Development of Digital Teaching Portfolios to Build a Professional Learning Community at the HKIEd – Learning and Teaching Initiatives funded by the UGC

Abstract:

This proposed project aims to support academic and teaching staff at the HKIEd to develop digital teaching portfolios to build a professional learning community, which will provide them with opportunities to carry out ongoing inquiries into their own and their peers’ teaching and learning practices. The project team will draw upon the elements of professional learning community to generate the essential categories for a digital teaching portfolio, and then construct a set of mechanisms (professional development, guidelines and resources) to support academic and teaching staff in the development of their own digital teaching portfolios. The project will be carried out in four phases. In Phase 1, a set of mechanisms to support academic and teaching staff in the development of their own digital teaching portfolios will be constructed. In Phase 2, the digital teaching portfolios will be piloted with selected academic and teaching staff. In Phase 3, a moderate to large scale implementation of the digital teaching portfolio will be carried out to build a professional learning community of academic and teaching staff at HKIEd. In Phase 4, we will evaluate the impact of the digital teaching portfolio in supporting a professional learning community to enhance student learning outcomes.

Code:

T0095

Principal Project Supervisors:

Subjects:

Start Date:

01 Jul 2011

End Date:

30 Jun 2014

Status:

Completed

Result:

Since the start of the project, the project has involved more than 100 staff from different departments and units in creating their own teaching portfolios and portfolios at the department level. It has helped in establishing a professional learning community of academic and teaching staff through digital teaching portfolios within and across departments. Resources on teaching portfolios developed included: the guidebook and template on digital teaching portfolios; website on digital teaching portfolios (www.ied.edu.hk/lttc/dtp); online resources group and online course for academic and teaching staff; and the leaflet on digital teaching portfolios for promotion. Some high-quality digital teaching portfolios have been developed by academic and teaching staff at HKIEd.
In line with our project objective of promoting scholarship of teaching within and beyond the HKIEd community, we have been engaged in preparing publications, as well as in various scholarly activities (e.g. conferences), to share the insights that inspire and inform different stages of our project. One of our presentations has received the Best Workshop Award in an international conference. Our latest paper submitted for journal publication, which was based on the interviews of teaching staff who had developed their digital teaching portfolios, identified the following key findings: the teaching staff used the portfolios for both personal and social benefits; they found it important to tie their portfolios with students’ learning; they aligned their portfolios 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 digital teaching portfolios.

Impact:

More than 100 staff (more than 25% of academic and teaching staff at the Institute) including heads of DLTC from different departments and units were involved in creating their own teaching portfolios and portfolios at the departmental level. At least three departments have built their own departmental portfolios for sharing resources and comments about learning and teaching. Different course portfolios were also established for ongoing enquiries into teaching and learning in the courses. The development of portfolios at course and departmental levels has helped to build an effective professional learning community for staff of the group involved. At the individual level, staff members have also been engaged to reflect upon their teaching and developed their own way in documenting their scholarships of teaching for self-records and for sharing. Through the process of the implementation, staff have developed various ways of using the teaching portfolios, including showcasing and sharing of their own teaching effectiveness; documenting learning and teaching practices, such as students’ work to engage students in reflection; sharing of individual’s research and community services; and using it as a platform to introduce him/herself to the public for potential collaborations. By showcasing their digital teaching portfolios in different contexts, they have also set an example of professional development of teaching and academic staff in the higher education context.
Through different sharing sessions and seminars, staff with teaching portfolios developed have shared their experiences in using teaching portfolios for documenting their teaching practices and continuous improvement in their teaching. By participating in seminars and workshops at the departmental and institutional level, academic and teaching staff were provided with a platform to explore the potentials of using the teaching portfolios to enhance ongoing dialogues into their own teaching practices, and collaborations with peers to improve teaching and learning. Besides, as proposed, the digital teaching portfolios initiative was shared locally and internationally, as indicated in the previous section.

Deliverables:

Books / Book Chapters / Journal Articles / Conference Papers

Lai, M., Lim, C.P., & Wang, L. (Under review). Exploring the potentials of digital teaching portfolios in higher education. Computer and Education.
Lim, C.P., & Lee, J. C. K. (2014). Teaching e-portfolios and the development of professional learning communities (PLCs) in higher education institutions. Internet and Higher Education, 20, 57-59. https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/906cd881-62b8-4c06-b27f-0c0b...
Fong, R.W.T., Lee, J.C.K, Chang, C.Y., Zhang, Z., Ngai, A.C.Y., & Lim, C.P. (2014). Digital teaching portfolio in higher education: Examining perceptions to inform implementation strategies. Internet and Higher Education, 20, 60-68.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/859788d2-6d29-45e6-b6ea-51a8...
Lim, C.P. (2013, August). Digital Teaching Portfolio for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. Paper presented at the Canada International Conference on Education (CICE-2013), 24-26 Aug 2013, Toronto, Canada. Invited presentation with “Best Workshop Award”.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/518be6bd-aefa-4127-ab5f-0a48...
Lim, C.P., & Lee, J. C. K., Wang, L., Lee, Y.C., & Fong, R.W.T. (2013, July). Exploring the Roles of Digital Teaching Portfolio in Higher Education. Paper presented at the ePIC 2013 – 11th International ePortfolio and Identity Conference 8 to 10 July 2013, United Kingdom, London.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/a4015ba3-23f0-4ab5-88f8-9847...
Fong, R.W.T., Lee, J.C-K., Ngai, A.C-Y., Lim, C.P. (2013, May) Digital teaching portfolio in higher education: Implications for implementation strategies. Paper presented at the eLearning Forum Asia 2013, 29-31 May 2013, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/957bfad9-227b-44db-93cb-78ba...
Lee, Y.C., Chen, H.C.R., Leong, S., Lai, M., & Ngai, A.C-Y. (2014, February). Exploring the potentials of digital teaching portfolios in higher education institutions. Paper presented at Learning and Teaching Mini Conference 2014. Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Education.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/0aa48588-3e60-4995-8bf3-1c46...
Chen, H. C. R. (2014, February). Exploring the potentials of digital teaching portfolios in higher education institutions. Paper presented at Learning and Teaching Mini Conference 2014. Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Education.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/9a33b2d2-f455-47bd-96f5-b8a3...
Lee,Y.C. (2014, February). Exploring the potentials of digital teaching portfolios at the departmental level – A case study of SES. Paper presented at Learning and Teaching Mini Conference 2014. Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Educationhttps://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/235c35d9-f1ba-400e-b640-73cf...
Ngai, A.C.Y. & Fong, R.W-T. (2013, April). Development of Digital Teaching Portfolios to Build a Professional Learning Community at the HKIEd. Paper presented at Learning & Teaching Mini Conference 2013, 25 April 2013, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Education.https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/6e418d5b-b62b-4095-a3b2-7cb2...
Lim, C.P. (2012, August). Harnessing upon Digital Teaching Portfolio to Build Professional Learning and Communities in Universities. The First International Conference of Educational Innovation through Technology. China (Beijing), Tsinghua University.
Lim C.P. (2012). Digital Teaching Portfolio and its Role in Building Professional Learning Communities. Paper presented at an International Seminar: Opportunities and Challenges for the SMART Innovation in Education. South Korea (Jeollanamdo), Damyang Goseo Elementary School: 23-24 Nov 2012.

