IMPLEMENTING AN ePORTFOLIO INTO THE

BACHELOR OF NURSING

Emma CollinsRay O’Brien

Otago PolytechnicDunedin, New Zealand

Implementation of highly structured ePortfolio

platform in Bachelor of Nursing: evaluation of pilot

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND• ePortfolio platform was chose in 2014

• Implemented in 2015 to year 1 and year 2 Bachelor of Nursing students

• Dedicated staff• Decisions for 2016 were made prior to the

research being completed

SUBSCRIPTION VERSION

Features of the subscription version•Highly structured•Online marking and feedback available•Moodle integration•Showcase portfolios•Programme portfolios

RESEARCH METHODOLOGYMixed method sequential explanatory design

– Quantitative – staff and student survey– Qualitative – focus groups with staff and students

‘research in which the investigator collects and analyses data, integrates the findings, and draws inferences using

both qualitative and quantitative approaches or methods in a single study or program of inquiry’

Tashakkori and Creswell (2007, as cited in Schneider, Whitehead, LoBiondo-Wood and Haber, 2016)

TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL

Based on Ivankova, Creswell and Stick (2006)

QUANTITATIVE DATA - Students

Technology Acceptance Model Student quantitative data

Usefulness of ePortfolio platform

3.48

Perceived Ease of Use3.14

Attitudes to ePortfolio platform3.12

Behavioural intentions towards Pathbrite ePortfolio

3.44

QUANTITATIVE DATA - Staff

Technology Acceptance Model Staff quantitative data

Usefulness of ePortfolio platform

3.40

Perceived Ease of Use

3.60

Attitudes to ePortfolio platform

3.08

Behavioural intentions towards Pathbrite ePortfolio

3.67

QUALITATIVE DATA - StudentsUsefulness of ePortfolio Platform

“I found it really good to go back and again and see exactly what I had done”

Perceived Ease of Use“good, easy to use” “enjoyable” “pretty straight forward”

Attitudes to ePortfolio Platform“There are some benefits for our privacy. It would be easy to leave paper lying

around, whereas the site is password protected”

Behavioural Intentions“So we can carry on? So when we finish this year and go on to further study or go off to work in the UK or wherever how long have we got to access the

portfolio?”

QUALITATIVE DATA - Staff

Usefulness of ePortfolio Platform“To me they are probably getting a higher level of feedback because it is written in

context and in the place. I can be specific”

Perceived Ease of Use“I’ve uploaded templates I’ve change things and given feedback to students. They

really like it. Recently there has been a few students coming back and saying that they could not upload something and that’s where it was difficult for me because I didn’t

know Pathbrite well enough to help them”

Attitudes to ePortfolio Platform“I was a sceptic at the start of the year as I’m not too IT savvy . Now I’m know there

have been some gremlins in the system but once they were ironed out it was all sorted”

Behavioural Intentions“we’ve started and it needs to be developed”

DISCUSSIONUsefulness of ePortfolio Platform

Students:•Reflective practice•Future focused•Links to being a RN and Nursing Council requirements

Staff:•Useful for on-going nursing practice for demonstrating competence•Could clearly give feedback•Time consuming

DISCUSSIONPerceived Ease of Use

Students:•Students found it easy to use•Some needed more support than others

Staff:•Some found it easy, and some needed considerable support•Increase staff capability•Easier to spot students who were struggling

DISCUSSIONAttitude to ePortfolio Platform

Students:•Generally positive•Neutral in the depth of learning it provided•A number of aspects the students liked, as well as didn’t like

Staff:•Staff were not keen at first, but getting used to it now•Staff could see many positive aspects•It was surmised from the data that there was an overall positive attitude from staff

DISCUSSIONBehavioural Intention towards Pathbrite ePortfolioStudents:•Students could see the future benefit, and use of it in their on-going practice•Good intention to use, but with more support and training

Staff:•Majority were supportive in the on-going use and development of the platform

RESULTS SUMMARY

CONCLUDING RESULTS

Overall both staff and students have accepted this new piece of technology,

but not overwhelmingly so

RECOMMENDATIONS• Continue to use ePortfolios in 2017 and beyond• Consider rolling out to other programmes in the

school• Workload allocation for resource person for the

school• Liaise with other schools at OP to increase

capacity• Liaise with other nursing schools

CONCLUSION

• Work ready graduates with skills for life• Future focused

Any Questions?

emma.collins@op.ac.nz