Twelfth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies

Abstract

Alternative assessment in the 21st century illustrate the importance of assessment practices that promote constructivist perception, allowing students to create their own learning as active participants through authentic assessment unlike traditional assessment. The purpose of this paper was to explore the functionality of e-portfolios as alternative assessment strategy in an Open distance e-Learning university, drawing on the case of a South African Open Distance e-learning (ODeL) university. Interviews were used to collect data for this qualitative study, were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed for themes. The findings revealed that e-portfolio use, its purpose and functionality is not employed to its full potential. Based on the findings the study recommends that an e-portfolio assessment framework on how to use e-portfolio as alternative assessment should be facilitated for the successful implementation of this alternative assessment in higher education.