The Engineering Eportfolio: Enhancing Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and Teamwork Skills?

• Main Authors: Linda , Khoo Mei Sui, Maor, Dorit, Schibeci, Renato
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: L Education (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/7116/1/The_Engineering_Eportfolio-_Enhancing_Communication%2C_Critical_Thinking_and_Problem_Solving_and_Teamwork_Skills.pdf; http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/7116/; http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/6387/

Graduate attributes have received increasing attention over recent years as universities incorporate these attributes into the curriculum. Graduates who have adequate technical knowledge only are not sufficiently equipped to compete effectively in the work place; they also need non disciplinary skills ie, graduate attributes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of an eportfolio in a technical communication course to enhance engineering students’ graduate attributes: namely, learning of communication,critical thinking and problem solving and teamwork skills. Two questionnaires were used to elicit information from the students: one on their preferred and the other on the actual learning process. In addition, student perceptions of the use of eportfolio as a learning tool were investigated. Preliminary findings showed that most of the students’ expectations have been met with their actual learning. This indicated that eportfolio has the potential as a tool to enhance students’ graduate attributes.