Implementation challenges of the English language ePortfolio system from various stakeholder perspectives

Electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) is no longer a new term in the area of educational research. It has been widely adopted by various tertiary institutions as a learning and assessment tool in different countries. A major feature of an ePortfolio is that it supports lifelong learning by archiving and showcasing selected artifacts from individual learners, recording their professional development and sharing their best work with others. To facilitate learners to produce their ePortfolios effectively and conveniently, the development of an online platform is necessary. The objective of this article is to explore and analyze the realistic problems faced by various stakeholders, including system developers and administrators, students as well as teachers, during the implementation of an ePortfolio system in the English Language Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This article paints a clear picture of concerns raised by various stakeholders with regard to an ePortfolio system, how the system design responds to their concerns, and how the stakeholders are impacted by the system. Copyright © 2008 Baywood Publishing Company, Inc.