Potential of digital teaching portfolios for establishing a professional learning community in higher education

Abstract

Digital teaching portfolios (DTPs) are increasingly adopted in higher education for various purposes such as assessment, learning, and showcasing. This paper reports on a collective case study of four teaching staff who have developed DTPs with an emphasis on building a professional learning community at a higher education institution. A number of themes emerged from the cross-case data analysis: the teaching staff used DTPs for both personal and social benefits; they found it important to link their DTPs with students’ learning; they developed DTPs at different levels (individual and group level); they aligned their DTPs with their underlying teaching and learning beliefs; and they found that technical and conceptual supports, as well as opportunities to discuss and share with colleagues, were necessary for the successful implementation of DTPs. The study suggests that DTPs could significantly enhance higher education teaching and learning, and through sharing of DTPs, teaching staff could build a professional learning community that enhances their capacity for teaching and professional learning.