The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review

The use of an ePortfolio to support the education of health and social care professionals is increasing in higher education. ePortfolios support the educational journey of students; however, it is unclear how they are used to demonstrate competency or enhance employability. The aims of this study w...

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Main Authors: Anita Hamilton, Terri Downer, Belinda Flanagan, Laine Chilman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Deakin University 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
Online Access:https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1704
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author Anita Hamilton
Terri Downer
Belinda Flanagan
Laine Chilman
author_facet Anita Hamilton
Terri Downer
Belinda Flanagan
Laine Chilman
author_sort Anita Hamilton
collection DOAJ
description The use of an ePortfolio to support the education of health and social care professionals is increasing in higher education. ePortfolios support the educational journey of students; however, it is unclear how they are used to demonstrate competency or enhance employability. The aims of this study were to explore the literature to identify the use of ePortfolios in health and social care higher education curricula to demonstrate competency or improve employability. Three electronic databases were searched to identify papers using scoping review methodology. Studies that were published between 2001 and 2019 were included. A total of 1530 articles were initially identified after duplicates were removed. Nine studies were included in the final qualitative synthesis following a robust review. Data were synthesised into themes that describe the role of ePortfolios in demonstrating competencies in higher education or improving employability they were (1) Self-Directed Learning, (2) Deeper Learning, (3) Expanding Literacies, (4) Successful Implementation. These studies highlight that ePortfolio is both a product and a process. ePortfolios support students to gather artefacts that demonstrate professional competency which can be applied in the job-seeking process. The ePortfolio development process applies social constructionist approaches to learning which support lifelong learning and enhance employability. The findings also highlight the importance of providing students with clear expectations of the role of an ePortfolio in their professional learning journey.
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spelling doaj.art-38eab85525fe4344925de1a45b4a3cfd2023-07-14T13:20:55ZengDeakin UniversityJournal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability1838-38152023-07-0114110.21153/jtlge2023vol14no1art1704The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping reviewAnita Hamilton 0Terri Downer1Belinda Flanagan2Laine Chilman3University of the Sunshine CoastUniversity of the Sunshine CoastUniversity of TasmaniaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast The use of an ePortfolio to support the education of health and social care professionals is increasing in higher education. ePortfolios support the educational journey of students; however, it is unclear how they are used to demonstrate competency or enhance employability. The aims of this study were to explore the literature to identify the use of ePortfolios in health and social care higher education curricula to demonstrate competency or improve employability. Three electronic databases were searched to identify papers using scoping review methodology. Studies that were published between 2001 and 2019 were included. A total of 1530 articles were initially identified after duplicates were removed. Nine studies were included in the final qualitative synthesis following a robust review. Data were synthesised into themes that describe the role of ePortfolios in demonstrating competencies in higher education or improving employability they were (1) Self-Directed Learning, (2) Deeper Learning, (3) Expanding Literacies, (4) Successful Implementation. These studies highlight that ePortfolio is both a product and a process. ePortfolios support students to gather artefacts that demonstrate professional competency which can be applied in the job-seeking process. The ePortfolio development process applies social constructionist approaches to learning which support lifelong learning and enhance employability. The findings also highlight the importance of providing students with clear expectations of the role of an ePortfolio in their professional learning journey. https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1704
spellingShingle Anita Hamilton
Terri Downer
Belinda Flanagan
Laine Chilman
The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
title The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
title_full The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
title_fullStr The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
title_short The use of ePortfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability: A scoping review
title_sort use of eportfolio in health profession education to demonstrate competency and enhance employability a scoping review
url https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1704
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