The Role of ePortfolios in Continuing Professional DevelopmentApplied Research Project

Faculty of Dentistry Research Day 2008

Russell Butson (presenter)Higher Education Development Centre,

University of Otago

This project has received financial support from an e-Learning Enhancement Grant, Committee for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT), University of Otago.

The authors wish to acknowledge the ongoing advice and feedback from Susan Moffat, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago.

Rosemary KardosDepartment of Oral Sciences,

Faculty of Dentistry,

University of Otago

Present Environment

In New Zealand the implementation of the Health Practitioners Competency ACT 2003, has resulted in the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) requiring dental practitioners to maintain a professional portfolio1 as evidence of their competence and fitness before they are recertified to practise through the issue of the annual practising certificate (APC).

1-Policy on the Recertification of Dental Hygienists, Dental Auxiliaries and Orthodontic Auxiliaries under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act, 2003

Aim – To create an ePortfolio environment

The aim of this project is to explore the potential of professional portfolios to assist staff and students to manage and control their continuing professional development in a manner that allows them to make sense of and map out their academic and professional expectations and subsequent achievements.

Challenge – Promote Self Governance of the CPD

However, as with any compulsory activity it is inevitable that these portfolios are likely to be regarded by practitioners as a regulatory requirement, considerably weakening any prospect they might have of supporting career development.

Research Approach/Method

Design-Based Research - Emergent Design

The process of letting the design emerge from the interaction with the users

Design-Based Research – The Intervention

Influences

Intervention

Three prototype portfolios have been developed in the first instance:

-Dental Hygiene

- Dental Therapy

- Bachelor of Oral Health degree.

ePortfolio - Prototypes

Professional ePortfolio - Structure/Process

1 2 3

File Repository

Non-Verifiable CPD Form

Portfolio Sections

Selecting Evidence Files

Portfolio Sections - share

Share Portfolio Sections

Comments

List of sections being shared

Comments others have made on my Portfolio

Comments I have made on others Portfolio

Present/Future

Present

Are Professional Portfolios likely to be regarded by practitioners as a regulatory requirement?

Or

Can they be designed so practitioners view them as a vital part of their practice?

Future: Compliance vs Self-governance

International Interest in ePortfolios – Health Sector

Newcastle University Queen Mary's University of London University of Newcastle University of Leeds University of Sheffield University of St Andrews

It is inevitable that professional portfolios will become digital

Higher Education Funding Council for England

Commercial: Premier IT - UK