USE OF EPORTFOLIO TOOL FOR REFLECTION IN ENGINEERING DESIGN

Abstract

Electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) can be a beneficial tool to facilitate student learning, evaluate learning outcomes and showcase skills and experience. At the University of Guelph, the School of Engineering piloted the use of ePortfolios within the third year design course of the engineering design sequence of courses. With the implementation of graduate attributes by the CEAB, more “soft skill” attributes like individual and teamwork, project management, and lifelong learning are important skills developed by students within the design courses and can be assessed within an ePortfolio environment.Students submitted guided reflections related to major deliverables within the course. The reflections were assessed for the level of insight through rubrics in the learning management system. Overall, students improved their ability to reflect and provided good insight into their learning and roles within their group project. The response to the reflections by students was mixed. Many students found value in reflecting on their experience while other students were frustrated by the method of filling the reflection form.In the future, the objectives for reflection should be made clearer with supplementary documentation to the lecture material. Adjusting the timing of the reflections to correspond to less stressful periods of the semester and improving the ePortfolio process will help with student engagement.