Presented at the LLAS conference Language Futures, Edinburgh July 2012.

1. Using the virtual now to develop
real language and communication
skills for the future.
T.MacKinnon
Language Centre, University of
Warwick

2. What is an e-portfolio?
• An e-portfolio is the product, created by the
learner, a collection of digital artefacts
articulating experiences, achievements and
learning.
(Jisc, Effective practice with e-portfolios)

3. Why use an e-portfolio?
• ‘An e-portfolio is a purposeful aggregation of digital
items – ideas, evidence, reflections, feedback etc,
which “presents” a selected audience with
evidence of a person’s learning and/or ability.’
Sutherland, S. and Powell, A. (2007), Cetis SIG mailing list discussions
[www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/cetis-portfolio.html] 9 July 2007

4. The software used: Mahara.

5. Using the Community of Practice
approach.
• Course area to share the conceptualisation
• Shared resources for the student presentation
• Student support areas
• Hands-on sessions and drop-ins
• Virtual and face to face communication
• Cycle of review informing support and
development.

6. When I first heard that it was necessary to make an e-portfolio of my
francophone journey, I thought it would not be a very useful exercise.
However, I am pleasantly surprised as to how it has given me the
chance to reflect and analyse my language learning process overall. It
has enabled me to structure and plan the way that I learn which is
something of a first for me, and I want to try and incorporate the
methods that I used here in future learning.
Overall, I am very pleased with the work I have done over the
year and am proud of the progress that this e-portfolio
displays. I feel that in tracking my progress and in really
thinking about how I learn and the best techniques for me I
have learnt a lot about myself, which will be invaluable for all
of my language learning in the future.

7. Points to note:
• It takes time to build a shared understanding
• Create multiple ways to share information
• Be prepared to justify your decisions
• Persevere!