The document summarizes a session on how ePortfolios can support student placement experiences and employability. It discusses how ePortfolios can help track student progress, provide feedback, and develop skills to support career outcomes and potentially increase retention. Studies presented found ePortfolios helped keep placement students engaged with their institution and motivated. They also improved communication between students, staff and employers. Evidence suggests ePortfolio activities that build community and engagement can positively impact retention by enhancing the student experience.

1. ESCAPES, ePortfolio and Employability
CETIS 2012
Nottingham
Kirstie Coolin & Judith Wayte
University of Nottingham
ESCAPES | Enhancing Student-Centred Administration for Placement ExperienceS
Centre for International ePortfolio Development

2. Objectives of this session
•The ESCAPES project
•ePortfolio touching on the student experience
•Community and placement
•Retention as an outcome?
•Over to you!
ESCAPES | Enhancing Student-Centred Administration for Placement ExperienceS

3. Transition and Progression
Course Data – XCRI
Admissions
Student Lifecycle
Administration Placements
Institution
ePortfolio, Placements, Skills and
Competences, tutoring,
Learning +
personalised learning, recording
teaching
achievement
Lifelong / wide learning
Community
Personal Careers and Information, Advice
work + Guidance,
Showcase/engage
employers, Open
Data, Alumni

4. Student • Pre-application
Lifecycle • Application
Relationship • Pre-registration
Management
• Registration
• Induction
• Teaching and learning processes
ESCAPES • Placements
• Pastoral care
• Employability and careers services
• Graduation
• Alumni processes
• Marketing

5. People, Process, Technology
• Examine placement processes from a student-point of view
• Make improvements to student experience and administration
• Impact on career progression, retention and employability

6. Addressing placement experiences from a student
point of view
Issue Academic Administration / Student Employers
staff central services
Administration
Communication √ √ √
Tracking √
Publicising √ √ √
Learning √ √
Feedback √ √
Assessment √ √
Skills and √ √
employability
… others …

7. Do ePortfolios help with retention of students?
•Is there evidence?
•Is there correlation between the outcomes of
ePortfolio use (engaged, self-directed, community)
and student retention?
•Does student satisfaction equate to retention?

8. HEA Retention and success factors
•Pre-entry information, advice and guidance to
inform HE choices
•Pre-entry preparation, including developing realistic
expectations and skills
•Induction and transition support
•Inclusive curriculum design, learning, teaching and
assessment
•Social engagement with peers and HE staff
•Integrated or aligned academic development
•A range of student services
•Monitoring and use of data

9. HEA Retention and success factors
•Pre-entry information, advice and guidance to
inform HE choices
•Pre-entry preparation, including developing realistic
expectations and skills
•Induction and transition support
•Inclusive curriculum design, learning, teaching and
assessment
•Social engagement with peers and HE staff
•Integrated or aligned academic development
•A range of student services
•Monitoring and use of data

10. Quotes from a study in the US
Linking Student Satisfaction and Retention (Laurie A Schreiner, 2009)
belonging and community and available advisors
“focus on creating a welcoming and responsive campus climate that
enhances students’ learning Experiences”
”....learning community where the instructor also serves as the students’
advisor”
Career learning and employability
“faculty who are able to engage them in the learning process and help them
connect what they are learning to the future they desire for themselves”..
“positions their institution as the place where that future can become reality”
“Research partnerships with faculty, mentoring relationships, and availability
to engage in academic discussions that extend learning outside of class all can
contribute to juniors’ intellectual growth and satisfaction with their experiences.”
https://www.noellevitz.com/documents/shared/Papers_and_Research/2009/LinkingStudentSatis0809.pdf

11. PG students on placements, ESCAPES and SAMSON
• Students on placement in companies felt Mahara kept them in touch with the
university; they valued the levels of feedback which in turn made them feel
more motivated and that they were continuously improving. It helped them
to plan their projects and kept them more organised, and was particularly helpful
to them when writing up dissertations.
• Staff felt it was an essential tool that helped them keep in close touch with
students and saved them administration time, which they could then spend
on other activities, such as providing feedback to the students.
• Employers felt it improved communications with both students and the
university.
• Both students and staff believed using the system contributed to the
professional development and self presentation of the student
• Using the ePortfolio meant staff were able to monitor students better
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/eportfolio/samson/documents/SAMSON%20final%20report%20v1%200.pdf

12. JISC Infonet – ePortfolios and Retention
•ISLE project – goal setting and reflection, learners less likely to
give up
•SOLVS – self assessing suitability for a course pre-application
•“a learning space where learners can feel at home… encourage
learners to become more involved and connected with the
institution” (Sheffield Hallam)
La Guardia Community College, US
•Gains in retention for high risk students, increased engagement
http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/e-portfolios/retention

13. Information, Advice &
Student • Pre-application Guidance
Lifecycle
Relationship • Application
Management
• Pre-registration
• Registration
• Induction
• Teaching and learning processes
• Placements
• Pastoral care
• Employability and careers services
• Graduation
• Alumni processes
• Marketing

14. ePortfolio as
central to a
Learning Employers
Community
Academics
Tutors
Peers
Careers
Societies

15. Institutional Touch Points
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Thanks to Shane Sutherland – Pebble Learning

16. Questions + Discussion
1. How do you think ePortfolio activities might
support retention?
2. What indicators can we measure that correlate
with ePortfolio use?
3. How could further investigation be taken
forward?