School Administrators' Perceptions of Electronic Portfolios and the Hiring of K-12 Teachers

The unprecedented pace of technological advances in online interactions and digital identity have created challenges for educators and the communities they serve. Electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) have become a substantive tool that facilitates transference and access to the pertinent achievements highlighting competency, allowing administrators to weigh those strengths against the positions they are trying to fill—yet ePortfolios have limitations maximizing access to digital footprints. The purpose of the study, using mixed-methods, was to determine the views of school administrators involved in the use of ePortfolios during the hiring process of K-12 preservice teachers. Participants’ survey responses were used to investigate four research questions regarding pros/cons, school administrators’ needs, delivery method, and improvements of ePortfolios for increased use. One important outcome showed 59% of the participants had used ePortfolios in the past two years, and they would be more willing to use ePortfolios if there was a standard format for candidates to follow. Researchers found ePortfolios were a viable asset for the hiring officials in this study; however, new challenges are evident and must be addressed.