Session 3.4a: E-assessment
Case study
Springboard Southwark: Development of e-portfolios
E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008
Session 3.4a: E-assessment
About the organisation
Springboard Southwark provides work-based learning to learners aged between 14-24 years old. The organisation offers courses in Children's Care, Learning and Development, Business Administration and ICT. Furthermore, Springboard Southwark is involved in E2E – Entry to Employment. There are around 20 staff and 100 learners across all programmes.
About the chosen technology
After attending the Work-based learning E-Guides training programme and discussions with Alison Lones (E-Guides trainer), the E-Guide developed the idea to use interactive Word to develop an interactive portfolio to reduce the amount of paperwork in NVQ portfolios. The e-portfolio model was piloted between November 2006 and January 2007 and has now been approved by the External Verifier (EV).
Paul will now train vocational staff for Administration, IT and Key Skills who will be working with the learners to create and use e-portfolios. Using interactive Word, a complete portfolio has a small enough file size to fit onto a CD or memory stick. The approach was also cheaper than buying a NVQ portfolio platform – Springboard had looked into this previously but it was an option that was too expensive. The interactive Word portfolio has enriched Springboard’s practice without involving significant costs for purchasing a more sophisticated portfolio system.
Impact and benefits to date
The interactive portfolio contributes to developing e-learning in the organisation by offering a more hands on and practical approach to assessment due to its interactive nature. The template was developed to support different learning styles and it was designed to help learners to achieve quicker. The approach is simple but effective and is now a spearhead for pushing e-learning forward across the organisation.
It is beneficial to the staff because there is less paper work for the assessors and it also saves time. Files can be emailed between candidates and assessors quickly and easily. It also allows staff to see at a glance where a candidate currently is with their portfolio.
Barriers
Some staff are sceptical about the use of technology and e-learning, however Paul is confident that with small, simple steps like this staff will quickly gain confidence in e-learning and its possibilities. Staff will be able to see that e-learning is not something extra to find time for on top of everything else, but that it can actually make their jobs simpler and quicker. As most organisations Springboard works with Microsoft Word® already, therefore funding should not be a barrier in this instance.
Future plans
Three E-Guides will do a training session for all staff to identify where they are. There will be an assessors meeting which will enable plans to be made about what units the technology can be used for across provision. In the future they also want to learn how to transfer current paper based portfolios to electronic ones.
Key ingredients for success:
“Creativity, willingness to try something different and sticking to simple solutions.”
E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008