ERIC Number: EJ1159900
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2157-622X
EISSN: N/A
LEADing the Way with ePortfolios in a First-Generation Learning Community
Conefrey, Theresa
International Journal of ePortfolio, v7 n2 p161-173 2017
Although an increasing number of first-generation students are beginning tertiary education, many are not completing their degrees. In an attempt to improve retention and graduation rates, learning communities responsive to the unique needs of first-generation students are becoming more common. This paper explores the implementation of ePortfolios in first-year writing courses in one such learning community, the LEAD Scholars Program. The research, which employed thematic analysis of student ePortfolios in a qualitative case study, suggests that ePortfolios operate synergistically with other high-impact practices to amplify the persistence and success of first generation students and prepare them for their roles as engaged citizens and leaders in an increasingly technologically-connected society. The broader significance of this research derives from the importance of discovering how to improve the effectiveness of programs to retain and graduate first-generation students.
Descriptors: First Generation College Students, Program Implementation, Electronic Publishing, Portfolios (Background Materials), Freshman Composition, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Program Effectiveness, School Holding Power, Writing Skills, Writing Assignments, Writing Strategies, Social Integration, Skill Development, Outcomes of Education
Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Georgia. North Instructional Plaza, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. e-mail: ijep@vt.edu; Web site: http://www.theijep.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A