Postgraduate Students’ Perception of the Use of E-portfolios as a Teaching Tool to Support their Learning in an Open and Distance Education Institution

Authors

  • Mphoentle Puleng Modise University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v8i2.508

Keywords:

student support, e-portfolio, Mahara, e-learning, Open Distance Learning (ODL), Community of Inquiry (CoI), COVID-19

Abstract

E-portfolios have been used for decades in education; however, it is still a new trend in some developing countries as they continue to adopt e-learning practices. The study investigated postgraduate students’ experiences and perceptions of using an e-portfolio as a teaching tool to support their learning in an open and distance e-learning (ODeL) university in South Africa. A sample of 74 students registered for an online module were selected and an online questionnaire administered via Lime Survey. The results show that more than half of the respondents (71%) were using the e-portfolio for the first time. The study also revealed the contrasting views of the support received from the lecturer and institution for the e-portfolio platform, especially with technical issues. This study suggests that distance education institutions that are using e-portfolios need to strategically choose user-friendly technology tools and design appropriate student support strategies for delivering online modules. Higher education institutions that are planning to implement e-portfolios may find the results of this paper useful; however, further investigation of the learners’ needs, and available tools may assist with creative and appropriate designs of support strategies for their contexts.

Author Biography

Mphoentle Puleng Modise, University of South Africa

Mphoentle P. Modise is a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, College of Education at the University of South Africa.  Her research areas include student support in open and distance learning (ODL) and eLearning, academic professional development, e-portfolios, and she has interest in OERs and MOOCs. Email: Modismp@unisa.ac.za

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Published

2021-07-19

How to Cite

Modise, M. P. (2021). Postgraduate Students’ Perception of the Use of E-portfolios as a Teaching Tool to Support their Learning in an Open and Distance Education Institution . Journal of Learning for Development, 8(2), 283–297. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v8i2.508

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2021): ISSUE 2

Section

Research Articles

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Received 2021-03-30
Accepted 2021-05-25
Published 2021-07-19