process for developing a digital
teaching portfolio, it also provides students with strategies and suggestions for creating
an appealing package that is accessible to a diverse audience” (book jacket). Though
designed for teachers the guide provides generally applicable advice on collecting,
selecting and reflecting on digital content in addition to design principles.
Resource Type: book

Campbell, D. M. (2007). How to develop a professional portfolio: A manual for teachers.

Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon.
Deals with electronic and paper-based portfolios. Provides “clear, manageable, step-by-
step guidelines and tips for professional portfolio development that can be followed by
teachers at all stages of their careers” (book jacket)
Resource Type: book

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Goldsmith, D. (2005). ePortfolio Resources. E-Learning E-Llusions and Triumphs:

Reimagining the Academic Ecosystem - WCET's 17th Annual Conference Retrieved 7th
March, 2009, from
https://conference.wcet.info/2005/presentations/Willbanks_Resources.swf
An organized list of ePortfolio resources presented at a 2005 conference on E-Learning.
It covers a variety of resources such as handbooks, on-going university ePortfolio project
links, and links to blogs written by major names in the ePortfolio field.
Resource Type: Shockwave Flash Presentation

LaGuardia Community College. (2009). ePortfolio@ LaGuardia Community College.

Retrieved 7th March, 2009, from http://www.eportfolio.lagcc.cuny.edu/default.htm
This is a good example of a college which actively promotes ePortfolios for all its
students. Its website includes sample portfolios, videos by students, tutorials and useful
links. Student portfolios have been usefully organized into different levels: basic,
intermediate and advanced. It should be noted however, that the college has a large
number of foreign students which means that the English is not always of the highest
standard. On the other hand, it could be both interesting and helpful for Hong Kong
students to have access to multicultural ePortfolios.
Resource Type: Website

Florida State University. (2005). Career Portfolio: Florida State University

Retrieved 7th March, 2009, from http://www.career.fsu.edu/portfolio/
This is a well-developed website from a University which has been preparing “students
for the world of work through planning, reflection, skill development, and portfolio
documentation” since 2002. This ‘Information Page’ has links to useful resources such
as presentations, competition winning portfolios and a bibliography.
Resource Type: Website

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Keeler, C. (2009). Sample Portfolio. Retrieved 7th March, 2009, from

http://sampleportfolio.blogspot.com/2007/03/about-me_25.html
Sample ePortfolio developed by an American elementary school teacher. Provides a
good example of what can be achieved using a blog format. Keeler has chosen an
accessible structure for the ePortfolio: About me, Artifacts, Lesson Plan Sample,
Technology Journey, Favorite Readings, Favorite Links. Includes a step-by-step video
guide on how to create an ePortfolio on Blogger.com.
Resource Type: Blog

Appendix: Background to the Project ~ ePortfolios for all: a roadmap for success
The annotated bibliography above has been compiled as part of an on-going UGC funded
project ePortfolios for all: a roadmap for success which I am involved with at City
University of Hong Kong (City U). A major aim of the project is to spread the ePortfolio
culture within the university. Details of the project can be found at:
http://sites.google.com/site/cityueportfolio/about-project

With a background in independent learning, I was approached to help the English

Language Centre (ELC) and the Educational Development Office (EDO) with the project
proposal and implementation. As we have recently received UGC funding approval we
are now able to go ahead with our search for project dedicated personnel: a research
fellow, a senior research assistant, and a research assistant (IT). Though the research
fellow is required to have a doctorate, he or she is unlikely to have experience in the field
of ePortfolios. There is therefore a genuine need for a judiciously selected and annotated
bibliography in order to help the research fellow gain a quick and effective understanding
of the main issues and developments in the field. At the same time, the two principal
project investigators and their two assistants (including me) are writing a paper,
Scaffolding Student Learning: Integrating ePortfolios into the University Experience, for
the 34th International conference on Improving University Teaching (IUT). Part of the
annotated bibliography will thus be a useful start for the literature review section of the
paper and could form an appendix to the paper.

It is hoped that the annotated bibliography will be uploaded onto the project website
under ‘Guides and Resources’ so that it will be available to all visitors to the site. Other
possible users of the bibliography are project collaborators (usually lecturers) in various
colleges and support departments of City U, collaborators on the inter-institutional
ePortfolio English Language Passport project, instructors in the English Language Centre
(ELC) who are currently using ePortfolios in a number of courses, and possibly students
who are keen to develop their ePortfolios.

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