Improving workplace-based assessment and feedback by an E-portfolio enhanced with learning analytics
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Electronic portfolios (E-portfolios) are crucial means for workplace-based assessment and feedback. Although E-portfolios provide a useful approach to view each learner’s progress, so far options for personalized feedback and potential data about a learner’s performances at the workplace often remain unexploited. This paper advocates that E-portfolios enhanced with learning analytics, might increase the quality and efficiency of workplace-based feedback and assessment in professional education. Based on a 5-phased iterative design approach, an existing E-portfolio environment was enhanced with learning analytics in professional education. First, information about crucial professional activities for professional domains and suited assessment instruments were collected (phase 1). Thereafter probabilistic student models were defined (phase 2). Next, personalized feedback and visualization of the personal development over time were developed (phase 3). Then the prototype of the E-portfolio—including the student models and feedback and visualization modules—were implemented in professional training-programs (phase 4). Last, evaluation cycles took place and 121 students and 30 supervisors from five institutes for professional education evaluated the perceived usefulness of the design (phase 5). It was concluded that E-portfolios with learning analytics were perceived to assist the development of students’ professional competencies and that the design is only successful when developed and implemented through the eyes of the users. Feedback and assessment methods based upon learning analytics can stimulate learning at the workplace in the long run. Practical, technological and ethical challenges are discussed.
Date Issued
2017-04
Date Acceptance
2016-11-01
Citation
Educational Technology Research and Development, 2017, 65 (2), pp.359-380
ISSN
1042-1629
Publisher
Springer
Start Page
359
End Page
380
Journal / Book Title
Educational Technology Research and Development
Volume
65
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
License URL
Identifier
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11423-016-9496-8
Subjects
DESIGN
EDUCATION
Education & Educational Research
Electronic portfolios
ENGAGEMENT
Enhanced feedback
Learning analytics
PERSPECTIVE
Social Sciences
Student models
SYSTEM
Technology
Workplace-based assessment
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-11-04