How can metacognitive strategies support employability skill development in early childhood education? In this session from PebblePad MiniBash Melbourne 2022, Steph Archbold (Learning and Educational Designer, University of Melbourne), shares how ePortfolios are being used within Early Childhood Education placements to support reflective practice, evidence collection and employability skill development.
Drawing on work with academics Sonja Arndt and Kerry Noad, this session explores how the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) program transitioned from Google Docs to PebblePad placement workbooks, addressing common challenges such as lost feedback, fragmented information, and student anxiety around placement documentation.
Key themes include:
- Supporting metacognitive reflection in placement learning
- Making evidence of practice meaningful, personal and reusable
- Providing scaffolded entry points for first-time ePortfolio users
- Balancing structure with student creativity and ownership
- Mapping placement evidence to professional standards and frameworks
The session also reflects on the importance of usability, mentor engagement, and long-term portfolio use as a living document beyond assessment.
🎥 Recorded live at PebblePad MiniBash, Melbourne (Australia), 2022