Beyond the Shoebox: Developing an ePortfolio for leisure Sciences students

Authors

Suzanne Colyer, Edith Cowan University
Julie Howell

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Faculty

Faculty of Business and Public Management

School

School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure

RAS ID

362

Comments

Colyer, S. and Howell, J. (2002). Beyond the shoe box: Developing an ePortfolio for Leisure Sciences students. Proceedings of the 11th Annual Teaching Learning Forum, 5-6 February 2002. Perth: Edith Cowan University. http://lsn.curtin.edu.au/tlf/tlf2002/abstracts/colyer-abs.html

Abstract

This paper reports work-in-progress for an ECU Teaching and Learning grant project to create an electronic portfolio for Leisure Sciences students. It outlines the components of the project being undertaken and the processes that students will experience. The ePortfolio for Leisure Sciences students will be trialed in class during Semester 1, 2002 in a unit on leisure facility planning. The ePortfolio is emerging as the latest tool in professional development, for documenting in-service achievements, career management and seeking employment. Considerable portfolio development has occurred in the field of education and the arts, and other disciplines are increasingly applying the portfolio as a professional tool. An ePortfolio for Leisure Sciences students will enhance the existing professional practice portfolio component of their academic program, building throughout each year of the course (and on into their career). The ePortfolio consists of more than an electronic storehouse for a resume and copies of evidence such as scanned reference letters, photographs and video clips. It includes a self-learning process to help students identify gaps in their current portfolio. One feature of this process will be an interactive web site that will allow students to identify their existing skills, competencies and experiences. These capabilities may be compared to examples of job advertisements and corresponding job descriptions. In this way the students can identify if they need additional paid or voluntary work experience or additional skills to meet specific job requirements.