Chi-Ping Chang
Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Title: Undergraduate student nurses’ functional requirements for e-portfolios: A qualitative research study
Biography
Biography: Chi-Ping Chang
Abstract
With advances in information technology, the e-portfolio focusing on individualized learning, reflection, and self-management has received positive attention, and the nursing profession has adopted e-portfolio to nursing education. This study based on technology acceptance model 2 explores the needs and perceptions of graduate student nurses regarding the use of e-portfolio in the Last Mile Practicum Course (LMPC). Five focus groups comprising ten to twelve student volunteers participated. The focused interview data was analysed through content analyses aimed at evaluating the perceptions of e-portfolio. The results revealed four key research themes: (1) anticipated functions achieved, (2) ease of uploading data and showcasing learning results (3) functionality extensions to enhance mobile learning, and (4) policy guidelines and plagiarism prevention. Majority of students identified that the e-portfolio system must facilitate positive rapport between nursing students and instructors, while establishing clear internship goals. The system should provide a user-friendly and stable system function for data upload. The e-learning content should be linked with the teaching system used by the practicum hospital, and offer additional functionality. The mobile versions of the e-portfolio technology should be developed to increase accessibility. User policy guideline for teachers and students as well as antiplagiarism measures should be implemented. E-portfolio assists in integrating knowledge, skills, and achievement recognition into the learning process. The nursing students’ suggestions for e-portfolio include: a user friendly/useful system and a policy of use and antiplagiarism to promote adoption of e-portfolios. This enables students learning their clinical competency for future nursing practice in the LMPC.