Investigation into a university electronic portfolio system using activity theory

Abstract

The last few years have seen an enormous growth of interest in e-portfolios and the benefits they can bring to learners. While it is generally agreed that e-portfolios have great potential to engage students and promote deep learning, the research that has been conducted to date focuses very little on student perceptions of value of the e-portfolio for their learning. If students do not agree or wish to use the e-portfolio as an integral part of their educational experience, then the potential impact the e-portfolio have on learning will not be realised. This paper describes the development of an e portfolio system to promote reflective skills for engineering students in a university in Malaysia. The Activity Theory is used as a lens to explain the reasons for the failed adoption of the e portfolio system.