ePortfolio pilot a success

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 14 June 2013

Subject: ePortfolio pilot a success

Nurses across New Zealand can now build their competency portfolio online thanks to Ngā Manukura o Āpōpō ePortfolio (NMoA) pilot project which was designed to test the concept of an open source ePortfolio system for nurses in New Zealand.

Initially aimed at Māori nurses who had not engaged in portfolio development previously and did not have access to established Professional Development and Recognition Programmes (PDRP), the system has proven to be successful and highly flexible to the needs of different nurses, and provides employers the opportunity to meet requirements for workforce competence.

“Since the pilot launch in July 12, response to the site has been strongly positive, with interest from a wide range of nursing areas”, said project manager Liz Manning. “Individuals through to large organisations such as DHBs have been involved and the initial target of 20 Māori nurses on the site has been surpassed with 44 nurses registered, two of whom are Nurse Practitioners”.

User feedback confirms that ePortfolio is hitting the mark. “This is a fantastic tool, really easy to use and much more effective that collecting information in hardcopy. I like that I can interact with other nurses, it is easy to add to and highly transportable. Great”.

ePortfolio is based within a Moodle compatible Mahara platform and is not a PDRP. The portfolio carries the nurses’ evidence of competence which can then be audited or assessed if the nurse wishes or if the need arises.

Though initially developed to meet the needs of nurses completing ‘competent’ or level two portfolios, early adopters have shown that the site is extremely flexible and can accommodate all nursing needs and scopes while being simple to use and adapt.

“I like its transportability and the ability to access portfolio from anywhere via the internet. It provides me with a platform to keep a personlised copy of the various projects and work I have done. I can update it as needed which makes it a living document”.

Evidence is in the form of self-assessment, peer or manager review, and uploaded forms of evidence for example; certificates, podcasts, video clips and written documents.

The project team, led by Sonia Rapana Associate Director of Lakes DHB, involved representatives from; the Nursing Council of New Zealand, NZNO Te Runanga, Nurse Executives of New Zealand, National PDRP coordinators, General Managers HR and Ngā Manukura o Āpōpō in the development.

The project is now moving into Phase Two, with development of the site for a much wider audience using the learning’s from the 2012 pilot.

The ePortfolio design work with Kineo has won GOLD and recevied a 'Learn X award' for best new technology in the social learning platform in May 2013.

Processes are being developed to ensure more nurses and organisations can easily access the site. The wider public launch is planned for mid-June and will be accessible through the Ngā Manukura website http://www.ngamanukura.co.nz/

For more information on ePortfolio go to this link

http://www.ngamanukura.co.nz/Professional_Development/ePortfolio

-ENDS-

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