"A Sort of Roadmap to Success...": A Model for Piloting ePortfolios and Lessons Learned From a Rehabilitation Sciences Curriculum

In this paper, we present the development, implementation, and lessons learned during the 2-year pilot integration of an ePortfolio across a rehabilitation sciences (RS) curriculum within a publicly funded state university. We consider the educational environment and discuss decision points during various stages of the project. Four key aspects of project development and implementation are highlighted, including a contextual analysis of goals, partnerships, curricular positioning, and foundational tools. Contextual analysis of goals includes the process of creating a project vision that aligns with the student population served, programmatic goals, and the guiding frameworks inherent to ePortfolios as a high impact practice. An exploration of partnerships describes the role of diverse stakeholders, within and outside the program, and their contribution to ongoing project development and success. Curricular positioning considers which courses are utilized for the introduction, conclusion, and touch points of the project, and how success is measured in each. A discussion of foundational tools identifies the student-facing resources required to facilitate a clear, relevant, and sustainable ePortfolio across the curriculum. When possible, we highlight student voices, including reflections on motivation, adaptive skill building, and engagement with the ePortfolio process. Ongoing challenges, preliminary outcomes, and next steps are also outlined.