Nursing Students, Nursing Lecturers and Practice Staff’s Understanding on an ePortfolio and the impact on students’ self-efficacy: protocol of a mixed method study. An exploratory study using a sequential explanatory mixed method design methodology to explore nursing students’ nurse lecturers, and practice staff’s understanding of an ePortfolio and explore how student’s self-efficacy could be impacted by this technology.

Abstract

Abstract Background The global pandemic required universities to identify suitable online platforms to enable the continuation of academic studies. While this change facilitated most theoretical learning, the capture of clinical practice evidence proved problematic. ePortfolio pedagogy is a responsive approach to facilitate and foster clinically based learning by integrating technology, reflection and assessment thereby supporting students’ development and preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Used beyond the classroom setting, it enhances students’ digital literacy, promoting lifelong learning and professional development through a platform which facilitates communication, discussion, and collaboration. Methods The proposed study is an exploration of Nursing Students, Nursing Lecturers and Practice Staff’s understanding on an ePortfolio and the impact on students’ self-efficacy across one nation in the United Kingdom. The protocol describes a mixed methods sequential explanatory design methodology to explore nursing students’ nurse lecturers, and practice staff’s understanding of an ePortfolio and explore how student’s self-efficacy could be impacted by this technology. A questionnaire designed at the university using two validated instruments will be used to guide the evaluation. This will be distributed to students at two different time points and to staff only once. Quantitative data will focus on how selected internal and external variables relating to ePortfolio use serve as predicators to student understanding and achievement. Using the platform Qualtrics once collected the survey results will be downloaded into SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 28 and subjected to relevant statistical analysis. Qualitative data will be collected through focus groups. Triangulation of data will be used to answer the key research questions on ePortfolio technology as a pedagogy. Discussion The protocol describes the study which will be implemented across one nation in the United Kingdom. It will evaluate how students and teachers engage with the ePortfolio and how it impacts on the delivery of the curriculum and student performance. It aims to evaluate the impact of ePortfolio technology which is poorly reported in the literature. Registered systematic review Does an ePortfolio used as a digital pedagogy enhance pre-registration nursing students learning of professional practice and inquiry? https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8CV9G (registered with Open Science Framework).