Inspiring Key Competencies Through the Implementation of an ePortfolio for Undergraduate Students

• Published in: Procedia, social and behavioral sciences social and behavioral sciences, 2015-07, Vol.197, p.2435-2442
• Main Authors: Alexiou, Aikaterini, Paraskeva, Fotini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Career Management; ePortfolio; Higher Education; Key Competencies; Self-Regulated Learning (SRL); Undergraduate Students
• ISSN: 1877-0428; 1877-0428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.307

Undergraduate students find it difficult to understand the necessity of transforming key competencies into meaningful knowledge with regard to self, academia and career development. Higher Education should deliver learner-centered experiences like ePortfolios so as to support students into taking responsibility for their own learning processes during multiple formal coursework. On this basis, we designed Apt2iMySelf ePortfolio so as to strengthen and transform key competencies into meaningful learning, promote academic and career development. In detail, the Apt2iMySelf ePortfolio as open source social software aligning the aspects (cognitive, affective, behavior and context) of self-regulated learning (SRL) with career management skills was developed. We conducted a quasi-experimental research with comparison groups in pre/post-tests in order to examine key competencies and students’ performance. The findings revealed that students’ key competencies and performance tend to increase after the completion of the ePortfolio. Further research should measure students’ SRL and career management skills as well as the relations among cognitive, affective, behavior and context processes.