Using action learning research for the development and implementation of an ePortfolio in nursing clinical placements

ABSTRACT

This study applies an action learning research (ALR) methodology to develop and implement an electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) for learning and assessment in clinical placements of undergraduate nursing students for the first time in Morocco. Alpha, beta, and gamma systems of ALR were adopted. Twenty-two action learning groups (ALG) was established, and a total of 108 nursing students and 9 nurse educators were involved. To evaluate the implementation process and generate actionable knowledge qualitative data were generated through individual interviews and focus groups from the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Morocco. ALR was found to be an effective method to implement ePortfolio in nursing education where the key element was the ALG allowing participants’ reflections on their actions. The benefits and challenges of ePortfolio use were highlighted. ePortfolio is accepted as an adequate educational tool to pedagogically support students’ learning and assessment in clinical placement.

KEYWORDS:

• Action learning research
• ePortfolio
• action learning group
• nursing education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval to conduct this study was provided by the Moroccan Association for Research and Ethics (FS-TD N°1/REC/2020) and confidentiality was guaranteed throughout the ALR process.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hind Bahri

Hind Bahri has been a nurse for 10 years. She is a nurse educator at the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS) of Tetouan (Morocco),and a Phd student in the field of health science education. Hind's research interests are in the use of technologies and social media in nursing education,and how to implement new tools in the field of health science education.

Mourad Madrane

Mourad Madrane is an Associate Professor at the University Abdelmalek Essaadi Tetouan-Morocco.He is an Associate Researcher at the Center for Research and Development in Education, University of Moncton Canada, and an Expert at the Research Observatory in University Didactics and Pedagogy (ORDIPU). Mourad has contributed at the Association for the Development of Evaluation Methodologies in Education and he is a Member of the research team in Pedagogical Engineering and Didactics of Sciences ENS-Tétouan-Morocco.

Terri Downer

Terri Downer (Associate Professor) is the Discipline lead for Midwifery at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has extensive involvement in curriculum design and implementation, using blended learning technologies involving simulation. She was involved in the coordination and support for the implementation of the ePortfolio software PebblePad across the nursing and midwifery disciplines. Terri has a keen interest in new and emerging digital technologies including 3D technology. She is currently leading an international trial of a 3D artefact depicting a simulation of the birth of the placenta.

Michelle Gray

Michelle Gray has been a midwife for 28 years. Her passions are midwifery and education, and she views herself as fortunate to be able to combine her interests as a midwifery academic researcher. Michelle's research interests are in regulation of practice and education standards of entry to practice programmes and continuing professional development. Michelle has collaborated internationally on research projects leading to publications on these subjects. She is the lead author of Starting Life as a Midwife: An International review of transition from student to practitioner' Springer Books. She has also contributed a chapter on midwifery regulation in Australia in the textbook Midwifery: Preparation for Practice. Michelle currently resides in Western Australia as the Associate Professor of Midwifery. She has six HDR students and adjunct positions at Charles Darwin and the University of the Sunshine Coast and University of Queensland.

Hanan Ahabrach

Hanan Ahabrach is Associate Professor at the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS) of Tetouan (Morocco) since 2013. She received his PhD in Biology from The University of Abdelmalek Essaadi- Morocco in 2011. She is an active member of the Laboratory of Biology and Health of the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Sciences at University Abdelmalek Essaadi. She published more than 10 articles and his current work focuses on peripheral markers in different diseases.

Nisrin El Mlili

Nisrin El Mlili is Associate Professor at the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS) of Tetouan (Morocco). She received his PhD in Biology from The University of Valencia- Spain in 2009. Since 2010, She worked as a postdoc in various research establishments in Spain and Morocco to finally integrate ISPITS of Rabat as Assistant Professor in 2013. She is the author of around twenty publications in the field of Biomedicine and Neurosciences and currently is conducting various research topics related to pedagogy and care in the field of nursing. She wrote a book chapter and she is An associate Editor and reviewer in several scientific journals.