Why ePortfolios? Student Perceptions of ePortfolio Use in Continuing Education Learning Environments
Over the past decade, there has been an increased exploration of ePortfolios in higher education across disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate level. ePortfolios have been significantly under-explored, however, in the context of non-traditional continuing education environments within higher education. This paper explores students’ perceptions of ePortfolios in a non-credit continuing education environment in three programs—Fine Arts, Writing and Editing, and Residential Interiors—unpacking some of the opportunities, challenges, and barriers associated with ePortfolio use. It concludes that continuing education students, at least in programs where traditional (hard copy) portfolios are commonplace, are positively inclined towards the introduction and use of ePortfolios, though the study still identifies two major concerns that need to be addressed—the level of computer literacy in the student body due to their variability in age and previous educational backgrounds, and the support for and portability of the ePortfolios for students and instructors.
