The development of an ePortfolio as a capstone in a holistic health minor

Abstract

Use of electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) has been advocated to highlight student accomplishments as well as to document program and course outcomes. This use of ePortfolios incorporates information technology, thus aligning the educational process in degree programs to twenty-firstcentury teaching, learning, and information literacy. Here we describe a project to explore the feasibility of using the ePortfolio as a capstone for a Holistic Health Minor (HHM) in an undergraduate program. To make this transition in an efficient manner in the HHM, we developed a plan of implementation, with training for faculty and students. A team of faculty developed a professional ePortfolio template and implemented a pilot program for nine graduating students enrolled in the HHM. The team assessed college resources, assisted with developing the technological competence of both students and faculty, and created a rubric for final capstone assessment. Our experiences lead us to recommend that an interdisciplinary team is crucial for the success of the program. Our experiences also demonstrate that the use of ePortfolios can enhance assessment of student and program outcomes.