Seminars/Presentations/Sharing Sessions

Lim, C.P. (2013). Learning and Teaching E-Portfolio Initiatives in the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Visiting Professor Lecture Series. Taiwan (Taipei), National Taiwan Normal University, 1 Apr 2013.
Lim, C.P. (2011). Digital Teaching Portfolio: Building Professional Learning Communities in Universities. Visiting Professor Seminar Series. Malaysia, University Kebangsaan Malaysia: 11 Jul 2011.
TDG Project Dissemination Event on “Digital Teaching Portfolios for a Professional Learning Community at HKIEd, presented by Prof. Lim Cher Ping, Prof. Lee Chi Kin John, Dr. Celeste Yuen, Dr. Pamela Leung, Dr. Lixun Wang, and Dr. Ricci Fong at The Hong Kong Institute of Education on 29 Aug 2013. (No. of staff participated: 50)https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/ad9d5038-90cd-4f90-8087-28c3...
Presentation of “Building a valuable digital teaching portfolio: contents, methods and implications” at Teaching and Learning Seminar on Fostering ongoing inquiries on teaching and learning through digital teaching portfolios at HKIEd, presented by Dr. Wang Lixun at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 16 Oct 2012. (No. of staff participated: 45https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/8ac7e129-1b2b-42bf-a057-8ccc...
Presentation of “Developing a culture of quality: Teaching E-portfolios: Multi-level of uses” at Teaching and Learning Seminar on Fostering ongoing inquiries on teaching and learning through digital teaching portfolios at HKIEd, presented by Dr. Lee, Yeung Chun at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 16 Oct 2012. (No. of staff participated: 45)https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/a9199a67-f0d9-46d1-8e8a-0e2c...
Presentation of “Fostering Ongoing Inquiries on Teaching and Learning through Digital Teaching Portfolios at HKIEd” at Teaching and Learning Seminar on Fostering ongoing inquiries on teaching and learning through digital teaching portfolios at HKIEd, presented by Dr. Lim Cher Ping at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 16 Oct 2012. (No. of staff participated: 45https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/bfe2d2e0-f558-4013-883b-b2b6...
Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies (LML) Departmental Workshop: A guided tour to start up your Digital Teaching Portfolio (DTP), presented by Dr Lai Ming and Ms Alexandra Ngai at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 19 December 2013. (No. of staff participated: 9)https://repository.eduhk.hk/en/publications/617107c8-5b57-4993-b4a5-b217...
Introduction to Digital Teaching Portfolio for the Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES), presented by Ms Alexandra Ngai at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 6 September 2012. (No. of staff participated: 18)
Sharing at the Departmental meeting for the Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES), presented by Dr Lee Yeung Chung at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 13 August 2012. (No. of staff participated: 18)
Department of Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) Departmental Teaching and Learning Workshop: Hands-on experience in building a digital teaching portfolio, presented by Dr Celeste Yuen and Dr Danping Wang at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 30 May 2012. (No. of staff participated: 15)
Workshop on Exploring the use of Digital Teaching Portfolios, presented by Dr Lai Ming and Ms Alexandra Ngai at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 12 June 2014. (No. of staff participated: 4)
Hands-on workshop 2: A guided tour to start up your digital teaching portfolio, presented by Dr Lai Ming and Ms Alexandra Ngai at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 16 September 2013. (No. of staff participated: 9)
Briefing session at the induction programme for new staff, ”Course Two: Using Technologies (Moodle, Turntin and Mahara) in Teaching and Learning, presented by Ms Alexandra Ngai at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 5 September 2013 and 9 January 2014 (No. of staff participated: 18)
Hands-on workshop: A guided tour to start up your digital teaching portfolio, presented by Ms Alexandra Ngai and Dr Ricci Fong at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 14 May 2013 (No. of staff participated: 6)
Workshops on digital teaching portfolio for Project team members and co-supervisors, , presented by Dr Ronnie Shroff at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on 14 September 2011, 19 September 2011 and 22 September 2011 (No. of staff participated: 29)

Financial Year:

2010-11

Type:

TDG