The document summarizes the E-portfolio Community of Practice (ePCoP) project funded by JISC. The ePCoP aimed to share learning from JISC projects involving e-portfolios for work-based learners. It used an open Cloudworks platform to encourage participation and allow resources to be sustained after funding. Strategies included inviting specific projects and experts to participate. Challenges included some inappropriate posts and lack of discussion. Future plans included a face-to-face event and hosting resources on Cloudworks and JISC infonet.

1. E-portfolio Community of Practice Funded under the JISC Lifelong Learning & Workforce Development Programme Project officer: Sarah Chesney, Freelance Consultant Duration: Sep 10 – March 11

2. Led by the University of Wolverhampton and the ePPSME project The aims of the ePPSME project were to develop an e-portfolio based pedagogy for work-based learners in small to medium sized enterprises. The ePCoP funding was designed to share learning gained from all projects (like ePPSME) in the programme and encourage a wider audience to participate Background

3. Decided to use as open a platform as possible 1. for minimum administration 2. to encourage as wide an audience as possible 3. so that at a future date visitors could use (and maybe contribute to) the resources once funding had ended. So we used Cloudworks (more about this later) Strategies to create the ePCoP

4. Invited specific JISC projects to share their learning via Cloudworks Wide publicity through existing communities with similar interests Invited specific experts with experience to lead asynchronous activities for a time limited period Strategies to create the ePCoP

5. We used a range of publicity approaches to advertise the activities including tapping into existing communities (e.g. JISC mail lists) Asking academics we knew to advertise in their institution Strategies to create the ePCoP

6. Cloudworks urlhttp://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloudscape/view/2201 But beyond this because Cloudworks doesn’t allow you to upload files we used the project Wordpresssite urlhttp://epcop.wordpress.com to host all our own generated content Flickr for images urlhttp://www.flickr.com Slideshare for Powerpointsurlhttp://www.slideshare.net/ because these files can be embedded in Cloudworks. Tools to sustain the ePCoP

7. Cacoo to draw a visual concept of learning design urlhttp://cacoo.com/ Finally PB works – not used as intended. Tools to sustain the ePCoP

8. We knew we were getting a large number of views but not many were joining in the discussions. We had some inappropriate postings (nothing too bad but not in the spirit of the community) This is a largely under-researched area and I wonder if the openness of the community meant that participants were cautious of revealing a lack of knowledge so publically. (no evidence for this!) Timing of the community – is there ever a right time? Challenges

9. What next? Face to face event in May to discuss this. The resources will continue to be hosted at Cloudworks JISC infonet will host some of the resources http://jiscinfonet.ac.uk/JISCINFONET Plans for maintaining the ePCoP

10. Sarah Chesney Email sarahchesney@me.com Freelance consultant Thank you for listening