Perceived usefulness and relevance of ePortfolios in the creative arts: Investigating student views

Abstract

While research into ePortfolios in educational environments has increased in the past 15 years, the focus has been most strongly on the views of academics, those instigating use, and rarely on students (the users). This chapter intentionally draws out the views of three cohorts of undergraduate music students in two Australian universities, seeking their responses on use of a variety of ePortfolios approaches. These range from a proprietary ePortfolio platform chosen by one university, to self-selected systems leveraging cloud-based and social media platforms at another. In doing so, the study not only adds to a growing literature about ePortfolio use in the creative arts, it also offers student views across the selfselected/non-selected platform issue and longer term and short term use of the ePortfolio. The study sought responses on students’ perceived usefulness of the ePortfolio platform for their current and future career post-graduation needs. Shaping the discussion is a perceived usefulness of ePortfolios and technology acceptance model drawn from other new technologies in contexts beyond universities, but tailored by our findings, into a creative arts version of the model.